The aim of the Yorkshire and Humber Microgeneration Partnership is to promote the growth of the Microgeneration Industry and to represent its interests at the local, regional and national level.

The partnership was launched in February 2009 with support and funding from the Energy Savings Trust, and has now grown to over 25 members and is growing rapidly, the vast majority of the membership are installers or manufacturers of renewable energy equipment and represent a workforce of around 350 employees.

The Yorkshire and Humber Microgeneration Partnership held its annual conference on the 11th February at the Royal York Hotel in York. The focus this year was on how prepared the region is to take advantage of the Clean Energy Cashback opportunity and reap the rewards of increased investment, new income streams, new jobs and skills, cleaner energy and lower carbon emissions.

Amanda Botterill of Yorkshire Solar, Chair of the YHMP, addresses the Conference

The Conference, organised by the YHMP and supported by the Energy Saving Trust addressed this question by seeking the views from all those involved in this fast growing industry and also hearing first hand experiences of those customers who are already pioneers of Microgeneration technologies in the region. The keynote speaker was Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Yorkshire and The Humber

Seminars were also held on :-
Finance for Microgeneration - an overview of financing microgeneration and the opportunities offered by the Clean Energy Cashback.
Action by Councils on Microgeneration - practical advice from those who have run successful projects to promote microgeneration to householders in their area.
Action by Housing Associations on Microgeneration - the opportunities to promote renewable technologies as part of refurbishment and new build programmes by Registered Social Landlords.
Using Microgeneration in the Community - details of Kirkburton Parish Councils Microgeneration and Energy Conservation Fund & Consulting with Purpose's work with community renewables and providing clients with high quality project development studies.

Amanda Botterill, Rosie Winterton MP and
Steve Hunter - EST, Regional Manager for the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside

In the evening there was the gala dinner and the Awards ceremony, hosted by Paul Hudson, TV Weatherman from BBC Look North.
Awards were presented for

• Best Home Installation
• Best Public Building Installation
• Best Community Installation
• Best Business initiative
• Best Commercial Installation
• Best Development
• Best School Installation
• Best Policy/Policy tool

The whole day was a great success, putting a spotlight on the local and national microgeneration industry.