Householders installing wind turbines and solar panels must wait many years for a pay-back on their investment. In Germany they've found a way to cut down that pay-back time. It's called a feed-in tariff and it is giving a big boost to the renewables industry. Under German law, householders with operating solar or wind power can sell their spare capacity back to power companies at a premium. Demand for renewable energy systems is up, and as the numbers increase the installation costs are steadily falling. Forty countries now follow the German lead, including the UK.
Showing posts with label solar energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label solar energy. Show all posts
Thursday, 30 September 2010
The UK Feed In Tariff Explained
Home electricity providers can be paid back by their utility company by exporting electricity to the grid. Save money on utility bills using this method known as the Feed In Tariff.
This video explains the principles behind feed-in-tariffs in the UK introduced in 2010. Solar panel (PV) photovoltaics can be used to generate electricity and power for your home or business. Find out more about feed in tariffs here.
This video explains the principles behind feed-in-tariffs in the UK introduced in 2010. Solar panel (PV) photovoltaics can be used to generate electricity and power for your home or business. Find out more about feed in tariffs here.
UK Solar Feed-in Tariff Explained
The UK Feed-in Tariff, or Clean Energy Cashback, for solar energy, explained.
The UK 'Feed-in Tariff' is a government backed policy to encourage the uptake of renewable energy in the UK.
Instead of providing a grant to help you buy a solar system, the 'Feed-in Tariff' rewards you for the amount of energy you generate, regardless of whether you consume the electricity or not. The scheme also provides an additional payment for any electricity you export.
Under the Feed-in Tariff, an average home in the UK, with a 2.5kWp (21M2) system installed can earn around £900 a year generating and exporting its own solar electricity. You can also save around £130 a year on your electricity bill.
The UK 'Feed-in Tariff' is a government backed policy to encourage the uptake of renewable energy in the UK.
Instead of providing a grant to help you buy a solar system, the 'Feed-in Tariff' rewards you for the amount of energy you generate, regardless of whether you consume the electricity or not. The scheme also provides an additional payment for any electricity you export.
Under the Feed-in Tariff, an average home in the UK, with a 2.5kWp (21M2) system installed can earn around £900 a year generating and exporting its own solar electricity. You can also save around £130 a year on your electricity bill.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Seaton Primary School, UK, a sustainable school
Seaton Primary School in Devon lives out its school motto of 'Caring now for the Future', and is one of a few UK schools to install a range of renewable technologies. A 2.5 kW wind turbine and a 4.7 kW PV array on the roof of the school hall supply electricity directly to the school and have helped reduce CO2 emissions by about 2 tonnes a year. In addition, 48 m2 of solar water heating panels heat the school's outdoor swimming pool. Other green initiatives include class 'Energy Agents' to help reduce energy waste; the after-school 'Eco Club' to monitor energy use; a 2006 Energy Audit resulting in a host of energy efficiency measures; an orchard to provide fruit for pupils and save food miles; and a grey water collection system to supply the school wildlife pond and demonstrate small-scale water power.
Helios Solar Powered Aircraft
Compilation of test flights.
Pathfinder Solar Plane preceeded Centurion. Pathfinder turned into Pathfinder+ by removing the original center panel and replacing it with a panel that was about 48 feet in length. Centurion turned into Helios Prototype, which turned into Helios and Helios with a fuel cell. The difference between Centurion and Helios prototype was removing the center panel and adding 2 new center panels. Helios flew with 5 pods and had a full solar array. The fuel cell version was made by removing the center pod and replacing it with the fuel cell pod. That is the one at the end of the video.
Pathfinder Solar Plane preceeded Centurion. Pathfinder turned into Pathfinder+ by removing the original center panel and replacing it with a panel that was about 48 feet in length. Centurion turned into Helios Prototype, which turned into Helios and Helios with a fuel cell. The difference between Centurion and Helios prototype was removing the center panel and adding 2 new center panels. Helios flew with 5 pods and had a full solar array. The fuel cell version was made by removing the center pod and replacing it with the fuel cell pod. That is the one at the end of the video.
Kirklees MBC, UK, Domestic solar pv electricity
Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC) has undertaken the largest photovoltaic (PV) programme in the UK, with 351 kWp of PV installed on social housing, community buildings and luxury flats.
Photovoltaics are the easiest renewable energy technology to integrate in towns and cities, because they can be installed on roofs and building facades with minimal intrusion, and they have the highest acceptance by the general public. They are now widely used in Germany and the Netherlands. Starting in 2000, Kirklees MBC, based in Huddersfield, took part in a major European project to supply electricity from PV in city buildings. The EU-funded SunCities Project contributed to the installation of 351 kWp of PV (also solar thermal systems) on a range of private and public-sector housing and residential homes in Huddersfield. This is the largest domestic PV programme in the UK, and represents about 5% of installed PV capacity. All buildings were either refurbished or newly built to high environmental standards, so households gained the benefits of energy efficiency as well as the more visible PV.
A typical household system rated at 1 kWp generates about 750 kWh of electricity per year in the UK, which would give a saving of £50 per year if it all replaced imported electricity. Kirkless MBC has lobbied to get better payment for export of electricity, and also easier access to Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) for small generators.
Photovoltaics are the easiest renewable energy technology to integrate in towns and cities, because they can be installed on roofs and building facades with minimal intrusion, and they have the highest acceptance by the general public. They are now widely used in Germany and the Netherlands. Starting in 2000, Kirklees MBC, based in Huddersfield, took part in a major European project to supply electricity from PV in city buildings. The EU-funded SunCities Project contributed to the installation of 351 kWp of PV (also solar thermal systems) on a range of private and public-sector housing and residential homes in Huddersfield. This is the largest domestic PV programme in the UK, and represents about 5% of installed PV capacity. All buildings were either refurbished or newly built to high environmental standards, so households gained the benefits of energy efficiency as well as the more visible PV.
A typical household system rated at 1 kWp generates about 750 kWh of electricity per year in the UK, which would give a saving of £50 per year if it all replaced imported electricity. Kirkless MBC has lobbied to get better payment for export of electricity, and also easier access to Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) for small generators.
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Solar water heating, Legionella and heating daily to the store base
Solar water heating systems using comnventional hot water stores are reported by a UK government water safety agency WRAS as being highly likely to be creating a Legionella safety risk. Legionnnaire's disease risk can be minimised by improved design. One safer solar storage solution used by Solartwin is called dedicated solar volume in time. This safer design involves heating to the base of a solar hot water store every day in the evening to 60C. This solar hot water storage method fullly complies with regulation UK HSE Legionella L8 guidance para 158. Another safer solution is a thermal store. The safety principles also apply to heat pumps. Includes a suggested way to calculate the statistical number of people infected with Legionella per year from solar cylinders in UK.
Good Energy - Solar Power at Home
In the Herefordshire countryside a couple use solar panels at home to heat water and generate electricity and help them to lead the good life. Find out how it is like to live with renewable sustainable energy systems.
Investing In Solar Energy and Feed In Tariffs
Export electricity to the grid and make money from your home solar power.
20% renewable energy by 2020
Raising the share of renewable energy from 8.5% to 20% in the overall energy consumption is a necessary contribution to the global fight against climate change and towards better control over our energy dependence. The various uses of renewable energy are examined: electricity through wind and hydraulic energies; electricity or heat through geothermal and solar energies; electricity, heat, and biofuel coming from biomass. The EU is a world leader in the use and deployment of technologies that exploit renewable energy sources
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