Posted: Wednesday 6 July 2011

Microgeneration comes of age

The generous financial incentives now offered for the use of renewable energy technologies have lead to unprecedented growth in the number of microgeneration businesses and “specialists” in the market place.

Where once these specialists were rather solitary pioneers, occasionally spotted sporting surplus hair and sandals, who had learnt their trade from their own experiments and relied on a very rarefied off-grid market, it now seems that there is an expert around every corner.

When the DTi introduced the Renewable Energy Advice Service in 2002 (appointing Joe F as its sole adviser for Scotland) the UK list of renewables specialists was a one-pager. Today you wouldn’t try to print it off. The annual All Energy Exhibition and Conference in Aberdeen this May was notable for the increase in floor space over last year being larger than the entire 2003 event.

The microgeneration industry has bade farewell to its niche past. The combined powerful drivers of government policy and targets, escalating energy costs, tightening budgets and generous incentives have created a hothouse environment where new mutations of every heat and power-generating technology can be found almost weekly and, to the layman, it becomes ever more confusing as each confidently claims superiority over all others.

The most marked development is in the solar photovoltaic generation market in which depressed world demand, increased manufacturing capacity and a huge influx of competition into the installer market have combined to bring the installed costs down from over £5,000 per kilowatt peak, which generates £290-400 per annum, depending on the overall installation size, down as low as £3,000, resulting in simple paybacks genuinely of ten years or less – though these are almost always exaggerated by suppliers, who no doubt honestly believe their rhetoric.

The next most remarkable change is in the small wind sector where an exciting array of turbines from 5 to 500kW have recently appeared to take advantage of the feed-in tariffs. Sadly this sector is not over-endowed with the most thoroughly tested and developed hardware, particularly at the smaller end. When Britain’s wildest storms must glance like water off the duck’s back, only the toughest machines tested by years of hard labour and development can really be trusted when reliability is absolutely critical to the economics of a wind project. Insurance against loss of income is essential but the annual renewal premium will reflect last year’s claim record.

Whilst expansion of the market is welcome, the new breed of suppliers is sometimes less focussed on the environment and on satisfying client need than its hairier ancestor. It is now more of a dog-eat-dog world with claims and counter-claims buzzing about and suppliers relying heavily on the incentive schemes to mask price inflation and some far-from-comprehensive service.  As Chris Rodgers of Co-cop bank recently reported at the annual Farming Scotland Conference, the sector has now seen the re-birth of the double glazing salesman.

This evolution makes the role of the independent microgeneration consultant all the more valuable. We are quite regularly approached by clients after they have been visited by salespeople of extremely variable knowledge and attitude. Sadly, more often than not we have to explain how an alternative to the recommended product will be more suitable for their situation, needs, pocket and/or attitude to risk.

Recently, Perth & Kinross Council appointed Bell Ingram to provide independent advice to local businesses in the area, recognising that this overview is critical to the development of small scale renewable projects. The aim was to provide the impetus to move projects from the initial idea stage to feasibility and to encourage project promoters with realistic assessments of their concept.

Included within the project was the provision of free-to-attend renewable workshops, which provided detailed information on hydro, wind, heat pump and biomass technologies along with visits to example installations. Advice has now been provided under this contract to a number of local businesses and community groups.

The Bell Ingram Microgeneration team held their own fact-filled seminars in March and April in Inverness, Oban and Perth and are now offering specialist planning and project management services.  We have so far helped over 170 clients over the past 3 years and we are ready to help you join in the renewable energy revolution in the most appropriate and cost-effective way.

Visit youtube.com/bellingramuk to view footage from the seminars

For further information contact :
nigel.benson@bellingram.co.uk or joe.fergusson@bellingram.co.uk

Tags: Ayr, Microgeneration, Perth

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