Andrea Rossi answered some questions on the Journal of Nuclear Physics today that made clearer the latest situation with the E-Cat NGU. From what he says it sounds like he and his licensee have discovered some problems in trying to use some of the electricity generated by the E-Cat to power the E-Cat itself, and thus achieve self-sustain mode.
Here are some of the questions and Rossi’s replies:
Renato
May 6, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Dear Andrea,Q: Premise:
If I understand correctly, you are experimenting with a large system that generates heat using resistors (instead of direct electricity), and then applying a Carnot cycle to use the produced heat.Question 1:
Is this particular choice because the client specifically required heat production?Andrea Rossi
May 6, 2026 at 8:05 AM
Renato:
Good questions:
1- no, it is because the direct SSM without passing through the Carnot cycle has posed problems that we still have to resolve before delivering this system to the public. It is a matter of safety1- no, it is because the direct SSM without passing through the Carnot cycle has posed problems that we still have to resolve before delivering this system to the public. It is a matter of safety.Ecat Enthusiast
May 6, 2026 at 7:25 AM
Dr. Rossi:
Your answer to my last question about whether there will be made dedicated home heaters was, “Also.” Does this mean there will be made electricity generators for home use, and also a separate range of space heaters?
Regards, Ecat EnthusiastAndrea Rossi
May 6, 2026 at 8:17 AM
Ecat Enthusiast:
The Ecat is an electricity generator, but the electricity it generates can be used directly only in substations that can deal with electricity at thousand of Volts, so far. The sole solution to deliver the Ecats in the households it to turn the electric energy into heat. Probably we will be able to resolve the problems that have been born during the R&D and the safety certifications, but for the time being we can reach the SSM only by means of the Carnot cycle, therefore by thermoelectric facilities. The COP of the Ecat allows this. This answer can be combined with the answers I gave to Renato minutes ago,
Warm Regards,
A.R.Frank Acland
May 6, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Dear Andrea,You stated that the household Ecats can generate heat. Can this heat be used to generate enough electricity (through thermoelectric conversion) to power the E-Cat?
Andrea Rossi
May 6, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Frank Acland:
Thank you for rephrasing, now I understood exactly what you mean. No, the Carnot cycle needs high power, in the orders of MWs. What is not impossible is that we will eventually resolve the problems that presently make impossible the Ecat to supply electricity for undetermined time , without continue control of our engineers: think to our Latina test, where the Ecat worked well for 6 hours, but under the control of 2 expert engineers; the follow up of that R&D has put in evidence a series of issues to be resolved that make inpossible in the short term to take the liability of a mass distribution.
Warm Regards,
A.R.
There is quite a lot to unpack here. Here are some of my conclusions about the current situation based on what Rossi has stated:
The R&D with the E-Cats that have been manufactured have revealed some unforseen technical problems that have caused a change in the design of E-Cat plants.
For whatever reason, the electricity generated by the E-Cat is not easily converted into electricity that is sufficient to power the E-Cat. Rossi explains that the Carnot cycle to be involved to make electricity suitable for input. My meager understanding of the Carnot cycle is that it is way to convert heat into work, and work can generate electricity. Rossi explains that he is working with thermoelectric systems in the large E-Cat plant that he and his licensee have developed.
It seems that under current circumstances the only safe way that the E-Cat can be used in homes is for heating. For some reason it is possible to safely use the electricity generated by the E-Cat generate heat using resistors, but not for other purposes. Rossi explained to me that the Carnot cycle cannot be used in domestic E-Cats because the Carnot cycle requires megawatts to work.
I am sure there will be further questions on this topic, and hopefully we can learn more soon.