The Baxi Ecogen micro-CHP boiler

A question about : The Baxi Ecogen micro-CHP boiler

Has anyone installed a Baxi Ecogen micro-CHP boiler and are they as efficient as reported?

Also how more expensive are they than normal boilers to buy?

Best answers:

• I have been waiting for pricing as well.
  British Gas is doing them now.
  The problem is, you can't buy it and install it using any RGI. It has to be put in by an MCS certified engineer.
  https://www.homeheatingguide.co.uk/feed-in-tariff.html
  Generation Tariff 10p per kWh
  Notes:[*]: These tariffs are index-linked for inflation. The Energy Regulator Ofgem will publish the updated tariff levels.
  [**]: This tariff is available only for 30,000 micro-CHP
  https://www.baxi.co.uk/products/2137.htm
  The Baxi Ecogen micro-CHP boiler produces up to 1kWh of electricity
  So, assuming the CHP is on for 12 hours a day for 120 cold days, and one hour a day for hot water for 245 days. 12 x 120 + 245 = 1,685 hours. At 10p per kWh, that's Ј168.50 a year from Feed-In-Tariff.
  So, you get 1,685 kWh of electricity for free, and then you get Ј168.50 Feed-In-Tariff, reducing over 10 years. Assuming Ј300 a year for ten years, the benefit is worth Ј3,000.
  I had to swap the old boiler in March 2010, due to the deadline for the Boiler Scrappage Scheme. I was reading about the CHP, but it wasn't really available. The maximum heat output from the Baxi is 24kW, which is borderline for my house.
  If it's Ј3,000+VAT, including installation by an MCS, and it qualified for the Ј400 Boiler Scrappage voucher.
  It would have been like getting a new boiler for free.
  Damn, damn, damn.
• Have the exclusive rights to Bg now ended on this one?, I also thought it was mighty expensive??
• I didn't know it was BG exclusive.
  https://www.baxigroupspecification.co...-micro-chp.pdf
  It says Ј3,000 "Incremental capital cost", whatever that means, on page 19.
  https://www.bhl.co.uk/category/Baxi_Ecogen_MicroCHP
  This says Coming Soon, check BHL for availability
  It's just as well it's not available, or ridiculously expensive, because I can't rip out a brand new boiler to swap it in.
  I was keen on it for a blackout scenario, but it probably doesn't work that way. What I want is a CHP that can startup without mains electricity, possibly using a battery backup or a manual ignition.
  During a blackout, I would disconnect the main consumer unit, to isolate the house from the grid. Start the CHP, and run essentials like lights and heating (gas). 1kW should be enough to run the zone valves and circulation pump.
• I have just installed a Baxi Ecogen 24 on 2 February. Total installation cost was Ј5,977. This compares to the quoted cost of installing a standard SEDBUK A condensing boiler of Ј2900. Part of the higher cost is the Ecogen unit itself which is priced at Ј3,743 and the cost of electrical installation that you don't have with a standard boiler. So the "incremental capital cost" is the difference between installing a standard condensing boiler and a mCHP unit.
  Based on the results of the 9 days of operation it has generated an average of 8kWh/day of power and reduced normal electricity consumption by 4kWh/day. Based on my marginal electricity costs and the FIT rate of 10p/kWh for generation and 3p/kWh for export (which is assumed to be 50% of the quantity of electricity generated) I'm currently forecasting a total economic benefit of around Ј35 per month during the winter months. Gas usage is about 10% lower than the previous boiler but that was SEDBUK D rated, and of course is complicated by the external temperatures being different, i.e. warmer weather means lower gas usage.
  So from an economic perspective, and assuming just 6 months of substantial use in winter, that means income/savings of around Ј210/year, which divided by the incremental capital cost of about Ј3000, gives a simple yield of 7%. Whether this justifies the investment depends on what your cost of capital is. Taken over the 10 years of the FIT period and assuming a) that energy costs rise by around 10% per year on average, and b) the boiler lasts that long I calculate the nominal Internal Rate of Return at about 2%. Not great, but I'm betting on energy costs rising substantially more than 10% per year over the period.
  As the data improve with time I'll re-post with an update.
  Some other background information : The Ecogen design was developed by British Gas who then sold it to Baxi - part of the condition of sale being that only BG is authorised to install the Ecogen for Baxi. So you get slightly higher installation costs because it's BG rather than your average local heating and plumbing company. However, to get the FIT payment the installer needs to be MCS authorised, and most local companies aren't.
• Hmmm. Jury still out on these.
• I have been quoted over 8K fully installed. A lot of extra cash over standard condensing boiler for a small saving in electric bill??
• I know of two which have been removed and replaced by standard condensers as well due to noise.
• And do you have to get only BG in to service them? For me that would be a big minus point.
• The new boiler is a year old, but my plumber says condensing boilers last about ten years, so just in time for when CHP gets to Ј2,000 per installation. Cross my fingers.
• I have had my Ecogen boiler installed since October 2010. It cost Ј5500. Our electric bills have gone from Ј50 per month to Ј25. I anticipte we will be paid somewhere in the region of Ј200 for the electricity we have generated. Add the amount of gas saved and this figure goes up quite alot. According to Britis Gas web page we are using a third less gas for houses of a similar size and in the same area.
  Using the boiler takes thought. Heat your hot water when you will use the electricity generated. I try and use the washing machine in the mornings at the same time and in the evening TV, computers etc are on.
  I will add more info when I have completed the full year.
  Chris
• I suggest anybody interested in any micro CHP boiler download the Micro CHP Accelerator Final Report from the carbontrust.co.uk site.
  It is very revealing and gives unbiased summary. I've copied a few quotes below:
  "....based on current prices...could actually be more expensive to run than a condensing boiler in the absence of a reward for electricity exported.."
  ".... with the current FIT's ...the net saving is Ј158 per year...... payback period of just less than 16 years..."
  Hardly a ringing endorsement!
  Think my mind (I was looking forward to these boilers) has been changed.
  There's also an acknowledgement that condensing boilers are not producing the efficiencies promised; returning effieciencies some 5% lower hen SEDBUK declared values. This is thought to be because installers habitually put in "oversized" boilers.
  For condensing boilers to work at their peak efficiency the return temperature should be 57 degrees C or below (preferably closer to 50 degrees). The habit of "oversizing" boilers (combined with TRV's) tends to increase the return temperature.
• Thought it might be useful to give a 10 month update on the Ecogen, which was installed in February this year.Gas consumption has been 14,448kWh - compared to 19,756kWh for the same period in 2010, so a reduction of 26.8%. I take this as being due to going from an inefficient D rated boiler to the Ecogen - and given a similar level of usage over the time period suggests that the Ecogen is achieving efficiency equivalent to an A rated condensing boiler.Electricity generated by the Ecogen is 1042kWh. This means that the boiler has been running for a very slightly longer amount of hours during the period. However, using this figure for the hours run gives an average gas consumption of 13kW, or put another way the boiler has run for 587 hours at just 6kW and 455 hours at full consumption of 24kW.Electricity consumed from the grid during this period fell from 4265kWh to 2983kWh, a drop of 1282kWh. This is substantially more than the amount generated, so suggests we've been a bit smarter and more efficient about electricity usage as well.So far therefore I'm pleased with the performance.
• The chp won't be any more efficient than a normal condensing boiler with good control ie weather comp, only saving will be the electric and fit.