It is the use of tides or wind to deliver our daily energy needs that form ‘Green Energy’. ‘Green’ basically means that all the energy is renewable. It’s interesting to note that in some instances we’re actually travelling back in time to utilise some of the older energy skill sets e.g. Wind Power (Windmills etc.) 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. Next on the list you would find the actual solar electricity Photovoltaic Panels (PV’s) - which basically generate electricity through roof-installed panels. A further factor revolves around stoves and boilers - which are known as Biomass Energy. Then there are the Ground Source Heat Pumps, which is simply the ground heat created 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. First, we have Solar Water Heating Collectors, which absorb energy from the Sun and transfer this into hot water. Furthermore, there are the Solar Electrical Panels (more correctly known as Photovoltaic heat collectors) which transform solar radiation into electricity. Solar Panels themselves need to be away from all light blocks, and should be on south facing roofs at angles of 30 degrees from the horizontal plane.
With Solar Power being so common within the UK, it’s Solar Water Power that is most often used. 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 - Including all natural energy forms derived from plant and animal products - such as wood, straw, poultry litter and ‘energy crops’. Considering its ability to produce energy in the form of heat and electricity, this type of energy is extremely flexible. 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 should be borne in mind that the whole process is designed to produce energy without an impact on CO2. 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’. Perennial grasses also produce a high yield of dry matter. Whilst Agricultural and Municipal waste may be lesser known, they are essential to the whole process. One natural offshoot of agricultural work is Agricultural Waste. Municipal Waste such as food or wood can also be utilised as a biomass product.
Geo-Thermal Energy Technology: This is primarily the heating of the Earth (mainly from the sun) and can be utilised in electricity and warm water production. 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 Programs: Without a doubt, wind energy has to be one of the oldest forms of energy production known to man. Whether to your home or to a local grid, when the energy has been generated it must be delivered to a point of usage - and cannot be stored. In fact, the UK has the largest wind resource within Europe. The fact remains that in the UK, there exists the ability to realise 10 percent of our electricity requirement from wind power - as opposed to the current value of just 1 percent. Instead of producing electricity at a rate of 2-10p per kWh, we could be generating at 2p 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.
Within the UK, Hydropower suits the energy generation model. Just like a thousand years ago, we are utilising the energy from water. That aside, it is fair to say that some 2 percent of the UK’s electrical load could come from this source.
A hydropower system uses a turbine to create energy from moving water. By using a dam or a natural river drop, these turbines do not require water storage. A ‘Micro-Hydro’ system creates energy through the use of dams and sluices (that are no longer a part of the national distribution system.) Although a lesser known form of electricity output, this process could supply 200mW of UK demand. 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.
The demand on ‘Green Energy’ continues to develop - in light of the energy demands worldwide. The UK remains one of the main beneficiaries of this technology.
With the bulk of development work in the domestic area, both Plumbers and Electricians are set to capitalise in this area. It is the political view of this type of energy generation that results in grants and financial aid becoming ever-more prevalent. It is by gaining the right certificates that will provide opportunities and job security for the long term. You could consider either plumbing or electrical training programs that highlight green installation.
Copyright Scott Edwards 2009. Navigate to Green Engineer Certification or CLICK HERE.
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