Microgeneration – What’s that?!

Microgeneration is a term used for the generation of low, zero or renewable energy at a ‘micro’ scale, and covers all the energy generation resources that are decentralised. In legal terms, Microgeneration is defined as <45kWs (micro-heat) and <50kWs (micro-electricity) under the Energy Act 2004.

The first and primary resource of microgeneration which is renewable is solar energy. Solar photovoltaics (energy from sunlight), micro-wind turbines (energy from the movement of the wind), micro-hydro (energy from the movement of the water) and micro-CHP are considered Micro-electricity technologies. Heat pumps (that is, air, water and earth sources), biomass or biofuels (plants grown or fuel) and solar thermal are considered Micro-heat.

There are lots of different technologies available in the UK. Find them below in alphabetical order:

• Air Source Heat Pumps: Also known as ASHPs, generate heat with the energy absorb from the air.

• Ground source heat pumps: Generate heat with the energy absorb from the ground.

• Hydroelectricity: Water in movement is used to generate electricity.

• Micro-CHP: Micro combined heat and power. This technology generates heat and electricity at the same time, and is currently powered by mains gas or LPG. In the future there may be models powered by oil or bio-liquids.

• Solar panels (PV): Sunlight is used to generate electricity.

• Solar water heating: Sunlight is used to heat the water of houses and buildings.

• Wind turbines: Wind is used to generate electricity.

• Wood-fuelled heating: Also called biomass systems, burn wood pellets, chips or logs to to provide warmth in a single room or to power central heating and hot water boilers.

 

By installing microgeneration technologies, consumers and communities are contributing to european renewables targets and development, helping cut greenhouse emissions, and, summing, fighting against the climate change. As said in the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive, the UK’s main environmental target is to achieve 15% of its energy consumption from renewables by 2020. Do you think that’s possible?

---