News

Micro-generation

Embrace micro-generation (small-scale, home-based, renewable-energy technology that powers your house) and you'll get decades' worth of clean, green power, freedom from the tyrannies of a global energy supply chain, and be granted immunity from the high electricity bills expected in the near future (remember, the era of cheap power is over).

The Observer 12th February 2006 directs you to several websites of manufacturers and grant providers to help get you started.

Meanwhile, Allan Wilson, the deputy enterprise minister, says he wants to scrap the current grant scheme in Scotland, which pays for up to one-third of the cost of installing "green energy" systems such as wind turbines. More than 600 grants have already been awarded, with money also available for solar panels, biomass heating systems – which use wood from sustainable plantations – and even small-scale hydro dams. Mr Wilson said he believed domestic renewables had a significant role to play and added that he would like to see them become as common as television aerials.

However, he said the current scheme – administered by the Scottish Community and Household Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) – was only helping those rich enough to pay a significant sum to install a device. Mr Wilson said it was failing the "fuel poor", who could most benefit from cutting their bills through the use of a small-scale wind turbine, solar panels, or biomass heater.

The Herald 13th Feb 2006

Microgeneration technologies can be a big catalyst in changing people’s behaviour on reducing their climate emissions.

Recent reports like the Energy Saving Trust for the DTI show that microgeneration could deliver 40% of electricity needs by 2050.

Two Members of the Scottish Parliament, Sarah Boyack (Labour) and Shiona Baird (Green) have produced consultation documents on Bills they are each proposing on micro-generation.