David Cameron encourages microgeneration

The leader of the Conservatives has stated that he fully supports microgeneration initiatives as a means of increasing domestic energy production.

In a speech made to environmental leaders today, David Cameron commented that such projects are to be an "important way of accelerating the move away from dependence on imported oil and gas".

He added that the widespread adoption of such power-creating projects would mark a dramatic change in the way the industry operated in the UK.

While for many years energy production has been the preserve of government and the big energy companies, as well as being largely reliant on fossil fuels, a move toward decentralised microgeneration would embrace the contribution that smaller local providers could make.

Such energy would not only be less environmentally damaging, Mr Cameron asserted - it would also be cheaper.

The Energy Saving Trust states that renewable energy technologies - for example biomass heaters and wind turbines - are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, helping people to provide their own energy and reducing carbon emissions.