(1) - Diesel oil tank (only for initial cold engine start) (2) - Main biofuel tank (3) - Engine (4) - Clutch (5) - Flywheel/alternator (stores energy and produces electricity) (6) - Electronic inverter (7) - Radiator (8) - Engine cooling pump (9) - Engine heat recovery (10) - Exhaust gas heat recovery (optional) (11) - Catalytic converter (optional) (12) - Cold exhaust (13) - Heat exchanger (14) - Boiler (wood or biofuel) (15) - Hot water tank (16-17) - Circulating pumps (18) - Heaters (19) - Lavatory, shower (20) - Water supply (21) - Main power breaker (22) - Lights, appliances

The engine cooling circuit can be sent to a heat reservoir in the building, from which hot water and space heating are produced.

The amount of heat recovered is roughly equal to the amount of electric power produced. In residential applications, this is sufficient to cover the hot water needs free of charge.

When the heat reservoir is full, excess heat is classically dissipated by the engine radiator.
An optional heat exchanger further recovers exhaust heat, doubling the amount of heat recovered and pushing thermal efficiency to 90%.

In residential applications, this enables to cover free of charge the heating needs of a sufficiently insulated house.