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. This idea is preserved by the use of technology, eco-efficient options and planet friendly alternatives.
In the home environment, one can see examples such as Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating Collectors. Next on the list you would find the actual solar electricity Photovoltaic Panels (PV’s) – which basically generate electricity through roof-installed panels. Following on from this is a process known as Biomass Energy – which includes Boilers burning wood and other fuels. We now also have Ground Source Heat Pumps – which draw out the heat left by the Sun. At the end there are two of the most mature forms of energy production in the UK – albeit renamed now to Wind Turbines and Hydropower.
Solar Thermal Energy Systems – Also known as Solar Energy, this mainly uses two, albeit different types of solar panels to get the desired results. 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. Typically, these panels are found on roofs – and need to be away from any light blocks such as trees, chimneys and other buildings.
As a result, Solar Water Power is often considered the most common form of Solar Energy in the UK. Solar Water heating systems can meet the need for more than half of all hot water needs in the domestic market. The typical cost for installation ranges from 500-1500 pounds for a DIY system, all the way through to 2-5k for a professional fit.
Biomass Energy: This is a general term for all forms of plant and animal material e.g. wood, straw, poultry litter and ‘energy crops’. It’s the ability of this power source to generate diverse forms of energy, such as heat and electricity, that makes this so adaptable. The ability to generate electricity is one of the UK’s main green strengths – as it has one of the larger Biomass legacies within Europe. It is the minimal C02 produced, alongside the actual energy production, that makes this attractive to the markets. Having a tree planted in place of another (that is felled for energy production) helps overall.
A process called Short Rotation Coppice (SRC), utilising trees such as Willow and Poplar, is used to meet the demands of such ‘Energy Crops’. Also producing high yields of dry matter are the perennial grasses. Within this process also sits the lesser known Agricultural and Municipal Wastes. Agricultural Waste is naturally formed as a by-product of conventional agricultural activity. Whereas Municipal Waste is derived from wood or food – and can be used for biomass energy.
Systems Using Geo-Thermal Energy – By naturally heating the Earth, the Sun has the potential to generate both warm water and electricity. By using the ground source temperature of approximately 12 degrees, we can either heat or cool buildings within the UK. Although heat pumps require energy to function, their rate of return is superb – being a four-fold benefit over the energy put in. Utilising the energy generated from wind turbines and solar electrical panels alongside heat source pumps, can make them alomst 100 percent renewable.
Wind Energy Systems: Wind Energy as a sustainable source of energy has been going on for millennia. However, in more recent times there’s been the option to recover the energy for its own sake – and deliver this either to a home unit or to the local power grid. The UK is considered as one of the best sources of wind generation within Europe. Although, within the UK we currently only utilise 1 percent of electricity from wind, yet the potential rests at a surprising 10 percent. Frankly, electricity can be realised from as little as 2p per kWh – as opposed to the current level of 2-10 p per kWh. Because of this, it is estimated that it takes between half a year to three quarters of a year to cover the installation costs.
Finally, we have Hydropower; an area in which the UK does well within Europe. The field of using moving water to release energy is a very old technique – albeit we now do this in new ways. That said, this type of energy can generate around 2 percent of the total electrical demand for the UK.
By using a turbine, a Hydropower system can transfer the kinetic energy of moving water into another form. The important thing is that, without having to rely on water storage, the turbines can generate electricity. A ‘Micro-Hydro’ system creates energy through the use of dams and sluices (that are no longer a part of the national distribution system.) This process alone could meet 200mW of the UK requirement. The expected cost of installing a system such as this would be between 200 pounds and 3k per kW of output.
Due to the energy requirements worldwide, ‘Green Energy’ is naturally growing at a fast rate. That said, the UK is well placed – especially in the domestic sector – to take full advantage of the items above.
With the rise in demand for domestic installations, both Electricians and Plumbers are well placed to take advantage of this technology. With ‘Green Energy’ rising up the political agenda in Europe, a range of financial aids and grants are becoming available. As a new industry, there are a range of new certificates to gain. To cover both ends, you could consider electrical or plumbing training along with green systems.
Copyright Scott Edwards 2009. Navigate to Solar Courses or CLICK HERE.
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Earth For Energy
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