Wind/solar power micro-generators taking off in the UK.

[suziedemocrat]

From: http://archinect.com/news/article.php?id=31882_0_24_0_C

Rooftop Power Revolution
"Photovoltaic tiles or a small wind turbine on the roofs of houses or apartment blocks are no longer a rarity. If these and similar small-scale generators were installed in large numbers they could have a significant impact on energy policy, helping to slash carbon emissions and taking the strain off overloaded distribution grids."

...

Almost all of us can trim our utility bills by generating our own energy. Photovoltaic tiles or a small wind turbine on the roofs of houses or apartment blocks are no longer a rarity. If these and similar small-scale generators were installed in large numbers they could have a significant impact on energy policy, helping to slash carbon emissions and taking the strain off overloaded distribution grids. A growing enthusiasm for renewable energy has also stimulated development of new small-scale energy generators that are reliable, simpler to install and, most importantly, capable of exporting the power they create onto the grid. "The potential is pretty significant," says Dave Sowden of the Micropower Council, the UK industry association that promotes small-scale power generation. "We are talking about turning power generation into consumer products that you can buy at a DIY store."

...

A single 1.5-kilowatt wind turbine seems insignificant compared to a 1000-megawatt nuclear power station, which some tout as the only hope of curbing greenhouse emissions. But according to a recent UK report prepared for the government-sponsored Energy Saving Trust (EST), home power generators of various kinds could provide 30 to 40 per cent of the country's electricity needs by 2050 - by comparison the UK's nuclear industry provides 20 per cent of current needs.

Microgeneration can bring several advantages. Energy from wind, water or the sun does not depend on gas or oil from countries whose governments can turn off the tap without warning or hike up the price. On top of that, the EST estimates that by 2050, microgeneration could cut the UK's carbon emissions by 15 per cent compared with the present mix of energy generation. And unlike large generating stations, which require a lead time of years, microgeneration capacity can be built up steadily - an incremental change that could, for example, remove the need for a new nuclear power programme.

...more ....

[shenmue]

1. I would *love* to see them here

We need clean energy.

[mom cat]

2. I am starting to look into home gererating options. Any suggestions?

[shenmue]

3. Those roof tiles?

"Photovoltaic," according to the article.

They use them at one of the big parks around here. If I can ever afford my own house, I'd love to look into that.

[suziedemocrat]

4. Check out this roof-top unit from a Scottish company.

http://www.windsave.com/

[skids]

6. Take care of heating first...

...if you haven't already, take care of your hot water (solar heat collectors) and
heating/cooling (geoexchange) first. It's the best bang-for-the buck, and you
can funnel the savings into PV/wind in a few years, by which point the silicon
shortage will be over and the market more competitive.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/10/13/182220/73

[mom cat]

7. Thanks so very much. I have bookmarked your article and plan to

use it as a reference! I have already done a lot in terms of insulation, higher efficiency furnace and conservation ( kept the house at 50 this winter and did just fine). I will look into the water heating and the heat pump concept.

[Crunchy Frog]

5. Thanks for the info.

My mom's been talking about getting a windmill.