RSSThe Options For Green Certification Around The UK
Feb 20
Uncategorized advice, career, computer, education, games, hobbies, home, Money, self-improvement, shop, software, technology, Uncategorized, web, work No Comments
Basically, the ‘Green Energy’ idea is how our everyday needs are supplied by natural resources such as wind, tides and even geothermal heat. They are thought to be ‘Green’ due to the fact that they are easily restored and natural. If we think of some of the older energy skills e.g. Wind Power, then in many ways we are going back in time. Regardless of this, we are mainly talking about using modern techniques to offer planet friendly and eco-efficient solutions.
The home environment, for example, encompasses a range of energy ideas – including Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating solutions. 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. We now also have Ground Source Heat Pumps – which draw out the heat left by the Sun. Finally, we have two of the most traditional forms of energy generation that have gone through some resurgence over the last few years; these being Wind Power, Wind Turbines and Hydropower (including Water Wheels.)
Solar Energy Systems: By using different technologies, Solar Energy is effectively made up of two types of solar panels. 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. To get best results these panels need to be situated 30 degrees from the horizontal, on a south facing roof and obviously free from blockages such as trees and buildings.
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. 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’. Due to its adaptability, it can produce a range of energy forms – from heat and electricity through to combinations of both. It is a useful point to make that the UK is one of the major producers of Biomass fuels within Europe. Considering all this, and the relative lack of C02 produced, makes the whole process highly green overall. Having a tree planted in place of another (that is felled for energy production) helps overall.
By the growth of Short Rotation Crops (SRC), the UK is able to maximise the ‘Energy Crops’ return overall. Perennial grasses also produce a high yield of dry matter. Of equal importance, although maybe less well known, are Municipal and Agricultural Waste. One natural offshoot of agricultural work is Agricultural Waste. However, waste derived from food or wood is another biomass entity – called Municipal Waste.
Systems Based On Geo-Thermal Energy: Used in the generation of both warm water and electricity, this energy mainly comes from the Sun and heats the Earth. 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: The use of wind as a source of energy has been going on for thousands of years, especially in milling grain and pumping water. More recently, there has been the desire to deliver the energy created to the home – or to a local power grid. With regard to wind generation, it is the UK that has the highest production 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. Rather than electricity production running at 2-10 p per kWh, it could be run 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. The ability to utilise energy from moving water, much like wind power, has been going on for thousands of years. Interestingly enough, this type of energy production meets around 2 percent of the UK electrical total demand.
By using a turbine, a Hydropower system can transfer the kinetic energy of moving water into another form. Turbines use either a water drop (e.g. through a dam) or by a natural ‘run of the river’ – thereby having no water storage reservoir. It is by using the eroded national distribution systems, that allows for outdated sluices and dams to be used by techniques known as ‘Micro-Hydro’. This process alone could meet 200mW of the UK requirement. 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.
It is the growing worldwide energy requirement that is causing the growth in ‘Green Energy’. Within the UK and mainly the domestic sector, we are well placed to take advantage of the schemes above.
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. This is a new industry – but getting the right certification can only improve job security and opportunities for the future. By mixing green training with those of electrical or plumbing, you could cover both angles.
Written by Scott Edwards. Try plumbingtraininginfo.co.uk or Plumber Courses.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.