Uptake of Micro-generation among Small Organisations in the Camden Climate Change Alliance

Abstract

The recent introduction of feed-in tariffs and renewable heat incentives in the UK has provided a new financial incentive for the installation of micro-generation, but so far there has been limited research on its uptake in small organisations. Our research starts to fill that gap by presenting a unique case study of the Camden Climate Change Alliance (CCCA) of small organisations to explore the perceived barriers and incentives to installation among members. We assess how micro-generation is viewed in the context of wider environmental measures to discover that ‘green marketing’ provides a strong incentive while upfront costs remain the primary barrier. Participants in the study prioritise energy efficiency over micro-generation due to shorter paybacks, which leads us to propose an Energy Hierarchy Framework model as a useful tool towards the adoption of micro-generation in SMEs and other small organisations. The CCCA is successful at enabling small organisations to participate in environmental management by offering free workshops, audits and events. As a large proportion of UK carbon emissions derive from small organisations, reductions could be achieved through the setting up of similar climate change alliances by local authorities in other areas of the country.