Baxi ECOGEN - How many of us have them?

Rhodrons

I recently posted a query about the efficiency of my Baxi Ecogen boiler on the another website. Although the post has been viewed many times, nobody actual posted a reply. This set me wondering how many of us have actually taken the plunge and installed one of these beasts. Looking around on the web I can find references to Housing Associations and Local Authorities "spending other people's money" to install these units while upgrading properties as part of green initiatives but I do not see many posts or reports from individuals who have them. I suppose that the incremental costs of the Baxi Ecogen compared to other high efficiency boilers will put most people off but those of us who have them will each have our own reasons for buying them.

I am intrigued to know the actual take-up for this new technology. I have seen posts from many, many people who are considering taking the plunge and buying an ECOGEN boiler but how many have been installed? If you have one then perhaps you would add to this thread stating your installation date and whether your hopes and dreams have been fulfilled!

As for me:
Installed - June 2012.
Location - Newcastle.
Early days yet - still trying to sort out FIT paperwork with Birtish Gas.

Pincher

Rhodrons wrote: »

I suppose that the incremental costs of the Baxi Ecogen compared to other high efficiency boilers will put most people off but those of us who have them will each have our own reasons for buying them.

You mean "initial" cost, I presume. Aka fixed cost.

Incremental is operational cost that you incur when it's up and running, aka variable cost.

Assuming a conventional boiler costs £2,000 to install,
and an EcoGEN £6,000 to install, all radiator and pipe work being equal, how can the FIT possibly pay back the £4,000 difference in any kind of sensible time span?

I think you get something like 12p per kWh of FIT for micro-CHP.
The EcoGEN generates 1kW maximum when it's on, which is maybe 1 hour a day for hot water in summer, and say 12 hours a day in winter when the heating is on. Assuming you save £200 one way or another a year, that's 20 years to break even. More, if you consider the £4,000 is Net present Value.

If the EcoGEN costs £2,000 to install, I would grab it pronto.

Rhodrons

Pincher, I see that you are not yet convinced by the economics of the Ecogen! My rationale was that my old boiler was at bext "G" rated and probably more like "X" rated so whatever I replaced it with was going to save me significant amounts of monety on the gas to heat my home. Of curse the downside is that the boiler is so well insulated that I now have to find another way to dry rugby boots come the start of the season.
Taking the gas saving as the starting point you could argue that it would be just as benefiial to install a run-of-the-mill "A" rated boiler rather than spending the extra on an Ecogen. So it all comes down to what is the best price that you can get for an installed Ecogen.
I wonder how Baxi/BG decided on the price. How would you decide what would be an attractive price? In my sums I had to include the fact that BG offer two years' free Homecare 200 at a value of £200/year. I was paying this for my old boiler so this was a real saving.

Pincher

I upgraded from a G rated boiler just before the EcoGEN came out, but I was aware of it at the time. I think the cost was around £8,000, compared with a £2,000 install for a conventional condensing boiler.

I look forward to hearing how you get on with the FIT.

You can get a five year warranty with lots of boilers.

http://www.plumbnation.co.uk/

Let the webpage do its scrolling.