The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 (c 19) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which aims to boost the number of heat and electricity microgeneration installations in the United Kingdom, so helping to cut carbon emissions and reduce fuel poverty. The Act was piloted through the House of Commons as a private member's bill by Mark Lazarowicz, MP. The Rt Hon Eric Forth MP, a well known opponent of Private Members' Bills who often filibustered them in Parliament, died during the passage of this bill through Parliament, after having prolonged the debate during Third Reading and Report for a number of days.

Microgeneration in the United Kingdom

Microgeneration technologies are seen as having considerable potential by the Government. Microgeneration involves the local production of electricity by homes and businesses from low-energy sources including small scale wind turbines, ground source heat pumps and solar electricity installations. The Government's own microgeneration strategy was launched in March 2006 was seen as a disappointment by many commentators. In contrast, the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act has been viewed as a positive step.

The Act

The principal measures in the act are to:

Microgeneration technologies

For the purposes of the Act, microgeneration technologies include: