glossary

Anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion is used to manage waste and/or to release energy. It is a series of processes in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen.

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 14 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

A scheme which provides a guaranteed payment for the electricity generated and exported from small-scale low-carbon electricity systems.

FiT

See Feed-in Tariff.

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 pump

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)

The LCNF provides funds to 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.

microgeneration

Small scale production of energy.

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 SmartGrids click here.

Smart meter

Smart meters are gas or electricity meters which can provide better information to customers about their use of energy, send meter readings back to your electricity supplier, and also receive information such as updated tariff information.

Solar panels

Solar panels harness the energy of the sun and can be installed 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’).