With energy efficiency a common feature across political agendas, utilities are faced with having to address the microgeneration issue in the current context of increasing energy prices and environmental awareness. This brief considers the various available technologies and whether current and future microgeneration markets present an opportunity or a threat for the large utilities.

Scope

knowledge of the main types of microgeneration technologies and how they deliver more CO2 reduction than most other home energy efficiency measures awareness of the precarious state of the European microgeneration market, and how it could become part of a mass market decentralised energy system reasons why the UK market displays such strong medium term potential, focussing on cost-effectiveness, CO2 reduction and energy generation insight into how and why future utility profits could be significantly influenced by the success of their engagement with microgeneration

Highlights

Microgeneration is currently a cost-inefficient and unreliable alternative to large scale offshore wind generation and a range of key constraints is currently affecting its wide-scale deployment. Yet, with greater commercialisation, microgeneration has the potential to become part of a commercial mass market decentralised energy system Following a range of government grant initiatives, the small UK household microgeneration sector has seen rapid engagement. Cost projections suggest that certain microgeneration technologies will produce competitive energy by 2020, with the potential to deliver up to 14% CO2 reductions and 30-40% of the UK's total electricity demands by 2050 As it stands, microgeneration will achieve a fraction of its full potential. It must be facilitated as part of an overall programme which embraces change affecting all aspects of the energy generation / usage model. Only then will future utility profits be significantly influenced by the success of their engagement with the microgeneration market

Reasons to Purchase

Gain a new and accurate perspective of the nascent microgeneration market, its key limitations and its medium/longer term potential Understand the likely margin impact of taking a position and exploiting market opportunities early on in the decentralised energy value chain Re-assess your company's strategic positioning vis-à-vis the microgeneration market, and amend your business strategy accordingly.