Micro-Generation a Definition

Posted on 27. Apr, 2006 by ashleys in Definitions, Micro Generation

You would think it would be easy to define something like micro-generation. Well perhaps you wouldn’t, but I certainly did. But as with a lot of things, it means different things to different people. The UK Goverment through the means of the Energy Act 2004 (osl) defines micro-generation as generation of a capacity of less than 50 kW.

Which as James Keirstead points out (osl) is more than enough for most households, whose winter peak demand is usually about 20kW. Actually James on his blog Small is beautiful (osl) has done a nice job on a more complete definition and I recommend you check it out.

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  1. Micro-Generation Definition debated in UK Parliment - Solar Wind - Micro Power Generation - April 28, 2006

    [...] It seems that not everyone agrees with the official UK definition of micro-generation as generation of a capacity of less than 50 kW. As we pointed out the yesterday the peak demand for a house in the winter would be around 20kW. So at least from a residential point of view 50 kW seems plenty. In discussion in the UK Parliment for the “Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill” there was a fairly intense discussion (osl) about using 50kW as the the threshold in the definition of micro-generation. After reading the debate it seems to me that nobody had definitive information on what the average demand for an average house would be. Also it wasn’t the clear what the objection was to the threshold was. It was either: [...]
  2. Micro-Generation of Wind Power - An Introduction - Solar Wind - Micro Power Generation - May 3, 2006

    [...] Micro-Generation of Wind Power – An Introduction Welcome to the first in a series of articles on the micro-generation of wind power. This article is an introduction to small scale wind power generation in the UK. I hope you find it useful and please feel free to provide feedback. It’s about targets The UK has set targets to source 10% of its electricity from renewables by 2010 and 15% by 2015 with an aspiration to reach 20% by 2020. Other governments have also been setting similar targets, although at the time of writing I haven’t researched any specific details. The UK Government has said that it believes that micro-generation, which has been defined as under 50kW for electricity, has the potential to make an important contribution to these targets. Secondary Benefits Of course in addition to helping governments meet their targets, the micro-generation of wind power provides a number of secondary benefits such as: [...]
  3. Micro-Generation of Wind Power - Some Definitions - Solar Wind - Micro Power Generation - May 24, 2008

    [...] Defined as generation of a capacity of less than 50 kW. Although there has been some discussion about this. ROC: Renewable Obligtion Certificate – A certificate that is issued to accrediated generators [...]
  4. World’s Largest Distributed Solar Installation Planned for New Jersey | HeatingOil.com - August 3, 2009

    [...] and renewability. However, another difference is that solar and wind are well-suited to “microgeneration,” or generating power in small increments, using small installations with a tiny overall (not [...]
  5. Micro-Generation of Wind Power – Some Definitions | windmillandsolarpower.com - May 28, 2010

    [...] Defined as generation of a capacity of less than 50 kW. Although there has been some discussion about this. ROC: Renewable Obligtion Certificate – A certificate that is issued to accrediated [...]

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