Drumroll, Please …
Winners of last week’s Wood Stove Design Challenge are celebrating. The E-Stove, a living room-based combined heat and power unit, took top honors in both of two categories, automated and thermoelectric. Created by Wittus-Fire by Design out of New York and German-based HE Energy, the stove was recognized in the automation category for emissions levels, efficiency andsafety. Its ability to create electrical output up to 250 watts and more than 300 watts when using densified wood logs won it first place in the thermoelectric category.
The next step for the winning team? “To get the stove approved for the U.S. market,” says Neils Wittus.
Finalists competed on five criteria — particulate matter emissions; automation and innovation; carbon monoxide emissions and safety; delivered efficiency of heat; and consumer appeal. Stoves were tested by Brookhaven National Lab with support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Awards were presented last week on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Stoves were on display, operating and providing heat on the chilly 50-degree day.
The Wiseway stove, producing more than 100 watts of electrical output, was noted for good particulate matter reduction and awarded second place in the thermoelectric category. It was created by Hi-Z Technology of San Diego and Northwestern University in Illinois.
The Wiseway team plans to “continue developing this stove and take it to market,” says Fred Leavitt of Vulcan Energy.
He says he hopes challenges like this “bring our nation to energy independence with a clean, home-grown, renewable and sustainable energy source. Wood pellets generate no new carbon dioxide, they are renewable, sustainable and when burned properly are clean.”