Heating and Ventilating

Chester-based renewable energy firm Energetix Genlec has agreed to collaborate with Stiebel Eltron to integrate Genlec's micro CHP unit into a Stiebel boiler design to target the European domestic heating market.
Heating supplier Stiebel Eltron has agreed to incorporate the Energetix Genlec micro-CHP unit into one of its boiler designs, while Energetix Genlec will provide technical expertise and a number of Genlec units for field-testing.

Development of the product is expected to start in early 2009. The firms' collaboration coincides with the introduction of new German legislation which supports micro-CHP. As previously reported in Heating and Ventilating Review, from January 1, 2009, German micro-CHP users will be rewarded with government subsidies for any excess electricity they generate.

This, combined with the value of the electricity the Genlec unit can produce to be used in the home, is estimated to be worth to the home owner €600 per house per annum, making Germany an attractive and strategically important market for Genlec.

Energetix was established by Adrian Hutchings in 1997. The British firm focuses on solutions that are easy and cost-effective to manufacture, and, which can realise payback for the end-user quickly. It targets innovations that can readily replace conventional, inefficient devices and which require minimal shifts in consumer behaviour to adopt.

Adrian Hutchings, CEO of Energetix Group, said 'The relationship with Stiebel Eltron should give us greater access and insight into the European market, and in particular to Germany, an important and advanced market for micro-CHP'.

Upon completion of successful trials, Stiebel Eltron expects to incorporate the Genlec unit into its micro-CHP programme with a view to commercial sales across Europe and potentially through Stiebel Eltron’s global business.

Dr. Kai Schiefelbein, chief technical officer of Stiebel Eltron said “With our strong development and production base and our international network of sales subsidiaries, we believe that we are very well placed to support the introduction of Genlec-enabled micro-CHP in the European market. “