The government's feed-in tariff scheme has already got thousands of people generating their own green electricity.
When the government launched the feed-in tariff scheme in April it was one of a range of policies aimed at inducing people to improve the eco-credentials of their homes.
Now, just five months later, an Ofgem report has revealed that almost 10,000 people have signed up to the scheme, including those that were already using microgeneration technology to power their homes before it started.
Explained simply, the feed-in tariff scheme pays those who generate their own green electricity, even if they don't sell it back to the National Grid. If households do choose to export their electricity then they will be awarded with extra payments.
Energy suppliers pay a certain amount per kilowatt hour (kw/h) of power generated, which remains at a constant level for 20 years, or 25 years if the power is generated from solar power. A further 3p per kw/h will also be paid for any electricity which is sold back to the grid.
This has the two-fold benefit of bringing in added income and reducing household energy bills.
The aim of the scheme was to encourage more people to install microgeneration technology, which is capable of producing small amounts of green electricity. This will in turn increase the amount of energy in the UK being produced by renewable energy sources and reduce the country's carbon emissions.
Figures from the Ofgem report show that in total, £182,059 has been paid out to UK households through the feed-in tariffs. Overall, 9,350 people are now signed up to the scheme.
Nick Medic, head of communications at RenewableUK, said earlier this year that the feed-in tariffs are "revolutionary".
"What the feed-in tariff does is it really simplifies the way in which people can benefit from renewable energy," he explained.
Looking at the electricity generation in terms of installed capacity, photovoltaic (PV) solar panels are leading the way with 44 per cent of the share. Solar panels also account for a huge 97 per cent of all installations.
Solar PV technology uses cells to convert the sun's rays into electricity, without requiring direct sunlight, which means it continues to generate power even on a cloudy day. According to the National Home Improvement Show, a typical system can add five per cent to a property's value and generate £700 a year under the feed-in tariff scheme.
Wind turbines provide the next highest proportion of installed power at 35 per cent, followed by hydro at 21 per cent.
It's not just homeowners that are looking to benefit from the feed-in tariff scheme either. Domestic dwellings make up the highest single proportion of installed capacity at 46 per cent, but there are also high numbers of commercial and community projects registered with the scheme.
Stuart Pocock, technical director at the Renewable Energy Association, said that more commercial enterprises are showing interest.
"Obviously it's slightly different for the commercial sector because there is still planning permission needed and there are more hoops to jump through, but the feedback we're getting is that yes, it is appearing to be of interest for certain parts of the market," he explained.
If you're thinking about joining in with the feed-in tariff scheme then there are a number of steps that should be followed.
Firstly, you should make sure that your home complies with all basic existing energy-efficiency measures. You should then decide which technology is best suited for your home and select an installer that is registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
Once the technology is installed, give your certificate of eligibility to your energy supplier, which will cross reference your details with a central database, and install a new meter to read how much power the technology is generating.
The feed-in tariff is, of course, still in its infancy, but if the success of the similar scheme in Germany is anything to go by, the initiative is only likely to grow in popularity.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Showing posts with label Clean Energy Cashback Scheme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clean Energy Cashback Scheme. Show all posts
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
UK Solar PV market to increase five fold in 2010 according to survey
The UK’s solar PV electricity market could grow five fold in 2010 and 30 times over by 2015 as a result of new Feed-in Tariffs (FiT's), according to analysis by industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory service PricewaterhourseCoopers (PwC).
Feed-in tariff style grants and funding have rapidly increased installations in European countries with some nations seeing an annual increase of installations in excess of 300 per cent in the first year of the tariffs being available. And with the Clean Energy Cashback Scheme – also known as the Feed-In Tariff (FiT) – being implemented to allow UK homeowners who generate their own electricity receive regular payments for the energy they supply, PwC Renewables Director Daniel Guttman believes UK residents could flock in the direction of Solar PV power in 2010.
He said: “The significant expansion that may be just around the corner will change today’s ‘cottage industry’ into a much more professionally organised sector.
“The PV market will become more sophisticated with more complex products and a greater focus on accountability for system performance.
“The industry will need to adapt and develop quickly to ensure that as much of the opportunity in terms of job and value creation is captured within the UK.
“Companies that have been successful so far have benefited from investment in order to fund expansion.
“Further investment will be required in order to train for and fund the rapid expansion expected. New entrants are likely to expand into the UK in coming years.
“We believe that this will be true across much of the value chain, but particularly downstream around installations.”
The study conducted by the advisory service called ‘On the brink of a bright future? Insights on the UK solar photovoltaic market’ found that the majority of UK PV installations are small domestic panels like in Germany and France while large-scale solar farms are more common in countries likes Italy and Spain.
PwC claim to have got the five-fold installation improvement from UK industry observers who’d been interviewed as part of the study which also suggested the market survey expressed concern that there are too few certified installers to meet the potential demand.
The group says there needs to be sufficient investment in infrastructure, skill and training for the UK to fully benefit from solar power.
PwC Sustainability and Climate Change Director Gus Schellekens added: “The focus on PV is timely with recently published road-map documents outlining the future global potential for PV technologies.
“While its use in the UK is small today, PV has a promising future if supported by strong government policy that sustains early deployments and supports the technology’s transition to cost competitiveness.”
Reference: On the brink of a bright future? PwC
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Feed-in tariff style grants and funding have rapidly increased installations in European countries with some nations seeing an annual increase of installations in excess of 300 per cent in the first year of the tariffs being available. And with the Clean Energy Cashback Scheme – also known as the Feed-In Tariff (FiT) – being implemented to allow UK homeowners who generate their own electricity receive regular payments for the energy they supply, PwC Renewables Director Daniel Guttman believes UK residents could flock in the direction of Solar PV power in 2010.
He said: “The significant expansion that may be just around the corner will change today’s ‘cottage industry’ into a much more professionally organised sector.
“The PV market will become more sophisticated with more complex products and a greater focus on accountability for system performance.
“The industry will need to adapt and develop quickly to ensure that as much of the opportunity in terms of job and value creation is captured within the UK.
“Companies that have been successful so far have benefited from investment in order to fund expansion.
“Further investment will be required in order to train for and fund the rapid expansion expected. New entrants are likely to expand into the UK in coming years.
“We believe that this will be true across much of the value chain, but particularly downstream around installations.”
The study conducted by the advisory service called ‘On the brink of a bright future? Insights on the UK solar photovoltaic market’ found that the majority of UK PV installations are small domestic panels like in Germany and France while large-scale solar farms are more common in countries likes Italy and Spain.
PwC claim to have got the five-fold installation improvement from UK industry observers who’d been interviewed as part of the study which also suggested the market survey expressed concern that there are too few certified installers to meet the potential demand.
The group says there needs to be sufficient investment in infrastructure, skill and training for the UK to fully benefit from solar power.
PwC Sustainability and Climate Change Director Gus Schellekens added: “The focus on PV is timely with recently published road-map documents outlining the future global potential for PV technologies.
“While its use in the UK is small today, PV has a promising future if supported by strong government policy that sustains early deployments and supports the technology’s transition to cost competitiveness.”
Reference: On the brink of a bright future? PwC
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
FiT tariff to kick-start solar boom!
Last week, huge auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) released an analysis of the Solar PV markets across Europe and particularly the UK. The report claims that the solar panel industry in the UK is on the brink of a bright future with the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) promising a new dawn for Photovoltaic systems.
PwC say that the conditions are such that there could be a tenfold increase in Solar PV installed capacity in ten years, but only if a number of obstacles are overcome. In order to ‘capture' this potential growth, individuals, government and firms must focus on the five big barriers: Consumer awareness, upfront funding, consistency of policy, access to capital and a UK skills shortage.
Once everyone has adapted to the changes, the FiT and other incentives will drive significant future growth while Solar PV will cease to be a ‘cottage industry' in Britain. The encouraging growth forecasts are tempered, however, by the realisation that current installed capacity of Solar PV is miniscule. Only 0.1% of the country's renewable energy is supplied by PV and after ten years of a FiT, the UK is only likely to reach the levels that Germany is at today.
Many people in the UK do not understand that, especially under a feed-in tariff, the UK can provide more than enough sun to justify a solar panel set-up. The payback achievable on solar PV installations in the UK compares favourably with levels known to have stimulated markets in other countries. Gus Schellekens, the sustainability & climate change director at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP said, "The focus on PV is timely with recently published roadmap documents outlining the future global potential for PV technologies. While its use in the UK is small today, PV has a promising future if supported by strong government policy that sustains early deployments and supports the technology's transition to cost competitiveness."
One of the main points of the PwC analysis is that incentives and policy must be maintained to ensure consistency and confidence in future returns. Regularly changing incentives and uncertainty could lead to investors holding back causing lower growth. Currently, the UK government is considering a change to the Feed-in Tariff system, promising to establish a full system of feed-in tariffs for electricity. No greater detail has been released at a time when increased clarity would promote economic growth in this area.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Feed in Tariffs
Feed-in tariffs (FiTs), have been available since April 1 2010, and are designed to incentivise businesses and individuals to install small scale electricity generating technologies by guaranteeing a minimum payment for the electricity generated as well as the electricity exported to grid.
The scheme is designed to incentivise everything from a one kilowatt (kW) system fitted to a single home to a five megawatt (MW) wind turbine powering a whole community.
Either way, the incentive comes in three parts:
- The generation tariff, which takes the form of a fixed payment from the business’s or individual’s electricity supplier for every unit of energy or kilowatt hour (kWh) generated
- An export tariff, which will pay an extra 3p/kWh, in addition to the generation tariff, for any electricity not used on-site and ‘exported’ to the grid
- Offsetting of on-site use of electricity – where the business or individual uses the electricity on-site, this can be offset against electricity that would otherwise have been bought elsewhere.
At the moment, the FiT scheme only applies in England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has not yet taken a decision on implementing the scheme.
What technologies are supported by the scheme?
Small scale, low carbon electricity technologies initially eligible for the scheme include: wind; solar photovoltaics (PV); hydro; anaerobic digestion; and, as a pilot, domestic scale microCHP (with a capacity of 2kW or less).
The pilot for domestic scale microCHP (micro combined heat and power) is initially designed to support up to 30,000 installations, with a review to start once the 12,000th installation is completed.
Solid or liquid biomass technologies are not currently covered by the FiT scheme, although they will continue to receive support under the Renewables Obligation (RO). The decision to exclude biomass from the FiT scheme when it is already covered by the RO, has been described as “confusing” by campaign group Friends of the Earth.
The idea is that FiT should only support tried and tested technologies that can be effectively deployed in the short term. Wave, tidal and pyrolysis technologies are not currently covered.
New technologies will be considered for inclusion under FiT at the first of the scheme’s reviews, due in 2013.
Is accreditation needed?
To qualify for a FiT payment, it will be necessary to use a product and installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
According to Ofgem, MSC approved products and installers must be used for any installation after April 1 2010 if it is is wind, PV or hydro at or below 50kw capacity, or fossil fuel CHP at or below 2kw.
Wind, PV and hydro above 50kw and anaerobic digestion systems of any size do not require MSC approval – indeed, the MCS does not certify these yet – instead, they must seek accreditation from Ofgem.
Microgenerators transferring to FiT, that have already gained accreditation under the RO, do not need MSC certification.
How much do you get?
Tariff levels vary depending on the type and scale of installation, ranging from 4.5p kWh for some hydro to 41.3p for retrofit PV (though will generally be in the ballpark of 20-35p/kWh) for installations completed between July 15 2009 and March 31 2012.
The tariff is fixed for the lifetime of the installation (usually 20 years, but 25 years for PV) and linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to ensure it holds its value in real terms.
Payments for some technologies will be fixed at a lower rate after the FiT scheme has been running for two or three years, reflecting the fact that the cost of these technologies is expected to fall over time.
More information?
DECC The Government Response to the Consultation on Feed-in Tariffs
Ofgem
Carbon Trust
Energy Saving Trust
Renewable Energy Association
British Wind Energy Association
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
The scheme is designed to incentivise everything from a one kilowatt (kW) system fitted to a single home to a five megawatt (MW) wind turbine powering a whole community.
Either way, the incentive comes in three parts:
- The generation tariff, which takes the form of a fixed payment from the business’s or individual’s electricity supplier for every unit of energy or kilowatt hour (kWh) generated
- An export tariff, which will pay an extra 3p/kWh, in addition to the generation tariff, for any electricity not used on-site and ‘exported’ to the grid
- Offsetting of on-site use of electricity – where the business or individual uses the electricity on-site, this can be offset against electricity that would otherwise have been bought elsewhere.
At the moment, the FiT scheme only applies in England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has not yet taken a decision on implementing the scheme.
What technologies are supported by the scheme?
Small scale, low carbon electricity technologies initially eligible for the scheme include: wind; solar photovoltaics (PV); hydro; anaerobic digestion; and, as a pilot, domestic scale microCHP (with a capacity of 2kW or less).
The pilot for domestic scale microCHP (micro combined heat and power) is initially designed to support up to 30,000 installations, with a review to start once the 12,000th installation is completed.
Solid or liquid biomass technologies are not currently covered by the FiT scheme, although they will continue to receive support under the Renewables Obligation (RO). The decision to exclude biomass from the FiT scheme when it is already covered by the RO, has been described as “confusing” by campaign group Friends of the Earth.
The idea is that FiT should only support tried and tested technologies that can be effectively deployed in the short term. Wave, tidal and pyrolysis technologies are not currently covered.
New technologies will be considered for inclusion under FiT at the first of the scheme’s reviews, due in 2013.
Is accreditation needed?
To qualify for a FiT payment, it will be necessary to use a product and installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
According to Ofgem, MSC approved products and installers must be used for any installation after April 1 2010 if it is is wind, PV or hydro at or below 50kw capacity, or fossil fuel CHP at or below 2kw.
Wind, PV and hydro above 50kw and anaerobic digestion systems of any size do not require MSC approval – indeed, the MCS does not certify these yet – instead, they must seek accreditation from Ofgem.
Microgenerators transferring to FiT, that have already gained accreditation under the RO, do not need MSC certification.
How much do you get?
Tariff levels vary depending on the type and scale of installation, ranging from 4.5p kWh for some hydro to 41.3p for retrofit PV (though will generally be in the ballpark of 20-35p/kWh) for installations completed between July 15 2009 and March 31 2012.
The tariff is fixed for the lifetime of the installation (usually 20 years, but 25 years for PV) and linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to ensure it holds its value in real terms.
Payments for some technologies will be fixed at a lower rate after the FiT scheme has been running for two or three years, reflecting the fact that the cost of these technologies is expected to fall over time.
More information?
DECC The Government Response to the Consultation on Feed-in Tariffs
Ofgem
Carbon Trust
Energy Saving Trust
Renewable Energy Association
British Wind Energy Association
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Considering Renewables?
Our guide to green, clean energy in the home. If you're considering installing renewable energy technologies at home, then there are several options available to you. However, not all will be right for your home. Read our guide to the different technologies available and find out about the government's Feed-in Tariff, also known as the 'Clean Energy Cashback Scheme'.
The UK is quite well suited to solar power. If you've done the basic things to stop wasting energy at home, such as installing loft and wall insulation and energy efficient lighting and appliances, then you might want to consider installing your own renewable energy technologies. Working out which technology is most suitable for your home is a good way to start.
Wind turbines
Wind turbines are the iconic renewable energy technology. At home, small turbines are only suitable in certain parts of the country, if they have clear sight-lines away from other buildings or trees and where there is a wind speed of no less than 5 m/s. Be aware that, in some areas, erecting a turbine will also need planning permission. You can see if your home is suitable for wind power at the Energy Saving Trust website.
Solar power
As contrary to popular belief solar photovoltaic (PV) cells don't need direct sunlight to work, so you can still generate electricity on a cloudy day.
Solar PV panels convert sunlight directly into electricity. In addition to Solar PV there are also solar water heating systems that use the sun's heat to warm up water, which can then be used directly. Both are best placed on south-facing roofs but other orientations can also work, though less efficiently.
Feed-in Tariffs (FiT's) will be introduced to the UK on 1 April 2010. The scheme requires energy suppliers to make regular payments to householders and communities who generate their own electricity from renewable or low carbon sources such as solar electricity (PV) panels or wind turbines.
The scheme guarantees a minimum payment for all electricity generated by the system, as well as a separate payment for the electricity exported to the grid. These payments are in addition to the bill savings made by using the electricity generated on-site.
From April this year, every unit of electricity generated at home could earn up to 41.3p for a PV system – which could mean around £800 per year for 25 years for a typical-sized solar electricity installation, up to just over £1,650 per year for 25 years for an optimal south facing 4 kWp system.
Other technologies, such as wind, hydroelectricity and micro combined heat and power, will also benefit from the scheme, though with smaller payments than solar PV.
Air and ground source heat pumps
A ground source heat pump uses pipes buried underground (usually in a back garden) to extract heat from the ground and warm water for radiators in a home. A typical system costs around £12,000, with running costs of around £650 per year where the heat pump provides all heating and hot water. They can save around 540kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) and £160 a year if they replace an oil-fired central heating system, or more if replacing coal or electric heating.
Air source heat pumps extract heat from external air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside and these systems can operate with outside temperatures as low as -15C. They are cheaper than ground source heat pumps to install, £5,000 to £9,000 but are not always as efficient with running costs for heating and hot water at around £790 per year. The Energy Saving Trust says that the system could save up to 5,000 kg of CO2 and £700 per year if it replaced an electric heating system.
Wood fuelled heating
A stove burning logs or pellets could heat up a single room or, for full home use, a wood fuelled boiler can replace your current boiler/heating system. Because the boiler uses wood, it will only release the CO2 that was absorbed as the tree was growing in the first place. If the wood has been sourced responsibly and new plants are grown to replace the ones chopped down to make the fuel, wood fuelled systems are essentially carbon neutral.
A standalone stove costs around £3,000, while a typical automatically-fed boiler would set you back around £9,000. But wood fuel systems can save up to 9,600 kg of CO2 per year if they replace a coal-fired system.
Hydroelectricity
Finally, there is small-scale hydroelectricity. These use running water to turn a turbine that generates electricity. The faster the water flows and the more water there is, the more electricity can be produced. Clearly only suitable for people with a stream nearby, the advantage of this technology is that it is also eligible for the government's feed-in tariffs.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
The UK is quite well suited to solar power. If you've done the basic things to stop wasting energy at home, such as installing loft and wall insulation and energy efficient lighting and appliances, then you might want to consider installing your own renewable energy technologies. Working out which technology is most suitable for your home is a good way to start.
Wind turbines
Wind turbines are the iconic renewable energy technology. At home, small turbines are only suitable in certain parts of the country, if they have clear sight-lines away from other buildings or trees and where there is a wind speed of no less than 5 m/s. Be aware that, in some areas, erecting a turbine will also need planning permission. You can see if your home is suitable for wind power at the Energy Saving Trust website.
Solar power
As contrary to popular belief solar photovoltaic (PV) cells don't need direct sunlight to work, so you can still generate electricity on a cloudy day.
Solar PV panels convert sunlight directly into electricity. In addition to Solar PV there are also solar water heating systems that use the sun's heat to warm up water, which can then be used directly. Both are best placed on south-facing roofs but other orientations can also work, though less efficiently.
Feed-in Tariffs (FiT's) will be introduced to the UK on 1 April 2010. The scheme requires energy suppliers to make regular payments to householders and communities who generate their own electricity from renewable or low carbon sources such as solar electricity (PV) panels or wind turbines.
The scheme guarantees a minimum payment for all electricity generated by the system, as well as a separate payment for the electricity exported to the grid. These payments are in addition to the bill savings made by using the electricity generated on-site.
From April this year, every unit of electricity generated at home could earn up to 41.3p for a PV system – which could mean around £800 per year for 25 years for a typical-sized solar electricity installation, up to just over £1,650 per year for 25 years for an optimal south facing 4 kWp system.
Other technologies, such as wind, hydroelectricity and micro combined heat and power, will also benefit from the scheme, though with smaller payments than solar PV.
Air and ground source heat pumps
A ground source heat pump uses pipes buried underground (usually in a back garden) to extract heat from the ground and warm water for radiators in a home. A typical system costs around £12,000, with running costs of around £650 per year where the heat pump provides all heating and hot water. They can save around 540kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) and £160 a year if they replace an oil-fired central heating system, or more if replacing coal or electric heating.
Air source heat pumps extract heat from external air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside and these systems can operate with outside temperatures as low as -15C. They are cheaper than ground source heat pumps to install, £5,000 to £9,000 but are not always as efficient with running costs for heating and hot water at around £790 per year. The Energy Saving Trust says that the system could save up to 5,000 kg of CO2 and £700 per year if it replaced an electric heating system.
Wood fuelled heating
A stove burning logs or pellets could heat up a single room or, for full home use, a wood fuelled boiler can replace your current boiler/heating system. Because the boiler uses wood, it will only release the CO2 that was absorbed as the tree was growing in the first place. If the wood has been sourced responsibly and new plants are grown to replace the ones chopped down to make the fuel, wood fuelled systems are essentially carbon neutral.
A standalone stove costs around £3,000, while a typical automatically-fed boiler would set you back around £9,000. But wood fuel systems can save up to 9,600 kg of CO2 per year if they replace a coal-fired system.
Hydroelectricity
Finally, there is small-scale hydroelectricity. These use running water to turn a turbine that generates electricity. The faster the water flows and the more water there is, the more electricity can be produced. Clearly only suitable for people with a stream nearby, the advantage of this technology is that it is also eligible for the government's feed-in tariffs.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
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