BG Group is terminating its development programme on Stirling engine based microCHP, intended for home installation.

The work was being carried out by a specialist dedicated BG subsidiary Microgen Energy Ltd, established in 2002.

The Microgen approach was based on the free-piston Stirling engine developed by Sunpower of the USA.

Last year Microgen signed an agreement with heating group Baxi aimed at bringing to the UK market (by 2008) a wall mounted appliance combining the Stirling engine with a condensing boiler. The unit was rated at around 1 kWe and 15-36 kWt.