In a message dated 99-06-05 16:27:24 EDT, eugene.leitl@lrz.uni-muenchen.de (Eugene Leitl) wrote:
> On the other hand, in Germany there is a trend to build small-scale
> (10..50 home units, or a communal pool) natural-gas driven electricity
> generators which also utilize thermal power for heating purposes.
> With compact methane fuel cells yet to profit from economies of scale
> there is no reason why every home couldn't create it's own heat and
> electricity.
I keep popping into this thread to ask for references . . . here I am again: Gene, do you have some readily available source describing these small gas turbine combined-cycle systems. Lately I've been doing a lot of work for the mushrooming independent power industry in the States (typical installation 1-5 30-150 MgW gas turbines) and have the strong feeling that this type of installation corresponds to the mini-computer stage, with micros and the analog of the Internet right around the corner. The German units you describe are almost as small as what I think might some day be a major element of the over-all power grid.
Greg Burch <GBurch1@aol.com>----<gburch@lockeliddell.com> Attorney ::: Vice President, Extropy Institute ::: Wilderness Guide http://users.aol.com/gburch1 -or- http://members.aol.com/gburch1 "Civilization is protest against nature; progress requires us to take control of evolution." -- Thomas Huxley