Many people are concerned about the potentially frightening consequences of global warming and are looking at alternative sources of energy in their attempt to combat climate change. Microgeneration is becoming increasingly popular as it is kind to the environment, cheaper than traditional sources and can actually earn you money. Here in this article, we will outline some tips on how to get started with microgeneration.
What is Microgeneration?
Microgeneration is the production of power on a small scale, by individuals or small communities. It provides an alternative to buying power from a large-scale grid. Microgeneration is popular with people who are keen to reduce their carbon footprint. It is seen as a green alternative to creating energy as microgeneration technologies are all based on renewable energy sources.
Solar Panels
Solar panels create energy by using the power of the sun. Solar panels are usually attached to rooftops, although large-scale solar farms display upright panels in fields.
Solar panels have many advantages:
They are free: after the initial installation costs, solar energy costs absolutely nothing.- They have almost no impact upon the environment and the technology used to create the panels is becoming increasingly sophisticated and efficient.
- Solar Panels add value to your property.
- By selling excess energy back to the grid, you can quickly see a return on your investment, and your energy will not cost you anything.
Wind Power
Wind turbines are available in two different styles. One is mounted to your rooftop and the second, is free-standing. They can either be connected to the national grid or store their energy independently in a battery.
As with solar panels, wind turbines add value to your property. You can also sell any extra electricity back to the grid. Wind power is most suitable for properties in open areas where the average wind speed is in excess of 5 mph.
Biomass Fuels
Biomass fuels are carbon-neutral, sustainable and renewable. Biomass fuel refers to anything which is organic and can burn. They are often referred to as wood-fuelled heating systems. Biomass fuels can consist of anything you can find to burn at home, such as wood, dead plant matter and even dried dung. Using bio-energy as a source of fuel helps to reduce pollution and control carbon dioxide emissions as well as being much cheaper than fossil fuels. Wood-burning stoves are affordable, renewable-as long as the wood comes from properly managed forests- and low-carbon.
Hydropower
Hydropower can be a viable option for homes that are near suitably fast and deep flowing water. A hydro-electric system will generate electricity constantly, saving you money and providing you with hot water and heating. A Hydro system can be rather expensive to install, but once operational, it will quickly pay for itself. As with other microgenerators, hydropower can be sold back to the grid, earning you money.
Smart Meters
Smart meters are the latest generation of electricity meters. They provide sophisticated energy readings, displaying the readings in pounds and pence making them straightforward for the customer to understand. The energy supplier will also be able to access accurate information from the smart reader, leading to an end of estimated meter readings and inaccurate bills.
Smart meters are essential for customers using micro-generation systems as they are needed to calculate the amount of energy to sell back to the grid.
It is hoped that widespread use of smart meters will encourage mass uptake of microgeneration technologies. Smart meters will pave the way towards a more eco-friendly society. More users of microgeneration systems will dramatically reduce the output of large-scale power stations.
