An Analysis Of Renewable Energy Courses (UK)

In a nutshell, ‘Green Energy’ utilises natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat to provide our daily energy requirement. ‘Green’ basically means that all the energy is renewable. It is easy to think that we may be travelling back in time when we think of items such as wind power and windmills. Overall, this is the method of using modern techniques to provide eco-efficiency and planet friendly options.

The home environment, for example, encompasses a range of energy ideas – including Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating solutions. It is equipment such as Photovoltaic Panels (PV’s) that develop electricity through suitable roof-panels. 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. Not all ‘Green Energy’ is new – by considering Wind Power and Hydropower we are looking at some of the oldest forms of energy production.

Solar Thermal Energy – 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. Then we have the work of the Photovoltaic Heat Collectors, often called Solar Electrical Panels – which transform solar radiation into electricity. To get the best results these panels need to be south facing at an angle of around 30 degrees from horizontal, and away from blockages.

In the UK, Solar Water Power is now one of the most sought after forms of Solar Energy. 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. Getting a professional fitting will cost around 2-5k, however, doing the job yourself could make it as low as 500 to 1500 pounds in total.

Systems Utilising Biomass Energy: 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. With one of the largest production legacies within Europe, the UK is a major player in Biomass-produced electricity. Considering all this, and the relative lack of C02 produced, makes the whole process highly green overall. To that end, many wood crops come from sustainable sources (as one tree is felled, another is planted in its place; thus the new tree absorbs the CO2 produced during the heating process.)

‘Energy Crops’ trees such as Willow and Poplar play a major part in the process – under the banner of Short Rotation Coppice (SRC). Of equal importance is the production of perennial grasses – because of their yield of dry matter. 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.

Systems Based On Geo-Thermal Energy: The constant energy of the Sun heating the Earth results in both warm water and electricity being produced. Having a consistent ground temperature of around 12 degrees centigrade is fortunate for the UK – as it allows both the heating and cooling of buildings. Whilst these heat pumps require energy to operate, their rate of return is excellent – being four units produced for every one unit used. 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. Where the local power grid demands it, energy can be diverted and sold there. With regard to wind generation, it is the UK that has the highest production 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. Electricity can be produced from as little as 2p per kWh, but generally comes in somewhere between 2-10p per kWh. Recovery of the cost involved is somewhere between 6-9 months.

Then there is Hydropower – something within Europe that the UK excels in. 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.

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. ‘Micro-Hydro’ however utilises old outdated sluices and dams. Having been reviewed recently, this form of electricity supply could provide 200mW of the UK capacity. Between 200 pounds and 3k per KW of energy output, is a good estimate of the overall cost of a project such as this.

The demand on ‘Green Energy’ continues to develop – in light of the energy demands worldwide. The UK domestic market appears to be one of the core beneficiaries of this technology.

It is the drive for installations in the domestic sector that looks to favour jobs such as plumbers and electricians. Not only in the EEC, but also in the UK, ‘Green Energy’ is rapidly gaining ground as the way forward – and a range of financial incentives are in place to support this. Gaining installation certification across these areas can only provide further opportunity and job security to anyone already in related fields or looking to retrain. You could consider either plumbing or electrical training programs that highlight green installation.

Written by Scott Edwards. Go to Green Engineer Training or Click HERE.