BERR: Microgeneration could prevent need for nuclear

A report backed by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has claimed that microgeneration could prevent the need for new nuclear power stations if enough people adopt the technology

The official document, due to be published tomorrow, states that if just one-third of British householders generate their own electricity there will be no need to turn to nuclear as an energy source.

It says fitting solar panels, wind turbines and other micro power equipment to the homes of one in three British families could generate as much electricity in a year as five nuclear power plants.

However changes in planning policy are needed to achieve this, the report's authors point out, insisting that the government must provide more incentives to homeowners if microgeneration is to be taken up on a large scale.

Welcoming the report, energy minister Malcolm Wicks said: "Microgeneration has the potential to make a significant contribution to overall energy use in the UK and, combined with energy efficiency measures, will help towards reducing our carbon emissions."

The report comes after the government announced plans to help elderly and vulnerable people improve energy efficiency in their homes and bring down their gas and electricity bills.