In the US many of the state governments have "domestic" electricity rates set to subsidize the residential users.  This lowers the observed cost of power to the homeowner and increases his/her/its' cost of goods.  After all, a successful business must pass all costs, including taxes, to the consumer.

The REA - "Rural Electrification Agency", subsidized the expansion of centrally generated electricty throughout the United States.  This essencially eliminated the research, development and manufacturing of small, self sufficient and efficient electrical systems in the US.

I don't expect any government to subsidize my lifestyle or energy use.  I will take advantage of any incentive that does not have conditions attached.

I also expect governments to continue to control the masses by any method they feel they can.  It is the nature of the beast.  I will understand it is a game of control and power.

Carpe Vigor

This is a good thread - and I'd like to add my pennyworth.

The Netherlands is pretty much on the same lattitude as England - and home user power needs would approximately equate given a similar density of population and mean house/garden sizes.

I'm pretty much in the same position.  Actively considering wind turbine installation, but given the proximity of neighbours and houses am unlikely EVER to get planning permission to erect a turbine to cover even a substantial portion of my energy needs.

We, too, have a system of grants ( http://www.clear-skies.org [the Clear Skies initiative]> ) but this appears to be a limited amount of 'seeding' money and not a long-term household renewable energy policy.  And yes, we have to use 'registered' technologies and 'official' installers.

Rant:

The government OUGHT to subsidise domestic renewables - just as they subsidise nuclear, coal and gas (yes, all those 'hidden' subsidies like nuclear de-commissioning, health compensation for workers in coal mines, tax allowances on R&D). No subsidies for domestic users, if applied, should mean no subsidies for the utilities.  Big business wins, as usual - it just ain't going to happen...

All the 'small' government people out there may resent their tax dollars/euros/pounds being ripped from their pockets to subsidise ANYTHING.  But we've signed up to international treaties whereby we've got to reduce carbon pollution by significant amounts and this is being achieved, in the main, by subsidies to the utilities.  So make it fair, subsidise the household renewable industry!

But I would suggest you look at [http://www.windsave.com] [windsave] > - a couple or three of these units attached to your property would reduce your average daily bill by a margin - I also have some information that these [small units] may be acceptable to the local planning authorities as they attach to the house in much the same way as satellite dishes and, apparently, are not too dissimilar in size.

I'm also interested in PV and heat pump technologies (don't need much backyard to dig a vertical hole).

Either way, with or without subsidies, I'll get something on-stream soon.  Even if I just get a few egg-laying chickens and reduce the carbon expended on food miles!

Cheers