Volkswagen EcoBlue Home Power Plants Unveiled

Sep 11 2009, 8:42am CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Last Sunday we reported about a rumor that Volkswagen would build small power plants for homes. Now the Volkswagen EcoBlue Home Power Plants are official. Together with Eco energy supplier LichtBlick, Volkswagen wants to build a massive cluster of small natural gas powered VW EcoBlue powerplants.
The EcoBlue systems are supposed to be networked via cellular and get activated when the most power is needed in the network - earning the most money for the kWh. 100,000 Volkswagen home powerplants would generate 2,000 Megawatt which would be equal to the capacity of 2 Nuclear Power Plants.
The natural gas powered small block heat and power plant also heats water, so you do not need an additional system for that.

Whether or not the "SwarmPower" has a future now lies in the hands of the consumer. The first VW Power Plants are planned to be installed in Spring 2010 in Hamburg for a fee of 5,000 Euro (~$7,300).

I think this is a very cool project. Volkswagen is actually really using a car engine inside the BluEco power plant.
More details on the Lichtblick site (German).

where to buy

Buy from Amazon

What Others Say about This

Michigan State U President Lou Anna K. Simon: Diminished Federal Funding For FRIB Will Increase Project's Duration, Costs

Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon voiced disappointment in proposed funding for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) that is substantially less than previously planned, saying it will extend the duration and cost of the project. ...
Full article at: University Business More like this 52 minutes ago, 5:29pm CST

Michigan State Plans $62M Steam Tunnel Project

Michigan State University is embarking on what could be a four-year, $62 million project to replace aging steam tunnels at the school's East Lansing campus. The Lansing State Journal reports Monday that sections of the 12.3-mile steam tunnel system are c ...
Full article at: University Business More like this 52 minutes ago, 5:29pm CST

Chancellor: Dickinson State Woes Not Widespread

The chancellor of North Dakota's university system says Dickinson State University's practice of giving degrees to foreign students who didn't earn them is not widespread. William Goetz says the problem was limited almost exclusively to students from Chi ...
Full article at: University Business More like this 52 minutes ago, 5:29pm CST

Don't miss ...

Technology News

Solar Powered Clothing: The Future of Mobile Charging...

Luigi Lugmayr
Luigi is the founding chief Editor of I4U News and brings over 15 years experience in the technology field to the ever evolving and exciting world of gadgets. He started I4U News back in 2000 and evolved it into vibrant technology magazine.
Luigi can be contacted directly at ml@i4u.com. Luigi posts regularly on LuigiMe.com about his experience running I4U.