Microgeneration technologies use renewable fuel sources in order to produce efficient heat and electricity.
Heat generation technologies
- Solar thermal hot water - The Sun's heat is collected by solar panels or evacuated tubes, usually installed on roofs. This is used to heat up domestic water. Installing a solar hot water system can significantly cut your fuel bills and reduce your carbon footprint
- Ground source heat pumps (GSHP) - Heat found in the earth is transferred using pipes buried in the ground and converted to useable heat for warming homes, buildings and pre-heating domestic hot water. They provide four units of heat for every one unit of electricity used by the pump
- Air source heat pumps (ASHP) - ASHPs take heat from the air to heat buildings and domestic water, and can even work when outside temperatures are as low as minus 15oC. Three to four units of heat are produced for every one unit of electricity needed to drive the pump
- Biomass - Biomass produces heat by burning organic material such as pellets or wood. Unlike fossil fuels, the carbon released by biomass is offset by the CO2 it absorbs during its growth, and is therefore considered carbon neutral. Although there are many forms of biomass, wood pellets, logs or chips tend to be used most often for small scale household or community schemes
Electricity generation technologies
- Solar PV (photovoltaics) - Solar PV panels generate electricity using energy from the Sun. The technology can be expensive to install but the long term cost benefits are considerable and a properly installed PV system requires very little maintenance
- Wind turbines - Wind turbines use the power of the wind to turn a generator unit, which produces electricity. As the UK has around 40 per cent of Europe's total wind energy, wind turbines offer great potential as a source of renewable energy for British communities
- Small scale hydro-electric - This technology uses the energy provided by moving water and turns it into electricity. A turbine is turned by the flow of water, and even a small stream can generate a useful amount of power. Any hydro-electric system below 100kW qualifies as "micro" (most domestic systems are only a few hundred watts), while commercial versions would be rated at 250kW or more Heat and electricity generation technologies
- Micro-CHP - Micro-CHP looks and operates in a similar way to a conventional gas boiler but provides the user with electricity as well as heat. Electricity and heat are generated and used in the same place, greatly increasing energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and cutting fuel bills. Baxi EcogenTM is an example of a high efficiency, dual energy, micro-CHP system