Priming the pump for microgen

UK government announces its latest funding scheme to encourage renewable energy

New renewable energy technologies depend heavily on government backing. Sadly, though, the UK keeps having to re-learn the lesson that we’re unlikely to lead the world, unless we’re prepared to put a bit more public money behind our promising fledgling industries. So microgeneration pioneers around the country have been waiting - and lobbying - anxiously to know what will fill the funding gap, as the Clear Skies and Major PV Demonstration programmes reach the end of their respective roads.

Hence the evident relief at the recent unveiling of the Low Carbon Buildings fund, designed to get more solar power schemes, mini-wind turbines and the like actually up and running. The fund has £30 million to its name and an encouragingly imminent (February 2006) start date for disbursements. But the big question remains - why so little?

Energy minister Malcolm Wicks was on message at the launch, extolling the importance of microgeneration projects for getting people involved in combating climate change. Meanwhile, amid the grumbling from the renewable energy industry about what amounts to an apparent fall in funding, Chris Tomlinson of the British Wind Energy Association came up with the most constructive comment. “

The best way for the public and industry to respond,” he told the BBC, “is to demonstrate its appetite for renewable power by ensuring this scheme is a sell-out and to build a powerful case for even more government action on small-scale renewables.” - Roger East

6 January 2006

Roger East