2.6 Individual actions: energy generation

Most of the UK's electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels, which is a major contributor to climate change. Carbon-free sources, including nuclear and renewable energy, account for around 25 per cent of total electricity production. Renewables, or ‘green’ electricity, account for just 4 per cent but this should increase through policies such as the government's Renewables Obligation, which requires electricity suppliers to source an increasing proportion of renewable electricity. Renewable energy can be generated in several ways: wind power (onshore and offshore); solar (water heating, photovoltaics or PVs, and passive solar design); wave and tidal; biomass; heat pumps; hydroelectric; and geothermal.

Although you as an individual might be unable to directly change how large-scale energy production is managed, there are some things you can do.

First, don't forget the Sun! It is the most readily available source of heat and the cheapest. Open internal doors of sunny rooms and let the warm air travel through your home. Avoid using tumble driers and radiators to dry your clothes on sunny days when they can be put outside.

The next easiest action is to change your electricity supply to green power – most energy companies offer ‘green’ electricity tariffs that support renewable energy. The two main types are green supply tariffs and green funds. A green supply tariff means that some or all of the electricity you buy is ‘matched’ by purchases of renewable energy by your energy supplier on your behalf. These could come from a variety of renewable sources and your supplier should let you know what is included in the mix, and what proportion of your supply is renewable. A green fund generally involves paying a premium to contribute to a fund that will be used to support new renewable energy developments. The cost of generating electricity from renewable energy sources can be slightly higher. Under this option, the existing electricity supply continues as normal, but contributions help to alter the mix towards renewable sources.

You can find a green tariffs guide on the Consumer Focus website.

You could also generate some of your own energy (heat and/or electricity) by renewable microgeneration. Renewable technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines and biomass heaters are increasingly popular and can be effective alternatives to fossil fuels, helping you to meet your own energy requirements and reduce CO₂ emissions. Microgeneration can be defined as the production of heat and/or electricity on a small scale from a low carbon source and can cover homes, businesses, schools and communities. The following renewables are suitable for microgeneration.

The Centre for Alternative Technology describes forms of microgeneration and the UK government has a Microgeneration Strategy.

If you install a renewable technology that produces electricity, you may be able to get paid for the electricity it produces. The most common way to do this is to sign up to a buy-back scheme with an energy supplier. There are two main tariffs available to do this.

• Export tariffs: you are only paid for the electricity that is exported back to the electricity network (you are not paid for any electricity you use).

• Generation tariffs: you are paid for all the electricity that your system has generated even if you use it in your home.

There are also some ‘set price tariffs’ where a fixed amount is paid by the energy supplier based on the type or capacity of the installation.