ENERGY SAVING

Microgeneration and why it is the future

NAPIT Technologies that generate energy – heat and systems use heat from the use in vehicles it is thought that widespread domestic from Ofgem and can sell it to a supplier so that they electricity – at a scale for domestic use are usually sun to work alongside conventional hot water use is some years away. can claim it towards their obligation. director referred to as microgeneration technologies. There’s systems. The technology is well developed and While removing regulatory barriers for electricity There are other funds (RECOs and LECs) but the a lot going on in the world of microgeneration and a typically covers summer heating needs and 50 per export and introducing grants to counter high up-front complexity of the systems is not helpful to small scale David quick resume of some of the key activities indicates cent of winter needs. costs, both mentioned above, are two steps that applications. Cowburn that we’re going to see a large growth in its use. can include waste and crops like oilseed address some barriers, others remain. Ofgem, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, rape but in microgeneration terms is realistically The DTI’s Microgeneration Strategy (March 2006) Local production highlights the has announced that regulations will be streamlined to limited to heating systems burning wood pellets, suggests that unless a premium price is placed on remove regulatory barriers to exporting electricity from wood chips or logs. This is carbon neutral provided electricity exported by microgenerators, only biomass The national grid is designed for electricity to flow issue of microgenerators to the national grid. B&Q and Currys that an equal amount of carbon-capturing trees are heating is currently cost effective. Even with from large centralised stations down to consumers. carbon have both announced decisions to stock and sell planted to replace those burned. advantageous pricing it is thought that cost Local production being pushed back into the system solar generators and wind turbines to the public. Wind turbines are increasingly being used at effectiveness will only be reached after another five or was never envisaged and a future highly distributed dioxide The DTI has launched an £80m grant programme small scales (2-6 kW electrical power) in schools, ten years in some cases. power system needs research and investment if the to support the take-up of microgeneration technology council offices and farms and the technology is The Renewables Obligation places a specific DTI’s levels of use are to be met. A £2.5m project emissions under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. available for domestic use. requirement on electricity suppliers to buy from called Supergen is beginning to address the issues of and the The Building Research Establishment has been Water turbines are not well established for small sources. A microgenerator can be voltage rise, reverse power flow, unbalance and fault appointed to develop schemes for ensuring that the scale use but could be successful in the range 1–25 awarded an ROC (Renewable Obligation Certificate) levels. efforts being performance of equipment is reliable – it does what it kW. Their use is very site The Building Regulations can and will drive the made to claims to do – that equipment installers are specific both in terms of technologies used in new buildings. It is likely that competent to design and install the equipment success and cost. future tightening of Part L (Conservation of Fuel and combat this correctly – so that the householder is assured of a Heat pumps can pull Power) could see microgeneration move from being sound installation. heat from a “store” such as helpful to being necessary in new buildings. main cause Add to this the sudden proliferation of the earth (a “