Making electricity from fossil fuels currently produces around 42% of the UK’s carbon emissions, but this needn’t be the case. Conventionally, electricity is generated by heating water to make steam, which turns a turbine. The turbine is connected to a generator (basically a magnet and a coil of wire), which turns to make electricity. The problem is that the water is heated by burning coal, oil and gas, and this emits CO2. However we don’t actually need to use steam to turn a turbine, there are plenty of other ways to do it without heating or burning anything.
Renewable energy sources are inexhaustible, sustainable and generating energy from them emits no additional carbon dioxide .
The government has committed to a 34% cut in CO2 emissions by 2020. This is being incentivised through grants and attractive payments made for producing your own electricity. Fuel and electricity prices are due to carry on escalating and there is talk of grid parity, where the cost of renewables will be the same as grid prices within the next 5 years. Investing now will carry greater returns on your money.
The supply from the grid is predicted to get less reliable, and as demand increases, you can protect yourself with an independent supply.
Predictions for energy prices are always difficult to predict but are unlikely to fall. A recent DTI publication based calculations on a rise of 30% by the year 2020.
Micro generation on site offers the following benefits:
Enhanced payment through feed in tariffs (FIT)
Improved planning status and position with carbon savings for new build and extension projects (many local authorities are now insisting on inclusion of microgeneration technologies)
No planning permission for many renewable applications
An established grid connection protocol and tried and tested equipment that has improved in efficiency through design and development
