Calor Gas is making a determined effort to market low-carbon LPG systems to those households who have no choice but to use coal, or oil for heating.

There hopes lie in fuel cells which provide combined heat and power technology.

Calor Gas has launched a partnership with fuel cell specialists Ceres Power and a new fuel and power system is set to be introduced within three years. Ceres Power is also currently working with gas giant Centrica on a domestic fuel system for houses with mains gas supplies.

Fuel cells produce electricity from a core supply of methane, or hydrogen, after a electro-chemical process that involves no moving parts. They are known as electro-chemical engines.

The fuel system being developed by Ceres Power provides 1 kilo-watt of electricity and 20 kilo watts of thermal heat.

Calor Gas have estimated that over two million homes do not have access to mains gas in the U.K., along with over 100 million in mainland Europe.

But the fuel cell system does not come cheap, although Calor Gas argue that although the installation process is comparatively expensive, the savings made later during its operational life will balance out the costs. Thus, a electro-chemical engine is set to cost around £2,000 on top of the cost of a new boiler. But as its between 80% to 90% efficient, running costs will be reduced accordingly.

And Calor Gas point out that customers of the new fuel cell system might enjoy further incentives to have one fitted, including Government grants, capital grants and tax breaks.

Guest Article by Neil Camp