All You Need To Know About Microgeneration
Microgeneration is a small-scale production of energy from a low carbon source such as wind, solar, or biomass. This technique allows homeowners and businesses to generate their own energy that proves to be cost-effective.
Homeowners and businesses can save money on electricity and gas bills. But not many people are aware of the benefits it has to offer. There are various ways in which you can generate your own energy.
This also allows you to sell excess energy back to the grid. Continue reading to find out all about microgeneration.
How can the money be made from microgeneration?
The energy that you generate helps to power your house or business, and the excess power generated can be sold to the national grid. This is done through the government’s Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) scheme.
The government wants to increase the generation of energy from renewable sources to 12 %. So they have put in place this initiative that allows homeowners and businesses to get payments over 7 years through this incentive program.
Payments made depend on the type of renewable source you use and the amount of renewable and clean energy you produce. In order to make money this way, you need to obtain a valid Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) certificate and get your renewable energy source installed by an MCS-certified installer.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of microgeneration?
Here are some benefits and drawbacks of microgeneration to help you decide whether you need it or not.
Benefits
· It provides sustainable energy and reduces your carbon footprint.
· Allows you to make money by selling excess energy to the grid and improving it.
· You can save money on Utility Bidder bills by generating your own energy.
· You can boost your business reputation and image by going sustainable.
Drawbacks
· The initial cost of installing renewable energy sources is high.
· Renewable sources are affected by weather and thus unpredictable.
· Availability of space and location limits the type of source you can use.
What can renewable energy source options choose from?
There are various different renewable energy source options available depending on your location as well as the availability of space. Given below are the main renewable energy sources you can decide from.
1) Solar panels
These panels are created from silicone, and their cells capture the sunlight, which is then converted to electricity. Direct sunlight is not needed for solar panels to work, and they are easy to install.
2) Wind turbines
Wind power is used to turn and rotate the blades of the turbines to generate energy, which creates electricity. Wind turbines need to be mounted on poles or buildings and thus require a lot of space. Moreover, in regards to location, this renewable energy works best in areas with high and strong winds.
3) Hydropower
This renewable energy source uses the energy of running water from rivers or streams. The energy of flowing water rotates the turbine joined with a generator to produce electricity. The more the flow of water, the more the generation of energy. So if your house or business is located near a stream or river, only then can you use this option.
4) Micro combined heat and power
This renewable energy option can produce both electricity and heat. This energy-efficient technology uses liquid petroleum gas or mains gas to produce energy. It has low carbon emissions and is thus more efficient than fossil fuels.
5) Anaerobic digestion
This option uses and breaks down organic matter like animal waste or food waste in the absence of oxygen to generate biogas. This biogas contains methane and is used to produce energy.
