Russell,

On Tue, 29 Aug 2006 13:48:59 +1200, Russell McMahon wrote:

>...
> So a
> Whispergen inside a home that makes say 800W of electricity and say
> 4200 W of heat directly actually adds 5000 Watt of heat to the home!
> So the user gets 5800 Watt of energy use or ~115% efficiency :-)
> compared to burning gas directly.
> =

> You can buy one now if you wish :-)

Powergen, one of the biggest UK electricity suppliers, have Whispergen on t=
heir web site, but with no information except a number to call for more =

information (most of their web site is like that!).

I just called them, and they said they're not selling them at the moment (t=
hey used to) but they are hoping to resume next year.  When I asked why, =

he said "Well it's a production thing - they're handmade in New Zealand, th=
en they have to be brought here... you get the idea?"  I didn't disappoint =

him by pointing out that ships have been travelling that route for several =
hundred years...

I asked about the cost, and he said "If it's anything like when we were sel=
ling them before, about =A33000 installed."  Which makes the US$4000 price =

you mentioned look a bit light... or it's just the Rip-off Britain effect i=
n action again.

Ah well, back to Solar.  At least they will now pay for bought-back electri=
city at something approaching the same rate that they sell it!  But as it's =

currently raining, my experimental panels are generating about 1/40 of the =
peak power I've seen from them.  I wonder if that's a function of the type =

they are (amorphous silicon, I think) or are they all like that?

Cheers,


Howard Winter
St.Albans, England



-- =

http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist