Feb 06, 2009 | Apeldoorn Apeldoorn first to get the central heating boiler of the future
The first of 200 micro-CHP boilers was today put into service in the Apeldoorn suburb of Woudhuis as part of a large-scale field trial. Annelies van der Kolk, member of the Gelderland provincial executive responsible for climate and environment, today set the trial period officially in motion. "I am proud of this result of innovation and cooperation by so many parties. It's one of the ways we are working together towards a sustainable Gelderland", says Annelies van der Kolk.
It is the first time that such a large number of micro-CHP boilers will be installed in a single residential area in Europe. A micro-CHP boiler is a high output central heating boiler with a built-in generator that generates electricity. Consequently, the micro-CHP boiler supplies both the heat (central heating and hot water) and a large part of the electricity required in a home.
The micro-CHP boiler is the same size as a central heating boiler. A micro-CHP boiler generates electricity in the home very efficiently because the heat that it releases is then used to heat the house. Thanks to the combined generation of electricity and heat, a micro-CHP boiler uses considerably less fuel per kWh than big power plants, which do not use the residual heat they produce. Consequently, the CO2 emission per kWh from a micro-CHP boiler in the Netherlands is roughly half of that from electricity from the grid.
The user of a micro-CHP boiler will also get a lower energy bill, because the cost price of his own electricity is lower than that of electricity from the grid and no energy tax and VAT are payable on it. On the other hand, the gas consumption is higher. It is expected that the energy costs for the average household could fall by around 20% on balance.
The field trial is an initiative of network company Liander, gas trading company GasTerra, the province of Gelderland, energy supplier Nuon, central heating boiler manufacturer Remeha and housing & welfare corporation 'de Woonmensen'. Following the trial, at the end of 2010, the influence of the large-scale use of micro-CHP boilers in a single district on the local electricity and gas networks will be measured. In the winter season in particular the usage patterns of gas and electricity will change considerably in comparison with the current situation. Liander is in the process of developing 'intelligent networks'. Field trials with dispersed electricity generation, such as this one in Apeldoorn, are extremely important in that regard.
The trial will also give suppliers and installers the opportunity to gain experience of the new technology. GasTerra is supporting the trial so as to promote the most efficient possible use of natural gas. The province of Gelderland is supporting the trial as part of the province’s climate programme 2008-2011. Stichting de Woonmensen aims to use this innovative technology to help its residents to keep their living costs down.
The micro-CHP boilers are now being manufactured by Remeha in small quantities, so the price of a boiler is relatively high. However, the price is expected to fall substantially after 2010 when mass production gets into its stride. SenterNovem gives consumers subsidies on micro-CHP boilers on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In the subsidy programme 'Sustainable Heat' ten million euro has been set aside to stimulate the introduction of the micro-CHP boiler.