Microgeneration

[platypus]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/03/renewableenergy.alternativeenergy1

Quite an interesting article, I for one would certainly invest in home generation facilities if there were incentives to do so, or grants to help with the cost. Is this a fad, or a genuinely good idea?

I'm quite in favour of it. I wonder if the government will seize upon it like the opposition has.

 

[scorza]

There are grants available at the moment I believe - part of the problem is that they are heavily over subscribed at the moment.

I too think it's a good idea, but we'll never get away from needing big, central power stations whether powered by nuclear or fossil fuels. Hopefully we can make do with less of them however.

 

[Pookie Bear]

Yes, there are microgeneration grants available, but scorza is right in that they are heavily over-subscribed (last I heard) and they just don't get enough money. You can see someinfo here: http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/home/

I was shocked to read recently that one small region in Germany (from memory, it was less than half a million people, not even households!) produced more solar energy than the entirety of the UK.

Of course, that can be attributed to the weather in the UK (to some extent) but the bottom line is that microgeneration at themoment is a total pain in the arse. There's the cost, difficulty in selling it back to the grid (which many want to do), engineering recommendations, planning permission and other issues. I understand that someone at BERR is looking at these things, but who knows what's going on sometimes!