Micropower Europe

Mass Market Microgeneration - From Vision to Reality
Micropower Europe's Policy Conference co-hosted by Fiona Hall MEP and Judith Merkies MEP

EU Energy Policy needs Citizen Power

24 March 2010: In a landmark conference yesterday, jointly hosted in the European Parliament by leading MEPs and campaigning organisation Micropower Europe, there was a unanimous call for a consumer-led energy revolution, with microgeneration at its heart.

Conference co-chair Judith Merkies MEP said “everything starts and ends with citizens’ participation. We need a change in policy to turn the neighbours literally green with envy”, whilst other panellists and delegates strongly supported calls for a Commission-sponsored Microgeneration Strategy for Europe.

Conference co-chair Fiona Hall MEP said “at a time when the EU member States are preparing their national action plans on renewable energy, there’s never been a more important moment for looking at what we need to do to remove the barriers to making microgeneration as widespread as possible in the EU.”

A high-ranking European Commission official invited Micropower Europe to contribute its own ideas on what a European Microgeneration Strategy would involve, for the Commission’s consideration as part of its review of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan.

The European Commission also identified the need for robust research evidence to understand the full potential of the microgeneration sector to contribute towards EU energy policy’s short, medium and long term goals.

Claude Turmes MEP said “microgeneration must help the EU to move from a 20% to a 30% target for renewable energy by 2020”

An official event of EU Sustainable Energy Week, the conference was set up to discuss the case for a pan-European Strategy for Microgeneration, the purpose of which is to:

1. Engage citizens in their use of energy, through the uptake of microgeneration technologies;

2. Undertake significant steps to reach out to EU citizens and explain that individual actions in each home can have as big an impact on climate change as activities by governments and industry;

3. Undertake a comprehensive review of EU legislation to remove barriers and identify positive legislative measures to stimulate a mass market microgeneration sector and to;

4. Set out any legislative changes needed to break down current market barriers to the uptake of microgeneration, and create a positive regulatory environment for the microgeneration sector to help reduce green house gases, boost renewable energy production, and help with economic regeneration through the creation of thousands of new skilled green jobs in the European Union.

Charles Bradshaw-Smith, Head of Innovation at E.ON and President of Micropower Europe, said “this landmark conference marks a turning point in EU policy development for the microgeneration industry. There is almost universal support for microgeneration playing a key role and we look forward to working with the Commission by sharing ideas on how a Microgeneration Strategy for Europe can help this important industry take its proper place in the EU energy mix, to help secure a sustainable future, both economically and environmentally”.

The conference was sponsored by BDR Thermea, Mitsubishi Electric and SHV Gas. If you would like to sponsor future events or become a Member of Micropower Europe, please contact the Secretariat on +32 (0) 2 550 3661.

Exec Meeting

Micropower Europe's
Fifth Executive
Committee Meeting
3 December 2009

The fifth Executive Committee meeting discussed and layed out the strategy to develop and implement an EU microgeneration strategy.

Alexandre Delacoux was appointed the new Secretary General of Micropower Europe.

EU Energy Commissioner
hails microgeneration as an
important part of the
EU’s energy future
30 June 2009

Brussels 30 June 2009: Commissioner Piebalgs announced that microgeneration will be a key part of the EU’s future energy mix at the launch of Micropower Europe in Brussels on Friday, together with Charles Bradshaw-Smith, President of Micropower Europe and Head of Innovation at E.ON.

In his speech, Commissioner Piebalgs said that microgeneration is an important part of the future energy mix, not only in terms of climate change and energy efficiency, but also for the energy security of the European Union. He recognised the importance of new ‘buildings as powerplants’, and emphasised that many existing or renovated houses in the future can also benefit from the integration of renewable energy sources or co-generation.
Speaking at the launch of the new organisation to promote microgeneration, sustainable energy for the built environment, Micropower Europe’s President Charles Bradshaw-Smith said: ‘European citizens who invest in energy efficiency and microgeneration enjoy more manageable and stable energy bills, emit few greenhouse gas emissions and consume energy in a more enlightened way – in their homes and throughout their daily lives’.
‘It is essential that the EU, Member States and companies spread the word and inform the hundreds of millions of ordinary citizens of the benefits offered by installing microgeneration technologies so that by 2020 many have it and everyone at least knows someone who has benefited. We need exemplars in every street in the European Union’ said Charles Bradshaw-Smith.
Micropower Europe is a member-funded organisation advocating policy and regulatory initiatives that will lead to mass uptake of microgeneration products among European citizens. Founding members include major European energy suppliers, global manufacturers and specialist technology companies.
The launch of Micropower Europe coincided with the world’s first exhibition dedicated to microgeneration, Citizens Generate Energy 2009. Leading manufacturers and suppliers showcased products, bringing together the general public and experts from the global sustainable energy sector during EU Green Week.