Alan Simpson's micro-generation survey
Alan Simpson MP's recent survey of micro-generation in different Government departments provides a useful benchmark by which to judge the Government's increasingly pro micro renewables rhetoric. The survey found that of 11 government spending departments, only the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had allocated money from its buildings budget to invest in "self-generation" schemes.
Home power plan 'disappointment'
By Richard Black , Environment Correspondent, at the BBC News website
There has been a lukewarm reaction to the government's strategy on microgeneration, launched on Wednesday. The strategy aims to create conditions under which household or community generation of electricity becomes "a realistic alternative".
While some industry figures have welcomed the strategy, others say it is short on concrete action and funding.
They say it will keep the UK behind countries such as Germany and Japan in uptake of these technologies.
The government believes technologies which work on the scale of households, small businesses and communities can help bridge Britain's coming energy gap while reducing carbon emissions.
A Complete U-Turn
1. Opportunities for All White Paper February 2001
"By supporting renewable energy in the UK, we can also ensure that British industry is well placed to exploit the growing global demand for renewable energy technology. We will embark on a major initiative with industry and others to achieve a UK solar photovoltaic demonstration programme in line with those of our main competitors."
"The programme we propose, subject to approval by the European Commission, will establish the UK as a credible player in the PV market, alongside Germany (100,000 roofs by 2007) and Japan (70,000 roofs by 2002)."
2. Hansard 13 July 2001 Parliamentary Written Answer:
Mr. Kidney: "To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the contribution that solar power can make to meeting the United Kingdom's energy needs."
M...