Microgeneration
Encyclopedia
Microgeneration is the small-scale generation of heat and power by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs, as alternatives or supplements to traditional centralized grid-connected power. Although this may be motivated by practical considerations, such as unreliable grid power or long distance from the grid, the term is mainly used currently for environmentally-conscious approaches that aspire to zero or low-carbon footprints.
, photovoltaic solar systems, Plant Microbial Fuel Cells
, ground source heat pumps, and Micro Combined Heat and Power (MicroCHP
) installations.
and a hook-up to the regular electricity grid
is usually needed and/or foreseen. Although a hookup to the regular electricity grid is not essential, it helps to decrease costs by allowing financial recompensation schemes
. In the developing world however, the start-up cost for this equipment is generally too high, thus leaving no choice but to opt for alternative set-ups.
The whole of the equipment required to set up a working system and for an off-the-grid generation and/or a hook up to the electricity grid herefore is termed a balance of system
and is composed of the following parts with PV-systems:
or other means of energy storage (e.g. hydrogen fuel cells, Flywheel energy storage
, Pumped-storage hydroelectric, compressed air
tanks, ...)
For converting DC battery power into AC as required for many appliances, or for feeding excess power into a commercial power grid:
Usually, in microgeneration for homes in the developing world, a prefabricated house-wiring systems (as wiring harnes
ses or prefabricated distribution units
) is used instead . Simplified house-wiring boxes, known as wiring harnesses can be simply bought and drilled in the wall without requiring much knowledge on the wiring itself. As such, even people without technical expertise are able to install them. In addition, they are also comparatively cheap and offer safety advantages.
A new wind energy technology is being developed that converts energy from wind energy vibrations to electricity. This energy, called Vibro-Wind technology, can use winds of less strength than normal wind turbines, and can be placed in almost any location. The vibro-wind setup is also more economically viable.
A prototype consisted of a panel mounted with oscillators made out of pieces of foam. The conversion from mechanical to electrical energy is done using a piezoelectric transducer, a device made of a ceramic or polymer that emits electrons when stressed. The building of this prototype was led by Francis Moon, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Cornell University
. Moon's work in Vibro-Wind Technology was funded by the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
at Cornell.
Turbine-free wind power was showcased in NY Times' 10th Annual Year in Ideas. A video explaining how it works can be found here.
All set-ups mentioned can work either on a single power plant or a combination
of power plants (in which case it is called a hybrid power
system).
Note: For safety reasons, there are legal requirements that all domestic grid-connected set-ups must automatically switch off when there is a failure of the mains power supply. This means that they can NOT supply electricity during power cuts. The appropriate supply regulations should be consulted when planning a system. For more about this, see the article on the condition of islanding
.
, microgeneration at home which uses the latest in cost saving-technology (wiring harnesses, ready boards, cheap DIY-power plants (e.g. DIY wind turbines), ...) the household expenditure can be extremely low-cost. In fact, Practical Action mentions that many households in farming communities in the developing world spend less than $1 for electricity per month. . However, if matters are handled less economically (using more commercial systems/approaches), costs will be dramatically higher. In most cases however, financial advantage will still be done using microgeneration on renewable power plants; often in the range of 50-90%
In the UK, the government offers both grants and feedback payments to help businesses, communities and private homes to install these technologies. Businesses can write the full cost of installation off against taxable profits whilst homeowners receive a flat rate grant or payments per kW h of electricity generated and paid back into the national grid. Community organisations can also receive up to £200,000 in grant funding.
Microgeneration can dynamically balance the supply and demand
for electric power, by producing more power during periods of high demand and high grid prices, and less power during periods of low demand and low grid prices. This "hybridized grid" allows both microgeneration systems and large power plants to operate with greater energy efficiency and cost effectiveness than either could alone.
and agroecosystem
), hydrogen
or other extra electricity generation systems for self-sufficient transport, rainwater harvesting
, composting toilets or even complete greywater treatment systems. Domestic microgeneration technologies include: photovoltaic solar systems, small scale wind turbines, ground source heat pumps, micro combined heat and power installations, biodiesel
and biogas
.
Installing Solar Photovoltaic systems decentralizes the generation of electricity and centralizes the pooling of surplus energy. While they have to be purchased, solar shingles and panels are both available. Initial startup costs more, but saves in the long run. Solar PV panels can run any number of electric appliances including fans, water pumps, food dryers, signs, refrigerators, fencing and even entertainment electronics.
Passive solar heating is another effective method of utilizing solar power. The simplest method is the solar (or a black plastic) bag. Set between 1 and 5 gallons out in the sun and allow to heat. Perfect for a quick warm shower.
The ‘breadbox’ heater can be constructed easily with recycled materials and basic building experience. Consisting of a single or array of black tanks mounted inside a sturdy box insulated on the bottom and sides. The lid, either horizontal or angled to catch the most sun, should be well sealed and of a transparent glazing material (glass, fiberglass, or high temp resistant molded plastic). Cold water enters the tank near the bottom, heats and rises to the top where it is piped back into the home. You can acquire designs through the National Center for Appropriate Technology or design your own.
Wind turbines can be purchased for a wide range of prices. It takes a little more technical knowledge to assemble one yourself but plans are available Mother Earth News.
Ground source heat pumps utilize stable ground temperatures to maintain heat in the pumps. Typically ground source heat pumps have a high initial cost and can’t be created by the average homeowner. This high initial cost means these systems are usually only installed in larger buildings. While environmentally friendly, they require an external power source and are usually powered by non-renewable energy sources.
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that can power diesel engines and can be used for domestic heating. Numerous forms of biomass, including soybeans, peanuts, and algae (which has the highest yield), can be used to make biodiesel. Recycled vegetable oil (from restaurants) can also be converted into biodiesel.
Biogas is another alternative fuel, created from the waste product of animals. Though less practical for most homes, a farm environment provides a perfect place to implement the process. By mixing the waste and water in a tank with space left for air, methane produces naturally in the airspace. This methane can be piped out and burned, and used for a cookfire.
Policy-makers are accustomed to an energy system based on big, centralised projects like nuclear or gas-fired power stations, and it will require a change of mindsets and incentives to bring microgeneration into the mainstream. Planning regulations may also require streamlining to facilitate the retrofitting of microgenerating facilities onto homes and buildings.
A number of countries, including Canada (Alberta), the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel and USA have laws allowing microgenerated electricity to be sold into the national grid.
has been viewed as a positive step. To replace earlier schemes, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched the Low Carbon Buildings Programme in April 2006, which provides grants to individuals, communities and businesses wishing to invest in microgenerating technologies. These schemes have been replaced in turn by new proposals from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) for clean energy cashback via Feed-In Tariffs for generating electricity from April 2010 and the Renewable Heat Incentive for generating renewable heat from September 2011.
Feed-In Tariffs are intended to incentivise small-scale (less than 5MW), low-carbon electricity generation. These feed-in tariffs work alongside the Renewables Obligation (RO), which will remain the primary mechanism to incentivise deployment of large-scale renewable electricity generation. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in intended to incentivise the generation of heat from renewable sources. They also currently offer up to 43.3p per kWh (21p per kWh from December 2011) in the Feed-in Tariff plus another 3p for the Export Tariff - an overall figure which could see a household earning back double what they currently pay for their electricity.
On 31st October 2011, the Government announced a sudden cut in the feed-in tariff from 43.3p/kWh to 21p/kWh with the new tariff to apply to all new solar PV installations with an eligibility date on or after 12th December 2011.
Prominent British Politicians who have announced they are fitting microgenerating facilities to their homes include the Conservative party leader, David Cameron
, and the Labour Science Minister
, Malcolm Wicks
. These plans included small domestic sized wind turbines
. Cameron, before becoming Prime Minister in the 2010 general elections, had been asked during an interview on BBC One’s The Politics Show
on the October 29th 2006 if he would do the same should he get to 10 Downing Street
. “If they’d let me, yes,” he replied.
In the December 2006 Pre-Budget Report
the Government announced that the sale of surplus electricity from installations designed for personal use, would not be subject to Income Tax
. Legislation to this effect has been included in the Finance Bill 2007.
, Jericho
, The Time Machine
, and Beverly Hills Family Robinson
have done a great deal in raising interest to the general public. More specialised magazines such as OtherPower and Home Power give more practical advice and guidance. Websites such as Instructables
and Practical Action
are increasing the popularity of microgeneration by proposing DIY-solutions which can decrease the cost of microgeneration.
Technologies and set-up
Microgeneration technologies include small scale wind turbines, Micro hydroMicro hydro
Micro hydro is a term used for hydroelectric power installations that typically produce up to 100 kW of electricity. These installations can provide power to an isolated home or small community, or are sometimes connected to electric power networks....
, photovoltaic solar systems, Plant Microbial Fuel Cells
Microbial fuel cell
A microbial fuel cell or biological fuel cell is a bio-electrochemical system that drives a current by mimicking bacterial interactions found in nature....
, ground source heat pumps, and Micro Combined Heat and Power (MicroCHP
MicroCHP
Micro combined heat and power or micro-CHP is an extension of the now well established idea of cogeneration to the single/multi family home or small office building.- Overview :...
) installations.
The power plant
In addition to the electricity production plant (e.g. wind turbine, solar panel, ...), infrastructure for energy storage and power conversionEmergency power system
Emergency power systems are a type of system, which may include lighting, generators, fuel cells and other apparatus, to provide backup power resources in a crisis or when regular systems fail. They find uses in a wide variety of settings from residential homes to hospitals, scientific...
and a hook-up to the regular electricity grid
Net metering
Net metering is an electricity policy for consumers who own renewable energy facilities or V2G electric vehicles. "Net", in this context, is used in the sense of meaning "what remains after deductions" — in this case, the deduction of any energy outflows from metered energy inflows...
is usually needed and/or foreseen. Although a hookup to the regular electricity grid is not essential, it helps to decrease costs by allowing financial recompensation schemes
Net metering
Net metering is an electricity policy for consumers who own renewable energy facilities or V2G electric vehicles. "Net", in this context, is used in the sense of meaning "what remains after deductions" — in this case, the deduction of any energy outflows from metered energy inflows...
. In the developing world however, the start-up cost for this equipment is generally too high, thus leaving no choice but to opt for alternative set-ups.
Extra equipment needed besides the power plant
Balance of system
The balance of system or BOS encompasses all components of a photovoltaic system other than the photovoltaic panels. This includes wiring, switches, support racks, an inverter, and batteries in the case of off-grid systems. In the case of free-standing systems, land is sometimes included as part of...
and is composed of the following parts with PV-systems:
Energy storage apparatus
A major issue with off-grid solar and wind systems is that the power is often needed when the sun is not shining or when the wind is calm, this is generally not required for purely grid-connected systems:- a series of deep cycleDeep cycle batteryA deep-cycle battery is a lead-acid battery designed to be regularly deeply discharged using most of its capacity. In contrast, starter batteries are designed to deliver short, high-current bursts for cranking the engine, thus frequently discharged of only a very small part of their capacity...
, stationary or sealed maintenance free batteries (the most common solution)
or other means of energy storage (e.g. hydrogen fuel cells, Flywheel energy storage
Flywheel energy storage
Flywheel energy storage works by accelerating a rotor to a very high speed and maintaining the energy in the system as rotational energy...
, Pumped-storage hydroelectric, compressed air
Compressed air
Compressed air is air which is kept under a certain pressure, usually greater than that of the atmosphere. In Europe, 10 percent of all electricity used by industry is used to produce compressed air, amounting to 80 terawatt hours consumption per year....
tanks, ...)
- a charge controllerCharge controllerA charge controller, charge regulator or battery regulator limits the rate at which electric current is added to or drawn from electric batteries....
for charging the batteries or other energy storage
For converting DC battery power into AC as required for many appliances, or for feeding excess power into a commercial power grid:
- an inverterInverter (electrical)An inverter is an electrical device that converts direct current to alternating current ; the converted AC can be at any required voltage and frequency with the use of appropriate transformers, switching, and control circuits....
or grid-interactive inverter. The whole is also sometimes referred to as "power conditioning equipment"
Safety equipment
- groundGround (electricity)In electrical engineering, ground or earth may be the reference point in an electrical circuit from which other voltages are measured, or a common return path for electric current, or a direct physical connection to the Earth....
ings, transfer switchTransfer switchA transfer switch is an electrical switch that reconnects electric power source from its primary source to a standby source. Switches may be manually or automatically operated...
es or isolator switchIsolator switchIn electrical engineering, a disconnector or isolator switch is used to make sure that an electrical circuit can be completely de-energised for service or maintenance. Such switches are often found in electrical distribution and industrial applications where machinery must have its source of...
es and surge protectorSurge protectorA surge protector is an appliance designed to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes. A surge protector attempts to limit the voltage supplied to an electric device by either blocking or by shorting to ground any unwanted voltages above a safe threshold...
. The whole is also sometimes referred to as "safety equipment"
Usually, in microgeneration for homes in the developing world, a prefabricated house-wiring systems (as wiring harnes
Cable Harness
A cable harness, also known as a wire harness, cable assembly, wiring assembly or wiring loom,is a string of cables and/or wires which transmit informational signals or operating currents...
ses or prefabricated distribution units
Power distribution unit
A power distribution unit is a device fitted with multiple outputs designed to distribute electric power, especially to racks of computers and networking equipment located within a data center....
) is used instead . Simplified house-wiring boxes, known as wiring harnesses can be simply bought and drilled in the wall without requiring much knowledge on the wiring itself. As such, even people without technical expertise are able to install them. In addition, they are also comparatively cheap and offer safety advantages.
- battery meters (for chargingBattery chargerA battery charger is a device used to put energy into a secondary cell or rechargeable battery by forcing an electric current through it.The charge current depends upon the technology and capacity of the battery being charged...
rate and voltageVoltageVoltage, otherwise known as electrical potential difference or electric tension is the difference in electric potential between two points — or the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points...
), and meters for power consumption and electricity provision to the regular power grid
Wind turbine specific
With wind turbines, hydroelectric plants, ... the extra equipment needed is more or less the same as with PV-systems (depending on the type of wind turbine used , yet also include:- a manual disconnect switch
- foundation for the tower
- grounding system
- shutoff and/or dummy-load devices for use in high wind when power generated exceeds current needs and storage system capacity.
Vibro-wind power
A new wind energy technology is being developed that converts energy from wind energy vibrations to electricity. This energy, called Vibro-Wind technology, can use winds of less strength than normal wind turbines, and can be placed in almost any location. The vibro-wind setup is also more economically viable.
A prototype consisted of a panel mounted with oscillators made out of pieces of foam. The conversion from mechanical to electrical energy is done using a piezoelectric transducer, a device made of a ceramic or polymer that emits electrons when stressed. The building of this prototype was led by Francis Moon, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. Moon's work in Vibro-Wind Technology was funded by the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
The David R. Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future is a research organization created in Fall 2007 at Cornell University. ACSF advances multidisciplinary research in Energy, the Environment and Economic Development, and cultivates collaborations within and beyond Cornell.- History :ACSF,...
at Cornell.
Turbine-free wind power was showcased in NY Times' 10th Annual Year in Ideas. A video explaining how it works can be found here.
Possible set-ups
Several microgeneration set-ups are possible. These are:- Off-the-gridOff-the-gridThe term off-the-grid or off-grid refers to living in a self-sufficient manner without reliance on one or more public utilities....
set-ups which include:- Off-the grid set-ups without energy storage (e.g., battery, ...)
- Off-the grid set-ups with energy storage (e.g., battery, ...)
- Battery charging stations
- Grid-connected set-ups which include:
- Grid-connected set-ups without financial recompensation scheme
- Grid-connected set-ups with net meteringNet meteringNet metering is an electricity policy for consumers who own renewable energy facilities or V2G electric vehicles. "Net", in this context, is used in the sense of meaning "what remains after deductions" — in this case, the deduction of any energy outflows from metered energy inflows...
- Grid connected set-ups with net purchase and sale
All set-ups mentioned can work either on a single power plant or a combination
Combination
In mathematics a combination is a way of selecting several things out of a larger group, where order does not matter. In smaller cases it is possible to count the number of combinations...
of power plants (in which case it is called a hybrid power
Hybrid power
Hybrid power describes the combination of a power producer and the means to store that power in an energy storage medium.In power engineering, the term 'hybrid' describes a combined power and energy storage system...
system).
Note: For safety reasons, there are legal requirements that all domestic grid-connected set-ups must automatically switch off when there is a failure of the mains power supply. This means that they can NOT supply electricity during power cuts. The appropriate supply regulations should be consulted when planning a system. For more about this, see the article on the condition of islanding
Islanding
Islanding refers to the condition in which a distributed generation generator continues to power a location even though electrical grid power from the electric utility is no longer present. Islanding can be dangerous to utility workers, who may not realize that a circuit is still powered, and it...
.
Costs
Depending on the set-up chosen (financial recompensation scheme, power plant, extra equipment), prices may vary. According to Practical ActionPractical Action
Practical Action is a development charity registered in the United Kingdom which works directly in four regions of the developing world – Latin America, East Africa, Southern Africa and South Asia, with particular concentration on Peru, Kenya, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Nepal.In these countries,...
, microgeneration at home which uses the latest in cost saving-technology (wiring harnesses, ready boards, cheap DIY-power plants (e.g. DIY wind turbines), ...) the household expenditure can be extremely low-cost. In fact, Practical Action mentions that many households in farming communities in the developing world spend less than $1 for electricity per month. . However, if matters are handled less economically (using more commercial systems/approaches), costs will be dramatically higher. In most cases however, financial advantage will still be done using microgeneration on renewable power plants; often in the range of 50-90%
In the UK, the government offers both grants and feedback payments to help businesses, communities and private homes to install these technologies. Businesses can write the full cost of installation off against taxable profits whilst homeowners receive a flat rate grant or payments per kW h of electricity generated and paid back into the national grid. Community organisations can also receive up to £200,000 in grant funding.
Comparison with large-scale generation
| microgeneration | large-scale generation | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other names | Distributed generation | Centralized generation | |
| Waste Heat by-product | Can be used for heating purposes, thus greatly increasing efficiency and offsetting energy total costs. This method is known as micro combined heat and power (microCHP). |
It is used in some privately owned industrial combined heat and power Combined Heat and Power Combined Heat and Power may refer to:* Cogeneration* Combined Heat and Power Solar... (CHP) installations. It's also use in large scale applications where it's called district heating District heating District heating is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location for residential and commercial heating requirements such as space heating and water heating... and uses the heat that is normally exhausted by inefficient powerplants. |
|
| Transmission losses | Proximity to end user typically closer resulting in potentially fewer losses. | A significant proportion of electrical power is lost during transmission (approximately 8% in the United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... according to BBC BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff... Radio 4 Today programme in March 2006). |
|
| Changes to Grid | reduces the transmission load, and thus reduces the need for grid upgrades | increases the power transmitted, and thus increases the need for grid upgrades | |
| Grid failure event | Electricity may still be available to local area in many circumstances | Electricity may be not available due to grid | |
| Consumer choices | May choose to purchase any legal system | May choose to purchase offerings of the power company | |
| Reliability and Maintenance requirements | photovoltaics Photovoltaics Photovoltaics is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells containing a photovoltaic material... , Stirling engine Stirling engine A Stirling engine is a heat engine operating by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas, the working fluid, at different temperature levels such that there is a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work.... s, and certain other systems, are usually extremely reliable, and can generate electric power Electric power Electric power is the rate at which electric energy is transferred by an electric circuit. The SI unit of power is the watt.-Circuits:Electric power, like mechanical power, is represented by the letter P in electrical equations... continuously for many thousands of hours with little or no maintenance. However, unreliable systems will incur additional maintenance labor and costs. |
Managed by power company. Grid reliability varies with location. | |
| sales-pitch exaggerations | Focused on the "green-ness" of energy | Focused on the energy crisis Energy crisis An energy crisis is any great bottleneck in the supply of energy resources to an economy. In popular literature though, it often refers to one of the energy sources used at a certain time and place, particularly those that supply national electricity grids or serve as fuel for vehicles... |
Both produce electricity. Both are subject to misinformation. |
| Ability to meet needs |
|
|
|
| Economy of scale | Necessitates mass production of generators which will create an associated environmental impact. Systems are less expensive when produced in quantity. | More economical given the larger scale of the generators. |
Microgeneration can dynamically balance the supply and demand
Supply and demand
Supply and demand is an economic model of price determination in a market. It concludes that in a competitive market, the unit price for a particular good will vary until it settles at a point where the quantity demanded by consumers will equal the quantity supplied by producers , resulting in an...
for electric power, by producing more power during periods of high demand and high grid prices, and less power during periods of low demand and low grid prices. This "hybridized grid" allows both microgeneration systems and large power plants to operate with greater energy efficiency and cost effectiveness than either could alone.
Microgeneration as integrated part of domestic self-sufficient system
Microgeneration can be integrated as part of a self-sufficient house and is typically complemented with other technologies such as domestic food production systems (permaculturePermaculture
Permaculture is an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural systems that is modeled on the relationships found in nature. It is based on the ecology of how things interrelate rather than on the strictly biological concerns that form the foundation of modern agriculture...
and agroecosystem
Agroecosystem
An agroecosystem is the basic unit of study for an agroecologist, and is somewhat arbitrarily defined as a spatially and functionally coherent unit of agricultural activity, and includes the living and nonliving components involved in that unit as well as their interactions.An agroecosystem can be...
), hydrogen
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
or other extra electricity generation systems for self-sufficient transport, rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is the accumulating and storing of rainwater for reuse before it reaches the aquifer. It has been used to provide drinking water, water for livestock, water for irrigation, as well as other typical uses. Rainwater collected from the roofs of houses and local institutions can...
, composting toilets or even complete greywater treatment systems. Domestic microgeneration technologies include: photovoltaic solar systems, small scale wind turbines, ground source heat pumps, micro combined heat and power installations, biodiesel
Biodiesel
Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids with an alcohol....
and biogas
Biogas
Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas...
.
Installing Solar Photovoltaic systems decentralizes the generation of electricity and centralizes the pooling of surplus energy. While they have to be purchased, solar shingles and panels are both available. Initial startup costs more, but saves in the long run. Solar PV panels can run any number of electric appliances including fans, water pumps, food dryers, signs, refrigerators, fencing and even entertainment electronics.
Passive solar heating is another effective method of utilizing solar power. The simplest method is the solar (or a black plastic) bag. Set between 1 and 5 gallons out in the sun and allow to heat. Perfect for a quick warm shower.
The ‘breadbox’ heater can be constructed easily with recycled materials and basic building experience. Consisting of a single or array of black tanks mounted inside a sturdy box insulated on the bottom and sides. The lid, either horizontal or angled to catch the most sun, should be well sealed and of a transparent glazing material (glass, fiberglass, or high temp resistant molded plastic). Cold water enters the tank near the bottom, heats and rises to the top where it is piped back into the home. You can acquire designs through the National Center for Appropriate Technology or design your own.
Wind turbines can be purchased for a wide range of prices. It takes a little more technical knowledge to assemble one yourself but plans are available Mother Earth News.
Ground source heat pumps utilize stable ground temperatures to maintain heat in the pumps. Typically ground source heat pumps have a high initial cost and can’t be created by the average homeowner. This high initial cost means these systems are usually only installed in larger buildings. While environmentally friendly, they require an external power source and are usually powered by non-renewable energy sources.
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that can power diesel engines and can be used for domestic heating. Numerous forms of biomass, including soybeans, peanuts, and algae (which has the highest yield), can be used to make biodiesel. Recycled vegetable oil (from restaurants) can also be converted into biodiesel.
Biogas is another alternative fuel, created from the waste product of animals. Though less practical for most homes, a farm environment provides a perfect place to implement the process. By mixing the waste and water in a tank with space left for air, methane produces naturally in the airspace. This methane can be piped out and burned, and used for a cookfire.
Government policy
There is considerable resistance to microgeneration from many governments, local authorities and energy companies. Current incentives discourage energy suppliers and grid operators from bringing energy generation to the point of demand.Policy-makers are accustomed to an energy system based on big, centralised projects like nuclear or gas-fired power stations, and it will require a change of mindsets and incentives to bring microgeneration into the mainstream. Planning regulations may also require streamlining to facilitate the retrofitting of microgenerating facilities onto homes and buildings.
A number of countries, including Canada (Alberta), the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel and USA have laws allowing microgenerated electricity to be sold into the national grid.
Alberta, Canada
In January 2009, the Government of Alberta‘s Micro-Generation Regulation came into effect. This regulation is a set of rules that allows Albertans to generate their own environmentally friendly electricity and receive credit for any power they send into the electricity grid. See how microgeneration works in Alberta.United States
The United States has inconsistent energy generation policies across its 50 states. State energy policies and laws may vary significantly with location. Some states have imposed requirements on utilities that a certain percentage of total power generation be from renewable sources. For this purpose, renewable sources include wind, hydroelectric, and solar power whether from large or microgeneration projects. Further, in some areas transferrable "renewable source energy" credits are needed by power companies to meet these mandates. As a result, in some portions of the United States, power companies will pay a portion of the cost of renewable source microgeneration projects in their service areas. These rebates are in addition to any Federal or State renewable-energy income-tax credits that may be applicable. In other areas, such rebates may differ or may not be available.United Kingdom
The UK Government published its Microgeneration Strategy in March 2006, although it was seen as a disappointment by many commentators. In contrast, the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006
The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which aims to boost the number of heat and electricity microgeneration installations in the United Kingdom, so helping to cut carbon emissions and reduce fuel poverty.The Act was piloted through...
has been viewed as a positive step. To replace earlier schemes, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched the Low Carbon Buildings Programme in April 2006, which provides grants to individuals, communities and businesses wishing to invest in microgenerating technologies. These schemes have been replaced in turn by new proposals from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) for clean energy cashback via Feed-In Tariffs for generating electricity from April 2010 and the Renewable Heat Incentive for generating renewable heat from September 2011.
Feed-In Tariffs are intended to incentivise small-scale (less than 5MW), low-carbon electricity generation. These feed-in tariffs work alongside the Renewables Obligation (RO), which will remain the primary mechanism to incentivise deployment of large-scale renewable electricity generation. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in intended to incentivise the generation of heat from renewable sources. They also currently offer up to 43.3p per kWh (21p per kWh from December 2011) in the Feed-in Tariff plus another 3p for the Export Tariff - an overall figure which could see a household earning back double what they currently pay for their electricity.
On 31st October 2011, the Government announced a sudden cut in the feed-in tariff from 43.3p/kWh to 21p/kWh with the new tariff to apply to all new solar PV installations with an eligibility date on or after 12th December 2011.
Prominent British Politicians who have announced they are fitting microgenerating facilities to their homes include the Conservative party leader, David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
, and the Labour Science Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
, Malcolm Wicks
Malcolm Wicks
Malcolm Hunt Wicks is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Croydon North since 1997. He was MP for Croydon North West from 1992 to 1997.-Early life and education:...
. These plans included small domestic sized wind turbines
Wind turbines (UK domestic)
Small wind turbines intended for installation on an individual home have been on the market in the United Kingdom for many years, but their popularity and public awareness is now increasing substantially....
. Cameron, before becoming Prime Minister in the 2010 general elections, had been asked during an interview on BBC One’s The Politics Show
The Politics Show
The Politics Show is an hour long BBC One television political programme broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sundays. The programme usually starts at midday, but is often earlier or later when sporting events clash in the schedules. It was launched in 2003 and was originally presented by Jeremy...
on the October 29th 2006 if he would do the same should he get to 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
. “If they’d let me, yes,” he replied.
In the December 2006 Pre-Budget Report
Pre-Budget Report
In the United Kingdom, the Autumn Statement, at times the Summer Statement and the Pre-Budget Report , is one of the two statements HM Treasury makes each year to Parliament upon publication of economic forecasts, the other being the annual Budget...
the Government announced that the sale of surplus electricity from installations designed for personal use, would not be subject to Income Tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
. Legislation to this effect has been included in the Finance Bill 2007.
In popular culture
Microgeneration has been popularised by several movies, TV-shows, and magazines. Movies such as The Mosquito CoastThe Mosquito Coast
The Mosquito Coast is a 1986 American film directed by Peter Weir, based on the novel by Paul Theroux. The film stars Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, and River Phoenix. The film tells the story of a family that leaves the United States and tries to find a happier and simpler life in the jungles of...
, Jericho
Jericho (TV series)
Jericho is an American action/drama series that centers on the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas, in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States...
, The Time Machine
The Time Machine (2002 film)
The Time Machine is a 2002 American science fiction film loosely adapted from the 1895 novel of the same name by H. G. Wells, and the 1960 film screenplay by David Duncan...
, and Beverly Hills Family Robinson
Beverly Hills Family Robinson
Beverly Hills Family Robinson is a 1997 American Walt Disney television film based on the novel Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss. The film features Dyan Cannon, Martin Mull, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan O'Donohue as the main cast and was aired on ABC...
have done a great deal in raising interest to the general public. More specialised magazines such as OtherPower and Home Power give more practical advice and guidance. Websites such as Instructables
Instructables
Instructables is a website specializing in user-created and uploaded do-it-yourself projects, which other users can comment on and rate for quality. It was created by Eric Wilhelm, a mechanical engineer, and launched in August 2005. Instructables is dedicated to step-by-step collaboration among...
and Practical Action
Practical Action
Practical Action is a development charity registered in the United Kingdom which works directly in four regions of the developing world – Latin America, East Africa, Southern Africa and South Asia, with particular concentration on Peru, Kenya, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Nepal.In these countries,...
are increasing the popularity of microgeneration by proposing DIY-solutions which can decrease the cost of microgeneration.
See also
- Appropriate technologyAppropriate technologyAppropriate technology is an ideological movement originally articulated as "intermediate technology" by the economist Dr...
; includes a list of technology usable to set up microgeneration - Deep cycle batteryDeep cycle batteryA deep-cycle battery is a lead-acid battery designed to be regularly deeply discharged using most of its capacity. In contrast, starter batteries are designed to deliver short, high-current bursts for cranking the engine, thus frequently discharged of only a very small part of their capacity...
(the type of batteries to be used in domestic, off-grid systems) - Distributed generationDistributed generationDistributed generation, also called on-site generation, dispersed generation, embedded generation, decentralized generation, decentralized energy or distributed energy, generates electricity from many small energy sources....
- Domestic energy consumptionDomestic Energy ConsumptionDomestic energy consumption is the amount of energy that is spent on the different appliances used within housing. The amount of energy used per household varies widely depending on the standard of living of the country, climate, and the age and type of residence...
(offers calculations to set up microgeneration-plants) - Emergency power systemEmergency power systemEmergency power systems are a type of system, which may include lighting, generators, fuel cells and other apparatus, to provide backup power resources in a crisis or when regular systems fail. They find uses in a wide variety of settings from residential homes to hospitals, scientific...
- Home fuel cellHome fuel cellA home fuel cell, also called micro combined heat and power and microgeneration, is a residential-scaled clean energy system. A home fuel cell is an alternative energy technology that increases efficiency by simultaneously generating power and heat from one unit, on-site within a home...
- Hydrogen stationHydrogen stationA hydrogen station is a storage or filling station for hydrogen, usually located along a road or hydrogen highway, or at home as part of the distributed generation resources concept. The stations are usually intended to power vehicles, but can also be used to power small devices. Vehicles use...
- MicropowerMicropowerMicropower describes the work that researchers at several universities are doing to develop very small electric generators and prime movers or devices to convert heat or motion to electricity, for use close to the generator...
- Photovoltaic array
- Small scale wind power
Systems' self-sufficiency parts
- Microgeneration.com - Basic information on setting up microgeneration at home
- USDA EERE's off-grid generation page
- Information on precise domestic power consumption calculations to create partial/or completely off-grid systems
- Practical action's info on setting-up microgeneration at home
- Earthship Biotincture's info and practical (low-cost) modules on setting up microgeneration systems in practice
- VillageEarth AT SourceBook: Contains information on microgeneration systems and set-ups
- BlueEnergy; provides general schematic of parts required for self-sufficient energy generation system, also provides info on DIY equipment (windturbine in set-ups)
- Domestic Wind Turbine Test Videos
- MAKE WIND PAY - Interesting document on wind logging for small scale wind turbines
- Hope Farm Information on Wind Power - Page on securing incentives, building, and monitoring power generated by small scale wind on Upstate NY farm.
UK-related
- Wind Turbine Generators, Durham University, UK
- http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources
- Renewable Heat Incentive
- Environment and Greener Living
- Ofgem information on Feed-in Tariffs
- Feed-in Tariffs. Government’s Response to the Summer 2009 Consultation
- Micropower Council - In the UK they act as the industry's main contact point for government, opinion formers, the press, and the public
- Small is Beautiful, commentary on UK microgeneration issues
- Power Predictor - Low-cost and easy-to-use site assessment
- Building for a Future magazine: Microgeneration - Good or bad?
- Microgeneration Yorkshire - support for microgeneration sector in Yorkshire
- Professional Wind Speed Logger for Small scale Wind Turbine projects