To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what research his Department has commissioned on consumer understanding of the technology options and financial support for the installation of domestic microgeneration systems in the last three years. (211216)

A consortium comprising of BERR, regional development agencies, non-Government organisations and elements of the microgeneration industry commissioned research to provide a robust evidence base to inform the future direction of microgeneration policy. The research investigates consumer behaviour and the impact of various policy options on demand, models future uptake of microgeneration to 2050, and considers the likely impact of targets on uptake. It is available at:

www.berr.gov.uk/energy/microgenerationresearch

This updates earlier research on the potential of microgeneration commissioned by DTI and published in 2005.

The Department has also undertaken general research in 2006, 2007 and 2008 on awareness of and attitudes to renewable energy.