Government encourages microgeneration

As part of the new Microgeneration Strategy, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will review the types of incentives that could be used to encourage communities to generate their own energy. The government will publish its final proposal in early 2011.

Homes, schools and businesses are already guaranteed cash payments through the feed-in tariff, which came into effect on 1 April this year, for producing their own green electricity through technologies such as solar panels or small wind turbines, as well as for selling it to the national grid.

Around 100,000 homes and organisations have installed this kind of technology so far.

Climate change minister Greg Barker said the government would like to see this figure rise.

‘I want to see more homes, communities and businesses generating their own energy. We can literally bring power back to the people. Microgeneration is a key part of this vision,’ he said.

‘By becoming more self-sufficient we can create sustainable local energy economies. People and communities can save money on their fuel bills at the same time as generating an income and cutting carbon. I want to work with industry to overcome the challenges it is facing. Together we will create a marketplace for jobs and prosperity alongside products and advice that people trust.’