Microgeneration as an alternative to coal

Microgeneration is the generation of zero or low-carbon heat and power by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs.

Types
The most commonly used and widely available microgeneration technologies include:


 * Micro wind turbines - Small turbines with a blade span of 2 to 5 m that can be fixed to the roof of a building or a mast nearby. The efficiency of a micro turbine depends on the location and the surrounding environment.
 * Photovoltaic (PV) electricity - Solar PV cells convert energy from the sun into electricity. PV cells contain one or two layers of semiconducting material, usually silicon. The cells are grouped into arrays – large flat panels which can be fixed to the roof of a building. The electricity produced is then transformed from DC (direct current) to AC (alternating current) using an inverter installed within the building.
 * Ground source heat pumps - These use a vertical or horizontal loop buried in the ground which transfers heat from the ground into a building. It can then be used to provide space heating or to heat domestic hot water.
 * Solar water heating panels - These are used to heat water using energy from the sun. They are composed of solar panels or collectors fitted to the roof – these can be either flat plate systems or evacuated tube systems.
 * Combined Heat and Power - This is a highly efficient method of generating electricity because the heat produced during the generation of power – using a gas turbine, engine or steam turbine – can be recovered and used to provide hot water for space heating.

There are also:
 * Micro hydro systems - Small hydro systems that produce power from the flow of water.
 * Mini wind turbines - These generate electricity from the energy in the wind striking the turbine. Free-standing mini turbines are most effective when located in windy areas remote from buildings or other obstructions.

2008 UK Report
A 2008 United Kingdom report by the Department for Business, Energy, and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) found that a combination of loans, grants, and incentives could lead to nearly 10m microgeneration systems being installed by 2020, generating as much electricity in a year as five nuclear power stations and saving 30 million tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of nearly 5% of all UK electricity. To spur development the report recommended a "feed-in" tariff scheme that would reward people who invest in making their own electricity for feeding excess power into the national grid, and 50% grants to help meet the high initial cost of equipment and installation (or, alternatively, low-interest "soft loans" payable over 25 years).

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Thermal solar power as an alternative to coal
 * Photovoltaic power as an alternative to coal
 * Wind power as an alternative to coal
 * Renewable energy
 * alternative fuels
 * CLEAN Energy Act of 2007
 * climate change / global warming
 * Energy Bulletin
 * National Commission on Energy Policy
 * National Energy Policy
 * U.S. tax breaks for renewable energy

External resources
Comparison of Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Power: http://www.ieer.org/ensec/no-1/comffnp.html