Microgeneration

The UK Government defines microgeneration as heat and power generating technologies with either an electrical output below 50kW or a thermal output below 45kW. This spans a very wide range of different technology options, including electrical generation from wind, solar and hydro. For thermal generation, it spans biomass, solar thermal, heat pumps and micro-CHP. The inclusion of CHP and biomass means that microgeneration does not necessarily refer to renewable technologies, but all of them fall into the category of low carbon.

Microgeneration is already playing a significant role in the UK’s energy mix, and must continue to do so if we are to reach our carbon reduction targets. In many cases, the installation of microgeneration offers immediate benefits for organisations in terms of both cost savings and carbon reductions. Existing supply chains also means that microgeneration can be supplied at the high volumes needed to overhaul the UK’s generation mix.

Diversifying the UK’s energy mix can also help to bolster resilience, but only in some regards. Our aging grid infrastructure was never designed for complex inputs and outputs, and this can put strain on distribution networks. Microgeneration of your own can offset this risk slightly, but your site is only fully protected from grid disruption when it is supported by power resilience technology. A battery energy storage system not only provides resilience, but can also make your chosen microgeneration technology more effective by allowing the power it generates to be stored and used when most cost-effective.

Not all forms of microgeneration offer the same cost and sustainability benefits, and it is up to an individual organisation to decide which technology, or mix of energy technologies is the best fit for them.