When our daily energy requirements are met by ‘Green Energy’, then we are using resources such as wind, tides or geothermal heat. They are considered ‘Green’ because they are environmentally friendly. When considering elements such as Wind Power and Windmills, in many cases we are looking back at the history of energy production. Overall, this is the method of using modern techniques to provide eco-effiency and planet friendly options.
It is the use of simple renewable energies such as Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating Collectors, that suits the home environment. To gain electricity from roof panels you would need solar electrical panels (PV’s). Then there are Stoves that burn Bio-Pellets – which make up the subject commonly known as Biomass Energy. Then we have the ancient energy of the Sun and the heat that comes from it – now called Ground Source Heat Pumps. Considering items such as Wind Power and Hydro Turbines, we are finally getting to very old forms of energy production.
Solar Energy Systems: By using different technologies, Solar Energy is effectively made up of two types of solar panels. As a first strategy, we have Solar Water Heating Collectors – which basically creates hot water from solar energy. Added to this is the generation of electricity from solar radiation – known as Photovoltaism, or more commonly Solar Electrical panels. To get best results these panels need to be situated 30 degrees from the horizontal, on a south facing roof and obviously free from blockages such as trees and buildings.
In the UK, Solar Water Power is now one of the most sought after forms of Solar Energy. Solar Water heating systems can meet the need for more than half of all hot water needs in the domestic market. The average cost of installing this type of equipment is expected to range from 500 to 1500 pounds for a DIY system, through to 2-5k for a professionally installed system.
Biomass Energy Systems – This term encompasses all forms of natural products – such as plant and animal material. It is by using these materials in new ways to create energy that makes it so exciting. With one of the largest production legacies within Europe, the UK is a major player in Biomass-produced electricity. Added to all this, is the lack of C02 produced as a by-product of the whole process. As each tree felled, it is replaced by another. This helps to reduce the overall effect on C02.
Fast growing trees such as Willow and Poplar (under the banner of Short Rotation Coppice ‘SRC’) help to meet the need for ‘Energy Crops’ within the UK. Dry matter is also very sought after – and perennial grasses are a good source of this. Equally significant within this practice sit Municipal and Agricultural waste products. Agricultural Waste is naturally formed as a by-product of conventional agricultural activity. Another biomass source is that of municipal waste – and this comes from recycled wood or food.
Systems Based On Geo-Thermal Energy: Used in the generation of both warm water and electricity, this energy mainly comes from the Sun and heats the Earth. In the UK, we are lucky that we can both heat and cool buildings from the ground source temperature of around 12 degrees. These heat pumps do need some power to operate; but for every one unit of energy they use, they generate four units of energy in return. The energy generated by a heat source pump can in fact be considered 100 percent renewable, if the power to operate the pump comes from solar electrical panels or a wind turbine.
Wind Energy Systems: In use for milling grain or pumping water, wind energy has been with us for a very long time, although its modern uses are complex. That aside, the ability to generate energy and both transfer this into the home or the local grid has been a relatively new option. To be fair, the UK has the highest level of wind generation within Europe. Although we only utilise 1 percent of the current electricity capability from wind – we do have the ability to create 10 percent. Although electricity is still being produced from between 2-10 p per kWh, it could be generated from as little as 2p per kWh. From this, the estimation of the cost recovery period is around 6-9 months overall.
Last of all there is Hydropower – an area of especial importance to the UK. Just like a thousand years ago, we are utilising the energy from water. It is this type of energy production that could meet 2 percent of all the UK’s demand.
By using a turbine, a Hydropower system can transfer the kinetic energy of moving water into another form. Turbines use either a water drop (e.g. through a dam) or by a natural ‘run of the river’ – thereby having no water storage reservoir. It is by using the eroded national distribution systems, that allows for outdated sluices and dams to be used by techniques known as ‘Micro-Hydro’. This process alone could meet 200mW of the UK requirement. When considering the installation cost of items such as this, we’re looking at somewhere between 200 pounds and 3k per kW of energy created.
Because of the energy need of the Western World, we are now seeing a rapid rise in ‘Green Energy’. The UK is very well placed to provide most of the schemes set out above, and the UK domestic market again is one of the key beneficiaries of this technology.
Electricians and Plumbers in particular are expected to provide the main thrust of domestic installation expertise. A range of grants are available to support the growth of renewable energy ideas within the European market. As a new industry, there are a range of new certificates to gain. Look for combined electrical and plumbing training, with a key emphasis on practical green systems and installation.
(C) 2009 – S. Edwards. Go to plumbercourse.co.uk or Plumbing Training Courses.
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