A bright future for micro-generation and low carbon electricity 
(01/01/2008)
56% of the world’s gas reserves are in just three countries Russia, Iran and Qatar. In two years time 33% of the UK’s gas will need to be imported, by 2020 this will be 80%.
Moves are now underway to ensure the projected carbon savings from low carbon electricity are connected to the Building Regulations Part L and the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) used for generating carbon calculations.
The bright future for micro-generation and low carbon electric heating can be seen in their increased use. By allowing SAP to reference the carbon reductions that the Energy Bill will forecast, we can vastly improve the lifetime carbon footprint of each building. A ‘carbon milestones’ table, for use in policy making, has the backing of many MP’s to ensure we make best use of the micro-generated and centrally generated low carbon electricity of the future.
Next Spring's Energy Bill looks set to usher in a bright future for micro-generation and low carbon electricity, with proposals pointing to how both will be integral to reducing carbon emissions and improving energy security.
In the preceding White Paper The Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP, then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and now Chancellor, noted “The UK’s reserves of oil and gas are declining” and that “we will become increasingly dependent upon imports in a world where supplies are in less stable regions. We need to create the right conditions for investment in increasingly low carbon electricity.”
Specific provisions expected within the Bill include:
1. Easier planning permission for solar, wind and geothermal heat-pumps
2. Encouraging the development of low carbon energy through the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
3. A legally binding commitment to reduce carbon emissions in electricity
4. Strengthening the Renewables Obligation for Energy Supply Companies – encouraging centrally generated zero carbon electricity
5. Projects to develop 90% cleaner coal through carbon capture and storage; producing low carbon electricity
6. Development of nuclear power, producing very low carbon electricity. Passive-safe nuclear reactors produce only 10% of the waste of previous power stations and have a 100% safety record
Richard Scott, spokesman for Applied Energy, home of Creda, Xpelair and Redring has welcomed the Bill and supported the call for low carbon homes. “Low carbon homes are best achieved with the most cost effective mix of improved air-tightness and thermal efficiency of buildings, combined with the appropriate use of technologies like Mechanical Ventilation with Heat recovery, micro-wind turbines, solar thermal hot water and geothermal heat-pumps”.
“The old saying, ‘build tight – ventilate right’ was never more apt. Micro-generation of energy has a bright future, but it’s better to require less energy in the first place. The next revision of Part L of the building regulations should introduce mandatory U-values and levels of air-tightness. Tt’s within the context of air-tight, thermally efficient homes that modern electric will play a vital part, as it does in many countries around the world”
It’s expected that the Bill will push for increased investment in large scale renewables, clean coal and nuclear power, all of which produce low carbon electricity on a large scale, while the growing demand for micro-generation makes an important contribution at the small scale. If we are going to keep the lights on, while reducing carbon emissions and improving the UK’s security of energy supplies – we need both!”
“The carbon content of gas is fixed. The carbon content of electricity continues to fall – only modern electric appliances can produce zero carbon heat and hot water from zero carbon electricity – countries like Japan have long recognised that electricity is the only truly sustainable fuel source.
“Unless we diversify our mix of energy sources we will be at the mercy of these countries; paying their price for dwindling supplies of a fossil fuel which cannot be made any more carbon efficient and is found in places difficult to reach and politically unstable.
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