A MALVERN boiler company is helping to pioneer a new form of green electricity.

Malvern Boilers Ltd has just finished building 50 Micro Combined Heat and Power (CHP) appliances for use in trials across Europe.

The appliances are similar in appearance to standard central heating boilers, but are also able to generate energy for domestic electricity needs.

"Whether electricity is generated from coal, gas or nuclear, it is inefficient and environmentally unfriendly due to transmission losses, and only 40 per cent of the fuel energy eventually reaches the home," said managing director Clive Perry.

"With Micro CHP, 90 per cent of the energy in the gas is converted to usable heat and electrical power, and any surplus electricity can be put back into the grid."

The batch produced by Malvern Boilers is believed to be the largest yet made in the UK, although it will be two or three years before they go on sale to the general public.