The Energy Act 2004 defines microgeneration as “the production of heat and/or electricity from a low carbon source” and specifies maximum size limits of 50kW electricity and 45 kW thermal. (Source: BERR Report, 2008: The Growth Potential for Microgeneration in England, Wales and Scotland.)

A consortium comprising of BERR, RDA's, NGO's and elements of the microgeneration industry commissioned research to provide a robust evidence base to inform the future direction of microgeneration policy. The market for microgeneration is changing rapidly, and BERR need up to date analysis of consumer demand, costs and the supply potential, in order to inform policy decisions.

The two main objectives were to:

1) Provide an overall picture of the current and potential future level of demand for microgeneration, and to examine barriers and drivers for take up of microgeneration

2) Assess the likely impact of targets for microgeneration by creating an economic model of supply and demand for microgeneration, which can be used to model the impact of different policies, cost and demand sensitivities. This will build on the original Energy Saving Trust (EST) research: Potential for Microgeneration Study and Analysis, published in November 2005, which provided estimates of the cost and future potential of microgeneration

Download the report in full

Renewable Obligation Certificates

If you or your company produce less than 50KW from renewable energy sources you may be entitled to claim Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC's). One certificate is normally issued for each megawatt hour (MWh) of renewable electricity generated, however at present double ROC’s are being offered for microgeneration. Once a ROC is issued it can be sold to anyone who wants to buy it - most commonly electricity supply companies who use them to meet their renewable obligation. The price of a ROC is set by the market and could be as much as £40 or as little as £15 (£49 in January 2008).

When it comes to selling the ROCs, OFGEM recommend contacting a number of energy suppliers to find the best price.

Useful info: www.reuk.co.uk/Renewable-Obligation-Certificates

For further information on Microgeneration from the government, click here

The Market for Microgeneration in Cornwall (download presentation)

This presentation looks at the current and future markets for microgeneration in the UK and Cornwall.

It also investigates the potential uptake of microgeneration under different policies that could be implemented nationally.

Domestic microgeneration

Presentation given to local Transition Towns Group on small scale wind energy (download presentation).

Visit the Renewable Energy Technology (insert link) page for more information on microgeneration technologies.

Community Renewables

Community Sustainable Energy Programme (CSEP)

CSEP is an open grants programme run by BRE as an award partner of the Big Lottery Fund (BIG). BRE carries out research, consultancy, training and testing to help create better buildings and communities.

The Community Sustainable Energy Programme will provide £8 million to community-based organisations for the installation of microgeneration technologies, such as solar panels or wind turbines and energy efficiency measures including loft and cavity wall insulation. It will also provide £1 million for project development grants that will help community organisations establish a microgeneration and energy efficiency installation will work for them.

It aims to achieve the following outcomes:

• Reduction in CO2 emissions
• Increased community awareness of climate change and how changes to our behaviour can reduce it
• Increased skills base of local trades (for example, local builders and building-service subcontractors working on renewable energy projects for the first time)
• Reduction in energy bills
• Reduction in reliance on imported energy and increased independence from commercial energy suppliers
• Stronger partnerships within local communities with lasting social benefits
• Growth of local enterprise in new technologies.

Applications are being accepted now. Capital grants will be awarded on a competitive basis at quarterly Selection Panel meetings. Please click here for a list of the funding rounds. Project Development grants will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis until all funds are spent.

Details of all aspects of the grant application process, consultants, installers and technologies are available on this website. We will also provide statistical information for all projects that have been funded, showing where the project is and the types of technologies used.

CSEP is managed by BRE. If you have any queries that are not answered on this website, please call the Changing Spaces helpline on 0845 3 671 671 or email us at info@communitysustainable.org.uk

Local advice on CSEP

REOC member “Atlantic Energy Ltd” are on the list of registered consultants for CSEP. A locally based sustainable energy company who are currently working with a number of community groups in Cornwall to produce feasibility studies for implementing sustainable technologies using the CSEP grant. For more information email info@atlantic-energy.co.uk or phone 01872 864488.

Greenprint For A Rural Parish

The aim of this paper is to propose a Greenprint for a typical Rural Parish to demonstrate how most rural parishes could achieve a measure of energy self-sufficiency thanks to the proposed feed-in tariff and Renewable Heat Initiative.

The paper takes St Mabyn Parish in Cornwall as an example and looks at the local resources available, the energy requirement of the Parish, grants available to the Parish, suitable available technologies, and cost and payback analysis for the project.

Download the Greenprint For A Rural Parish paper.