Domestic Microgeneration

"Is the widespread belief that microgeneration is "a good thing" well founded, or is it wishful thinking? How well does each microgeneration technology perform in practice? How cost effective is each technology, taking into account its embodied materials? This book does a great job of assembling the evidence and sorting the wheat from the chaff."David J.C. MacKay FRS, Regius Professor of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Former Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change "Microgeneration could play a significant role in the mosaic of solutions to the problem of low-carbon heat. Its role in empowering energy consumers can also be overlooked. This book separates fact from prejudice and provides an evidence base that policymakers and anyone with an interest in the area can rely on." Jim Skea CBE, RCUK Energy Strategy Fellow and Professor of Sustainable Energy, Imperial College London

Iain Staffell, Imperial College Business School, Imperial College London, UK. Daniel J. L. Brett, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, UK. Nigel. P. Brandon, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, UK. Adam D. Hawkes, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, UK.

Part 1: Setting the Scene 1. An Introduction to Microgeneration 2. The Residential Energy Sector 3. Cross-Cutting Issues for Domestic Microgeneration Part 2: Microgeneration Technologies 4. Biomass Heating 5. Heat Pumps 6. Solar Thermal Panels and Insulated Windows 7. Solar Photovoltaic Panels 8. Micro-Wind Turbines 9. Micro-CHP Engines 10. Fuel Cell Micro-CHP Part 3: Wider Technical, Economic and Environmental Aspects 11. Integrating Microgeneration into Smart Energy Networks 12. Market and Policy Influences 13. Life Cycle Assessment of Four Microgenerators: Carbon Footprints and Payback Times 14. Technical and Economic Modelling of Microgeneration 15. The Future of Microgeneration