CERT
The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) requires all domestic energy suppliers with a customer base in excess of 50,000 customers to make savings in the amount of CO2 emitted by householders. Suppliers meet this target by promoting the uptake of low carbon energy solutions to household energy consumers, thereby assisting them to reduce the carbon footprint of their homes. For more information visit the Energy Saving Trust’s CERT webpage.
CESP
Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) is a scheme which requires gas and electricity suppliers to to improve energy efficiency standards in homes and reduce customers’ fuel bills. For more information visit DECC’s CESP webpage
CHP
CHP (combined heat and power) is a technology which produces heat and generates electricity at the same time.
DECC
The Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Distribution Network Operator (DNO)
In the UK, there are 6 licensed distribution network operators (DNOs). Each is responsible for the electricity distribution network in a service area. An electricity distribution network carries electricity from the transmission systems and some generators (including increasing numbers of domestic households) that are connected to the distribution networks to industrial, commercial and domestic users. For more information visit
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Networks/ElecDist/Pages/ElecDist.aspx.
Feed-in Tariff (FiT)
A scheme which provides a guaranteed payment for the electricity generated and exported from small-scale low carbon electricity systems. For more information visit the Energy Saving Trust’s Feed in Tariff webpage.
Green Deal
The Green Deal is a framework to enable private firms to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements to their homes, community spaces and businesses at no upfront cost, and recoup payments through a charge in instalments on the energy bill (DECC). The scheme will commence in late 2012. For more information visit the Energy Saving Trust’s Green Deal webpage.
Heat pumps
Heat pumps are powered by electricity and extract heat from the ground or air outside and bring that heat inside where it used for heating.
LCNF
See Low Carbon Networks Fund.
Low Carbon Networks Fund (LCNF)
Ofgem’s Low Carbon Network Fund (LCNF) provides support to projects sponsored by the distribution network operators to try out new technology, operating and commercial arrangements. The objective of the projects is to help all DNOs understand what they need to do to provide security of supply at value for money as Great Britain moves to a low carbon economy.
Micro-CHP
Small scale CHP.
Micro-generation
Small scale production of energy. For more information on generating your own electricity visit the Northern Powergrid website.
Ofgem
Ofgem is the Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets, the gas and electricity regulator.
Photovoltaic (PV)
A solar PV system uses energy from the sun to generate electricity.
PV
See photovoltaic
Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
On 10 March 2011, the Government announced the details of the Renewable Heat Incentive policy to revolutionise the way heat is generated and used in buildings and homes. This is the first financial support scheme for renewable heat of its kind in the world.
For more information visit the Energy Saving Trust’s Renewable Heat Incentive page.
Smart Grid
The SmartGrids Technology Platform defines smart grids as ‘electricity networks that can intelligently integrate the behaviour and actions of all users connected to it – generators, consumers and those that do both – in order to efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure electricity supplies’. For more about Smart Grids click here.
Smart Meter
Smart meters are progressively replacing current gas and electricity meters, and with the addition of a smart energy monitor (also known as an in-home display or IHD) they allow customers to see exactly how much energy they are using in pounds and pence. British Gas is leading the roll-out of smart meters in the UK. Find out more about smart meters here.
Solar Panels
Solar panels harness the energy of the sun and can be used for either of two purposes; for heating water (often referred to as ‘solar thermal’ or for generating electricity (in which case the installation is referred to as ‘PV’ or ‘photovoltaic’).
