| Microwave boilers 11:11 - Mar 16 with 1010 views | StokieBlue |
Second "it's pretty cool" thread today I'm afraid. This one is about a microwave boiler which the company are claiming is 94% efficient at converting electricity to hot water and will be a direct drop in replacement for gas boilers and fit to existing central heating systems.
Currently their main customers are military so they have some experience.
It sounds pretty promising, a way needs to be found to get off gas boilers and the more options the better.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/16/first-microwave-powered-home
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| Microwave boilers on 11:41 - Mar 16 with 938 views | Meadowlark |
Interesting, but the "zero emissions" phrase casually dropped into the piece needs a little more explanation. This means zero emission at the point of use, but the electricity is generated somewhere, and maybe not by using renewable technology.
What I'm looking for is a combi boiler that can utilise pre solar heated water.
I guess this microwave boiler instead of a combi might be an alternative idea, but I'd need a big cylinder/heat store to allow two or more different heat sources. |  | | |
| Microwave boilers on 11:43 - Mar 16 with 931 views | textbackup |
| Microwave boilers on 11:41 - Mar 16 by Meadowlark |
Interesting, but the "zero emissions" phrase casually dropped into the piece needs a little more explanation. This means zero emission at the point of use, but the electricity is generated somewhere, and maybe not by using renewable technology.
What I'm looking for is a combi boiler that can utilise pre solar heated water.
I guess this microwave boiler instead of a combi might be an alternative idea, but I'd need a big cylinder/heat store to allow two or more different heat sources. |
if Ipswich based, speak to greenscape energy, woodbridge road.
bloke nigel there knows his sht, and is really helpful |  |
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| Microwave boilers on 12:04 - Mar 16 with 907 views | Meadowlark |
| Microwave boilers on 11:43 - Mar 16 by textbackup |
if Ipswich based, speak to greenscape energy, woodbridge road.
bloke nigel there knows his sht, and is really helpful |
Thanks. In Lowestoft though. | | | |
| Microwave boilers on 12:14 - Mar 16 with 879 views | Guthrum |
Some friends of mine (not on a mains gas supply) got a system fitted which is essentially like a giant immersion tank heated with an element. Supposedly it would use cheaper Economy 10 electricity to provide hot water and heating.
Bit of a disaster. Firstly, they couldn't find anyone who would supply Economy 10. Then they found the water only stayed hot for three or four hours. Not much use for heating the house in the winter. Now they practically live in one room and use a wood-burner.
Hopefully this system, which sounds like it's constant-flow, will be more effective. Tho the line that the '... electricity load will be about the same as an electric oven ...' is a bit dubious. Is that the consumption averaged over the whole day, or just the rate? Ovens are only on for at most an hour a day, boilers a lot more than that in winter.
Also, gas is considerably cheaper per kWh than electricity. So to produce the same heat might cost four times as much, depending whether they can get greater efficiency somewhere. But they'd have to do quite a lot to match it. |  |
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| Microwave boilers on 12:16 - Mar 16 with 870 views | textbackup |
| Microwave boilers on 12:04 - Mar 16 by Meadowlark |
Thanks. In Lowestoft though. |
sorry, I should have said "Suffolk" as they cover a large area | |
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| Microwave boilers on 17:34 - Mar 16 with 741 views | Meadowlark |
| Microwave boilers on 12:14 - Mar 16 by Guthrum |
Some friends of mine (not on a mains gas supply) got a system fitted which is essentially like a giant immersion tank heated with an element. Supposedly it would use cheaper Economy 10 electricity to provide hot water and heating.
Bit of a disaster. Firstly, they couldn't find anyone who would supply Economy 10. Then they found the water only stayed hot for three or four hours. Not much use for heating the house in the winter. Now they practically live in one room and use a wood-burner.
Hopefully this system, which sounds like it's constant-flow, will be more effective. Tho the line that the '... electricity load will be about the same as an electric oven ...' is a bit dubious. Is that the consumption averaged over the whole day, or just the rate? Ovens are only on for at most an hour a day, boilers a lot more than that in winter.
Also, gas is considerably cheaper per kWh than electricity. So to produce the same heat might cost four times as much, depending whether they can get greater efficiency somewhere. But they'd have to do quite a lot to match it. |
I have an immersion heater in the tank that runs of "spare" solar generated electricity. That's great for hot water all summer and on many days during the rest of the year, but it has the capacity to do much more.
However on an overcast day in January, it of course contributes nothing.
So a giant tank like your friends, but with capability for more than one heat input would be great. | | | |
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