FLAmeless, affordable & high efficiency MIcro turbine system for sustainable residential Cogeneration

Solutions developed

The EU-funded FLAMINCO project provides for an ultra-efficient gas heat pump that consists of an innovative micro combined heat and power unit. It is mainly power by natural gas, and gas mixtures, providing an average efficiency of 160 percent. Development of this system allows for integration into smart grids.

Main results

FLAMINCO is an ultra-efficient gas heat pump consisting of an innovative micro combined heat and power –micro CHP- unit, a state-of-the-art heat pump and a condensing water boiler. It may be powered with natural gas, biogas or H2 and gas mixtures. It provides up to 135 kWth. A smart control system makes the three involved technologies always work in the most cost-efficient way, ending with a yearly average efficiency of 160%. This system is ready for integration into smart grids and considers temporary costs and carbon intensity of electricity to decide the working mode. FLAMINCO targets 15-20 apartment buildings. End-users may reduce gas use by 30%, what immediately translates into economic savings (4,600 €/yr) and CO2 reduction with a fast payback of just 4 years. Maintenance costs will also be much lower than other micro-CHP technologies based on combustion engines or fuel cells.