It is the use of tides or wind to deliver our daily energy needs that form 'Green Energy'. When 'Green', they are all thought to be replenishable and natural. 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-efficiency and planet friendly options.
The home can use a range of new ideas to help with energy usage - including Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating Collectors. Equally there is electricity that is generated through roof-installed panels. A further factor revolves around stoves and boilers - which are known as Biomass Energy. There is also the ground heat from the Sun - now known as 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: Often called Solar Energy, this is fact based on two types of solar panels each using different ideas to get their results. Initially, there is the process of obtaining hot water from the Sun via Solar Water Heating Collectors. Additionally, there is the method of converting solar radiation into electricity known as Photovoltaic - or simply Solar Electrical panels. 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.
Within Solar Energy overall, Solar Water Power is most commonly used in the UK. With the capacity to deliver 50 percent plus of a household's hot water requirement annually, Solar Water heating systems are crucial to energy in the UK. Typically, to fit this type of equipment will cost between 500 and 1500 pounds for a DIY kit - all the way up to 2-5k for a full professional fitting.
Biomass Energy Systems - Including all natural energy forms derived from plant and animal products - such as wood, straw, poultry litter and 'energy crops'. It is extremely useful - in that it can produce a range of power sources, including heat and electricity. Indeed, within the European Markets, the UK has some of the leading levels of Biomass material at hand. Considering all this, and the relative lack of C02 produced, makes the whole process highly green overall. Because the system often involves one tree being planted as another is felled, many wood crops are deemed to be sustainable sources.
By the growth of Short Rotation Crops (SRC), the UK is able to maximise the 'Energy Crops' return overall. Of equal importance is the ability to produce dry matter - and perennial grasses are very good for this. Of equal importance, although maybe less well known, are Municipal and Agricultural Waste. One natural offshoot of agricultural work is Agricultural Waste. Because it comes from food or wood, Municipal Waste is also considered a useful biomass product.
Systems Using Geo-Thermal Energy - Used in the generation of both warm water and electricity, this energy mainly comes from the Sun and heats the Earth. By using the ground source temperature of approximately 12 degrees, we can either heat or cool buildings within the UK. Generally, items such as Heat Pumps are thought of as very effective, as they produce four units of energy for every one that is used for generation. A greater return of energy (sometimes almost 100 percent) is produced - because heat source pumps can operate in-line with wind turbines and solar electrical panels.
Systems Based On Wind Energy: When you consider the milling of grain and pumping of water, it is easy to see how long wind energy has been with us. 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. To be fair, the UK has the highest level of wind generation within Europe. It is interesting to note that whilst we can produce 10 percent of our entire power requirement from wind power, at present we only produce 1 percent. Rather than electricity production running at 2-10 p per kWh, it could be run at 2p per kWh. Therefore, recovery of cost takes approximately 6-9 months overall.
Finally, we have Hydropower; an area in which the UK does well within Europe. The ability to utilise energy from moving water, much like wind power, has been going on for thousands of years. It is this type of energy production that could meet 2 percent of all the UK's demand.
The Hydropower process uses a turbine that can convert the energy from one form into another. It is by either water 'drop-offs', or Natural River runs, that turbines can work through this process. 'Micro-Hydro' utilises a chunk of the outdated sluices and dam systems that have been killed off by the large national distribution methods. Whilst considered a smaller form of electrical output, this system is thought to be able to give some 200mW of capacity to the UK. Between 200 pounds and 3k per KW of energy output, is a good estimate of the overall cost of a project such as this.
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.
It is the drive for installations in the domestic sector that looks to favour jobs such as plumbers and electricians. With EEC and UK recognition of renewable energy getting ever-higher on the political agenda, the grants and financial aid for introduction of these systems can only increase. It is by gaining the right certificates that will provide opportunities and job security for the long term. Look for combined electrical and plumbing training, with a key emphasis on practical green systems and installation.
(C) Scott Edwards 2009. Hop over to electricalcoursegb.co.uk/RenewableEnergyCertification.html or Green Engineer Certification.
