Volkswagen has recently announced a rather ambitious project that, for a change, has nothing to do with cars. Teaming up with regenerative-power company Lichtblick, it aims to install 100,000 co-generation power units in Germany as part of a concept called ‘SchwarmStrom’ which, literally translated, means ‘swarm power’. Successful application would allow Germany to abandon the use of nuclear and coal power stations and provide adequate backup to renewable energy sources, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 60%.
The plan is to install miniature gas-fired power plants based on internal combustion engines in homes, which would collectively produce electricity equivalent to two nuclear reactors over the course of year. Providing heating, hot-water and electricity would be the generator’s main job, and excess power would be relayed back into the local grid for use elsewhere.
Lichtblick underlines its green credentials by citing the use of biogas rather than natural gas, and benefits to the consumer come in the form of greatly reduced consumption due to the high efficiency of the new system. It does have a few hurdles to jump before this vision can become reality, however, since households would allegedly have to pay around USD$7,250 each in order to have a generator installed.
A statement released by VW and Lichtblick reads “SchwarmStrom is revolutionizing power production in Germany. It clears the way for more renewable energy and an exit from power from nuclear and coal. The home power plants together form a huge, invisible power station that doesn’t make the countryside ugly or require additional infrastructure.”
The success of the project is largely based on hitting the targets set to make the savings feasible, and many more questions are likely to be posed to involved parties at the Frankfurt motor show.
Natural gas requires a gas engine, with biogas, would the engine be able to be diesel? Diesel is more efficient for power creation but at increased pollutants.
Ultimately, I think this technology will have most immediate use in high-rise blocs of offices and apartments-where the cost can be defrayed over multiple users. From there it could spread to nearly every house. I\'m guessing that\'s something the big electricity producers are *very* afraid of (and the real reason they spread anti-Global Warming propaganda).
The generator was $3200 after rebate (Generac)
and electrician's fees, switchboxes, wiring, etc. ran another $3500.
I can't imagine the cost to the homeowner where a big generator was running 24/7, let along the noise and smell of NG fumes billowing out. This thing sucks gas at a huge rate... I'm sure much more inefficient than a large-scale NG powerplant, where they have the efficiency of scale.
When my generator started, there was no ignoring the raucous noise, and exhaust (typical NG exhaust smell).
Nuclear FTW... and solar, and wave, and win FTW*10.
/R
In this day, we have so many alternative, cleaner, quieter, less costly (Annually) ways to produce energy for the home.
If the governments actually had the balls to MAKE the energy companies use alternative and clean forms of energy production, they would HAVE to step up to the plate, or you can be assured a competitor would do so.
Why oh why would anyone want to use ICE technology when we have so many other alternatives??? Think about and discuss.
The average home, with Roof Solar PV panels, plus water heating tubes, a couple of wind fan systems for the nightime top up of batteries, etc etc. In a couple of minutes I bet I could check around and come up with a cheaper and more efficient system than someone as huge as VW. This is absolute rubbish.
P
ICE what an idea, have these people not heard that there are these solid oxide fuel cells that are more efficient (and expensive, though production will reduce costs, and the power company can get you to sign a 100 year contract anyhow (in Germany especially) so who cares about the capital cost.
Distributed power has come of age. About time too. Shut the high voltage (energy waste) Grid down, local low voltage power grids only please.
The average household doesn\'t really use \"that much\" power, we are used to running car engines which produce 100 times the household need, at 1/4 the efficiency achievable with an optimised stationary generator.