REVIEW OF BIOMASS BASED MICRO CHP FOR LOW ENERGY BUILDINGS

Residential renewable heating and cooling (RHC) is very important, accounting for 43% of the final bioenergy consumption in Europe (EU-27) in 2008, and is estimated to reach 45% by 2020. However, this is also a sector which is facing a number of challenges in the future, related to an accelerating introduction of low energy and passive housing. In low energy and passive houses, user thermal comfort is becoming increasingly important. Due to the low heat demands of these houses it is increasingly important to achieve a heat release profile without an excessive peak effect, in combustion units down to 2 kW nominal effect if providing space heating only. The paper reviews biomass based micro CHP technologies that could be suitable for low energy buildings and passive houses, with respect to energetic and environmental performance, costs, level of development and degree of suitability. Finally, preliminary recommendations for biomass based micro CHP in low energy buildings and passive houses are given.