The revolutionary gas central heating systems produce electricity as well as heat, meaning customers could cut down on their electricity bills. The boilers will run on gas-powered "fuel cells" which do not need a pilot light or use combustion, reducing carbon monoxide by between 30 and 50 per cent....The other problem I see here is the new boiler's reliance on natural gas. Engineering folks -- what do you think?
Researchers at Sussex-based Ceres Power have been developing the wafer-thin fuel cells for about 15 years. Each one is about the size of a CD case and about half the thickness of a human hair. They stack together to create a cube-shaped generator which can replace the burner unit in domestic boilers.
However, they will not yet be able to create enough electricity to power a whole house. A six-inch stack of the cells can produce 1kW of electricity - enough to provide heatand hot water, and to power a television, DVD player, computer, fridge and freezer and household lights.
Technorati tags: fuel cell, boiler, innovation, Great Britain
