Nottingham City Homes generates heat and power with Baxi Ecogen

Published by Jocelyn Rowan for Baxi Group in Housing and also in Communities, Environment, Local Government

As part of its Secure Warm Modern programme, Nottingham City Homes has installed a Baxi Ecogen micro-CHP in the community area of a sheltered accommodation complex.

Rona Court in Nottingham comprises 32 one-bedroom flats. The Baxi Ecogen is providing heating and hot water for the communal area, which includes the laundry, a kitchen and a large room that is used by all the residents on site for meetings, activities and social events. It is also generating 1kW of electricity that can be used on site.

Paul Ruston, Project Manager for Nottingham City Homes, explains: “As well as refurbishing the 29,000 homes that make up our housing stock to Decent Homes standard, we are also committed to looking at ways to reduce the City’s carbon emissions. We are trialling the Baxi Ecogen at Rona Court with a view to installing similar units across our managed housing stock.

“The unit produced nearly 70 kW in its first fortnight, and has provided plenty of hot water, as well as keeping the community area lovely and warm for our residents to use. Because the Baxi Ecogen is over 90 per cent efficient and is contributing to the building’s electricity demand, we are confident of lower energy bills and a reduction in our carbon footprint.”

Baxi Ecogen is a wall hung domestic micro-CHP unit that can be a direct replacement for a conventional boiler. The Free Piston Stirling Engine generates 1kW of electricity for use in the home, as well as 6kW heat. An additional 18kW heat can be provided by the supplementary burner if required. Surplus electricity can be returned to the grid. For more information visit www.baxi.co.uk/ecogen