Why microCHP?
The UK has two main drivers for new energy technologies, the decarbonisation of the electricity grid and increased energy security. Decarbonising the electricity grid essentially means increasing the efficient use of existing fuels and reducing our dependence on CO2 emitting fossil fuels. This process is being accomplished by achieving ever greater energy efficiency, and generating power using low carbon and renewable sources. Generally, increasing our energy efficiency (using less energy for the same level of comfort and use) means consuming less energy and therefore emitting less carbon dioxide.
MicroCHP is a low carbon technology which generates electricity locally whilst using the heat. The low carbon part refers to the electricity which is generated at significantly lower carbon emissions than the grid. Putting it another way, for every kWh of electricity generated by microCHP a central power station utilises twice as much fuel, as the heat from the microCHP is not wasted, but put to its normal use of heating the home and providing hot water.
The use of microCHP to generate some of your electricity, at close to the cost of the fuel, normally natural gas, offsets the need to purchase that same amount from your energy supplier at more than 3 times the price per kWh.
In order to encourage the introduction of new low carbon technology generation the Government has introduced the Feed-in-Tariff incentive scheme that pays you for your local generation.