The Live Wire



Press Release

Small is beautiful when it comes to energy

12 December 2005

CPRE [1] has warmly welcomed a new report, published today by the Energy Savings Trust [2], that highlights the huge potential from 'micro-generation' [3] for meeting our energy needs. It concludes that these small-scale technologies could contribute between 30-40% of UK electricity demand by 2050.

Paul Hamblin, CPRE's Head of Natural Resources said:

'Too frequently talk about energy focuses on big infrastructure needs and neglects the potential of small actions to make a big difference.

'No form of electricity generation is without its potential environmental down-sides, but a strong drive towards technologies like micro wind turbines, Combined Heat and Power, and solar panels for individual homes or small groups of homes has got to be an important part of the future.'

The report recommends that the planning process should be looked at to see if it can better encourage micro-generation. Paul Hamblin added:

'Planning controls have an important role in protecting local character. But CPRE agrees that more could be done to encourage these technologies.'

- END -

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty the Queen.

2. The report, Potential for Micro-generation Study and Analysis, is available from the Department of Trade and Industry's website www.dti.gov.uk.

3. Micro-generation refers to small-scale interventions to help generate electricity. These include solar photovoltaics (PV), micro wind turbines, ground source heat pumps, small Combine Heat and Power, bio-energy and other technologies.



Press releases, papers and documents published on this page are the intellectual property of an organisation unrelated to Central Lobby. We promote their parliamentary and political campaigning activities as they are subscribers to the Central Lobby service.

As such, Central Lobby does not edit, endorse, or attempt to balance the opinions expressed on this page. The content of press releases and other such types of content are the responsibility of the originating organisation.

Campaign to Protect Rural England

More from Dods

© Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd