The British government is urging every household and community in the country to become more involved in the decentralized energy revolution as it seeks public views on its plan to expand its national strategy on microgeneration.
Greg Barker, the climate change minister, launched formal consultations on the microgeneration strategy to help bring small-scale energy generation technologies to the mainstream market. The focus of the strategy will be electricity generation technologies less than 50 kilowatts in size and heat-generating technologies less than 300 kW in size.
The consultations will examine ways to increase consumer confidence and sustainability of the microgeneration industry after the implementation of renewable heat incentives and feed-in tariffs.
“We have already seen extraordinary growth in microgeneration power generation solutions thanks to the introduction of the feed-in tariff earlier this year, and look forward to similar incentives being extended to renewable heating and hot water systems next June,” Dave Sowden, chief executive of the Micropower Council, noted.
   |
   |
The consultation will look at four key areas for development – quality, technology, skills and information and advice – and address broader issues, with a focus on community-level solutions and decentralized energy.
The consultation began this December and will run until March next year. Responses will contribute to the final microgeneration strategy to be launched by June 2011.
Microgeneration technologies, together with smart meters and the Green Deal national energy efficiency program, can help reduce electricity bills and make people more energy self-sufficient. These technologies include solar photovoltaic panels, solar thermal panels, ground and air source heat pumps, wind turbines, combined heat and power, fuel cells and heat and power generation from biomass and biogas.
“We’ve already pledged financial support to encourage people to install kit like solar panels and heat pumps, today’s consultation will ensure that the industry and consumers have the confidence to invest,” Mr. Barker said.
“All elements of the industry, from standards and access to information to technology and skills must be ready to deliver and grow,” he added.
