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. The older energy skill sets have had value for years, especially when we think of wind power and windmills. But in the main, this is the process of utilising modern technology to provide eco-efficient and planet-friendly alternatives.
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. There is also the ground heat from the Sun – now known as Ground Source Heat Pumps. Lastly, there are two of the more historical forms of energy production – namely Wind Turbines and Hydropower.
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. Then we have the work of the Photovoltaic Heat Collectors, often called Solar Electrical Panels – which transform solar radiation into electricity. Typically, these panels are found on roofs – and need to be away from any light blocks such as trees, chimneys and other buildings.
Within Solar Energy overall, Solar Water Power is most commonly used 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 cost of fitting depends on whether you do it yourself (500 to 1500 pounds) or whether you get a professional fitter – in which case it will cost between 2-5k overall.
Systems Utilising 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. It is a useful point to make that the UK is one of the major producers of Biomass fuels within Europe. Added to all this, is the lack of C02 produced as a by-product of the whole process. With a new tree being planted as each is felled, you can see how the C02 produced during heating is minimised – and why the system is deemed sustainable.
By the growth of Short Rotation Crops (SRC), the UK is able to maximise the ‘Energy Crops’ return overall. Also producing high yields of dry matter are the perennial grasses. Equally significant within this practice sit Municipal and Agricultural waste products. As a by-product, Agricultural Waste is simply part of the farming process. However, waste derived from food or wood is another biomass entity – called Municipal Waste.
Geo-Thermal Energy Systems… By naturally heating the Earth, the Sun has the potential to generate both warm water and electricity. Heating or cooling properties in the UK can be achieved using the ground source heat temperature of around 12 degrees centigrade. With four units replaced for every one unit of energy used, these heat pumps are very effective. By using energy from solar electrical panels or wind turbines to power them, heat source pumps can be almost 100 percent renewable in energy production.
Wind Energy: 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. Where the local power grid demands it, energy can be diverted and sold there. In fact, the UK has the largest wind resource within Europe. Potentially, we can produce 10 percent of our annual energy needs through wind power, although at present within the UK we still only use 1 percent. Instead of producing electricity at a rate of 2-10p per kWh, we could be generating at 2p per kWh. Recovery of the cost involved is somewhere between 6-9 months.
Finally, we have Hydropower; an area in which the UK does well within Europe. Having said that, the art of using energy from moving water (just like wind power) is very traditional. Interestingly enough, this type of energy production meets around 2 percent of the UK electrical total demand.
A hydropower system transforms the kinetic energy of the moving water into another type of energy by means of a turbine. It is by either water ‘drop-offs’, or Natural River runs, that turbines can work through this process. 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 smaller form of electrical output has been recently reviewed and could allocate some 200MW of capacity to the UK system. Between 200 pounds and 3k per KW of energy output, is a good estimate of the overall cost of a project such as this.
Due to the energy requirements worldwide, ‘Green Energy’ is naturally growing at a fast rate. To be fair, the UK domestic market is actually leading the resurgence, with a variety of schemes.
Electricians and Plumbers in particular are expected to provide the main thrust of domestic installation expertise. It is the political view of this type of energy generation that results in grants and financial aid becoming ever-more prevalent. This is a new industry – but getting the right certification can only improve job security and opportunities for the future. To cover both ends, you could consider electrical or plumbing training along with green systems.