Review of UK microgeneration. Part 1 : policy and behavioural aspects

A critical review of the literature relating to government policy and behavioural aspects relevant to the uptake and application of microgeneration in the UK is presented. Given the current policy context aspiring to zero-carbon new homes by 2016 and a variety of minimum standards and financial policy instruments supporting microgeneration in existing dwellings, it appears that this class of technologies could make a significant contribution to UK energy supply and low-carbon buildings in the future. Indeed, achievement of a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 80% (the UK government's 2050 target) for the residential sector may entail substantial deployment of microgeneration. Realisation of the large potential market for microgeneration relies on a variety of inter-related factors such as microeconomics, behavioural aspects, the structure of supporting policy instruments and well-informed technology development. This article explores these issues in terms of current and proposed policy instruments in the UK. Behavioural aspects associated with both initial uptake of the technology and after purchase are also considered

Thermal Management Issues in Fuel Cell Technology

Fuel cells are electrochemical energy conversion devices that convert chemical energy in fuels directly into electrical energy, without the process of combustion. As a result, they are not constrained by the thermodynamic limitations of heat engines and therefore have the potential to achieve higher efficiencies. Various fuel cell types exist, operating from room temperature to over 1000 °C. This paper focuses on two of the leading fuel cell types, namely the lower temperature (80–120 °C) polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and the higher temperature (500–1000 °C) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), with particular attention paid to the importance of thermal management and heat transfer in these systems, as it is thermal transients, and the appropriate design of the thermal management sub-system, that frequently limit fuel cell system performance and durability. Two examples of research from the authors’ laboratories are given; the first relates to the measurement and modelling of heat transfer in PEMFCs; the second to the thermal management of SOFCs.</jats:p

UK microgeneration. Part I: policy and behavioural aspects

A critical review of the literature relating to government policy and behavioural aspects relevant to the uptake and application of microgeneration in the UK is presented. Given the current policy context aspiring to zero-carbon new homes by 2016 and a variety of minimum standards and financial policy instruments supporting microgeneration in existing dwellings, it appears that this class of technologies could make a significant contribution to UK energy supply and low-carbon buildings in the future. Indeed, achievement of a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 80% (the UK government's 2050 target) for the residential sector may entail substantial deployment of microgeneration. Realisation of the large potential market for microgeneration relies on a variety of interrelated factors such as microeconomics, behavioural aspects, the structure of supporting policy instruments and well-informed technology development. This paper explores these issues in terms of current and proposed policy instruments in the UK. Behavioural aspects associated with both initial uptake of the technology and after purchase are also considered