Ikerlan, a technological research centre which helps companies to improve their innovation capabilities, has recently organized a conference on Microtrigeneration together with Energy Cluster, Enerlan and PolySMART.

The new Technical Building Code has made the installation of solar heating panels practically compulsory, high-efficiency co-generation systems being one of the few alternatives permitted. On the other hand, the EU, with the aim of increasing energy efficiency and improving the safety of the electrical network, has also presented a new legal framework (European directive 2004/8/EC) for developing high-efficiency co-generation based on the demand for useful heat, primary energy saving and the electrical energy generation distributed. Low power tri-generation (co-generation of electricity and heat, plus refrigeration for air conditioning), is a system for supplying power to homes and businesses which receives greater institutional backing due to its higher energy efficiency.

This conference, which took place on the 12th June at Euskalduna Palace (Bilbao, Spain) under the title “Low-power Microtrigeneration for the residential and commercial sector”, reflected on the opportunity provided for low-power tri-generation by the new legal framework and its market perspectives. According to the organization’s press release, there was a presentation of European pilot schemes, new micro-cogeneration appliances and thermally-activated cooling systems, and the keys for the design and dimensioning of this type of installations. The conference was sponsored by EVE, Iberdrola, Naturgas Energía, the Basque Government and Biskay Provincial Council.