Microgeneration in the built environment: the multiple meanings of solar photovoltaic technologies

Alternative sources of electricity generation have become increasingly prominent in the last few decades as energy security and climate change concerns feature high on government agendas across the globe. In addressing energy security and diversity away from centralised, fossil-fuel-based energy supply, the UK government has put in place policies for promoting the deployment of microgeneration technology for households and communities. For tackling climate change, governments are looking to decarbonise the energy supply chain. With domestic energy consumption accounting for around 30 per cent of total carbon dioxide emissions (DECC 2011a), reducing the emissions from this sector could result in significant reductions overall. In this context, the deployment of microgeneration technology, defined as small-scale renewable and low-carbon technologies,1 is therefore of particular interest (DECC 2011b).