Govt could help homes to use biofuel

More home biofuel installations could soon be in place as the UK government looks to ways to increase the uptake of microgeneration technologies.

Biomass boilers, which release energy by burning biofuel and household waste, are one option.

Others that qualify under the Microgeneration Strategy include solar power and water heating, micro combined heat and power, heat pumps, flue gas recovery systems, fuel cells and small-scale wind or hydropower schemes.

To qualify, generating installations must have a maximum output of 300 kW for heat production and 50 kW for power creation.

Climate change minister Greg Barker says: "I want to see more homes, communities and businesses generating their own energy.

"We can literally bring power back to the people."

The announcement comes as Chris Huhne, secretary of state for energy and climate change, calls for more funding to be made available to developing countries to help them to take their own steps towards combating climate change.