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Renewable Energy

Microgeneration - is it worth it?

Pros

It feels like you're doing something positive about environmental problems
If it's done right, you get energy without releasing CO₂
If there's a power cut, you can keep the lights on!

Cons

Financial Payback - how long will it take before the cost savings pay for the installation?
Energy Payback - are you actually saving energy?
Makes you think you're making a difference when possibly more effective energy saving measures could be made elsewhere.

Which is better?

Generating your own energy so you can use the same amount for less CO₂ emissions
Using energy more efficiently, so that you need less of it

If you could only afford to do one of these, which would you do first and why?

Future directions

Research in microgeneration is developing very fast. In the next few years it could well be everywhere. How about:

Nanogeneration: Self powered gadgets that recharge just by being left out on the table
Cheap solar panels on your car, bag and shed, through thin film photovoltaics

Next: What can we do about energy use?

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