Table of Contents
- DATAMONITOR VIEW
- ANALYSIS
- There are currently seven types of mainstream microgeneration
technologies in use
- Microgeneration is the decentralized generation of zero or low-carbon
heat and power
- Solar photovoltaic systems use energy from the sun to create
electricity
- Solar thermal systems harness energy from the sun to provide domestic
hot water
- Ground source heat pumps extract stored solar heat from the ground
- Biomass fuel involves burning wood or other organic materials to
produce energy
- Wind energy refers to energy obtained from turbine engines powered by
wind
- The Stirling engine combined heat and power boiler uses a heat engine
to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat
- A fuel cell produces electricity through a chemical reaction similar
to that found in a battery
- In Europe, microgeneration is a nascent and fragile market
- Microgeneration is currently a cost-inefficient and unreliable
alternative to large-scale offshore wind generation
- A range of constraints currently prevents the wide-scale deployment of
microgeneration
- Insufficient optimization of the legislative and regulatory
environment is a key limiting factor
- With greater commercialization, microgeneration could become part of a
mass market decentralized energy system
- In the UK, microgeneration technologies display strong medium-term
potential
- The household microgeneration sector has seen rapid engagement but is
still relatively small
- The Low Carbon Buildings Programme provides grants of up to £2,500 per
property
- Microgeneration technologies could produce cost competitive energy by
2020
- Microgeneration could deliver significant CO2 benefits
- By 2050, 30% to 40% of the UK' s electricity demands could be met
through microgeneration technologies
- Utilities' future profits may be significantly influenced by the success
of their engagement with microgeneration
- As it stands, microgeneration is neither a threat nor an opportunity
- For microgeneration to reach its full potential, large utilities will
have to get involved
- Microgeneration could be far too important to ignore
- Utilities recognize the future commercial, environmental and strategic
potential of microgeneration technologies
- APPENDIX
- Further reading
- Ask the analyst
- Datamonitor consulting
- Disclaimer
- List of Figures
- Figure 1: Microgeneration technologies achieve more CO2 reduction than
most other home energy efficiency measures
- Figure 2: Solar PV are the most widespread microgeneration technology
- Figure 3: Solar water-heating is usually the most effective
microgeneration renewable energy system
- Figure 4: GSHP systems are composed of a ground heat exchanger, a heat
pump and a heat distribution system
- Figure 5: Biomass fuel is considered ' green' if the organic material
originates from a renewable source
- Figure 6: Small wind systems are not generally cost-effective at
present
- Figure 7: CHP systems generate both power and heat
- Figure 8: Fuel cell technology is not yet widespread or commercially
viable
- Figure 9: Current microgeneration installations use a number of
different technologies
- Figure 10: Phase 1: householders can apply for grants of up to £2,500
per property towards the cost of installing a certified product by a
certified installer
- Figure 11: Grounds source heat pumps, biomass, and domestic CHP will
be cost effective in 2008
- Figure 12: Micro hydro is currently cost effective with EEE
- Figure 13: By 2050, wind is expected to save the highest proportion of
CO2 emissions
- Figure 14: Combined electricity output of microgeneration technologies
in 2050 would account for 25% of the UK' s current electricity demand
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