To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what support his Department is providing to encourage micro combined heat and power generation in 2009-10. (306945)

I have been asked to reply.

While the Low Carbon Buildings programme is in theory open to microCHP, the lack of accredited products means the Government do not currently provide support for microCHP. We are considering support options for microCHP in the context of the feed-in tariffs consultation

http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/elec_financial/elec_financial.aspx

The Government are developing a new Microgeneration Strategy that will look at the non financial barriers to deployment of household-scale low carbon and renewable technologies including micro CHP systems. We are due to consult on the Microgeneration Strategy by the summer of 2010. This strategy should usefully consider supply chain issues in relation to the range of small scale on-site low carbon and renewable energy technologies, for example, the development of skills in design and installation of such technologies. In addition, it may also consider other areas such as developing a systems approach as opposed to a technology approach for microgeneration technologies, certification and standards and information provision. This strategy should benefit a range of different technologies, including micro CHP.

Through the Carbon Trust the Government have funded the microCHP accelerator field trial, details of which are available at

http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/emerging-technologies/current-focus-areas/pages/micro-combined-heat-power.aspx

Through the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) we recently held a £7.2 million call for proposals for capital investment to support demonstration programmes. This included fuel cell micro CHP demonstration. More information is available from

http://www.innovateuk.org/deliveringinnovation/forthcoming competitions/fuelcellsandhydrogendemonstrationprogramme.ashx