Feature: Energy Harvesting


Unlocking the true potential of microgeneration


By Lee Sutton, Myenergi Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer


Myenergi co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer Lee Sutton explains how developments in smart tech are enabling increasingly eco-conscious consumers to more easily and effectively transition towards off-grid renewable energy.


self-generating renewable energy is accelerating at breakneck speed, and it’s not hard to see why. Micro-generated energy literally puts the power in the hands of the consumer, allowing adopters to take control of their own energy generation and consumption while heavily reducing grid reliance and thereby unlocking additional capacity country-wide. But how can consumers make the


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transition to microgeneration and, importantly, unlock its true potential?


18 April 2025 www.electronicsworld.co.uk


s householders increasingly look for ways to cut energy bills and live more sustainably, the popularity of


The barriers to microgeneration Generating renewable energy via solar PV is increasingly seen as a simple and cost-effective way to reduce reliance on the grid, decentralise electricity supply, reduce utility bills and protect consumers against energy market volatility. Over the past few years, the adoption of solar has accelerated at incredible speed. According to data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), there was a boom in installations last year, with over 180,000 installations nationwide. While the prospect of minimising


energy bills and lowering carbon emissions makes self-generated green energy highly attractive, the great disadvantage of any off-grid tech is that it’s output and consumption can be unpredictable. For one, optimum generation is reliant on certain weather conditions, and what’s more, peak generation periods are during the day when most users are likely to be away from the home. As a result, the average consumption


rate for self-generated power stands at just 45 per cent in the UK, with some users reducing their reliance on mains energy by less than 25 per cent. Rather than making full use of self-generated solar energy in the home, electricity is exported to the grid at times of high generation and low use, and then typically bought back (at a higher price) when it’s needed most.


Enter the age of home energy ecosystems To tackle the problem of exporting surplus home-generated electricity back to the grid, a range of eco-smart devices can be used to maximise self-usage


and minimise energy loss. Domestic battery storage, for example, captures surplus electricity for discharge as and when needed. Home energy storage is quickly becoming an essential part of homeowners’ microgeneration ecosystems because it eliminates the need to sell and buy back surplus energy to and from the grid. Another example of eco-smart tech is


myenergi’s zappi, which was the world’s first solar-compatible electric vehicle charger. zappi can harness 100 per cent renewable energy from solar PV or other microgeneration tech to fully charge an EV, without ever having to draw power from the grid. The most energy intensive activity


in the home by far is heating, and an increasing number of consumers are swapping out their traditional gas boilers in favour of greener and more efficient heat pumps. Offering numerous advantages and high availability, both air and ground-source heat pumps provide a lower-carbon alternative to more traditional heating solutions, especially when used in conjunction with microgeneration. As the desire for both


microgeneration technology and more energy efficient heating rises, we’re seeing a correlation with the growing demand for tech which synchronises devices that generate, store and use electricity. Power diverters are proving hugely popular with homeowners for offering a simple way to make home energy systems greater than the sum of their parts and to greatly amplify their virtual power plant potential. When solar PV or a wind turbine is


generating low volumes, good power diverters can automatically ‘trickle


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