When I was in Roma in the 1960s, I did a tour of the old power station. They had, from memory three large (200-600hp) four cylinder engines, standing about eight feet tall that were used from about the 1930s -1950 to supply power, using producer gas - which had resulted in clearing of most of the trees within about 30km of the town!
These engines had been replaced by two 1000hp eight cylinder engines standing about twelve feet tall, running on natural gas.
I don't have any figures, but I suspect that a well designed producer gas system, driving a suitable internal combustion engine, would be a little more eco-friendly than a steam engine. And you don't need a boiler certificate!
John
JDNSW
1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol
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