The PowerRouter is the ideal solution for the use of self-generated solar power (self-use). Why sell your surplus energy to the grid at a lower price, when you can store it for later use and receive a higher incentive for generating and using your own solar energy? Just connect solar energy and batteries to the PowerRouter and monitor and control where and when you use it. The PowerRouter allows you to optimize, control and manage yourself-generated energy. The PowerRouter is perfectly equipped to make the most efficient use of the self-use regulations. Use your own energy whenever you need it most.
http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/solar-energy/self-generating-solar-energy/
Urban Energy
We are an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economical and environmentally sound green energy solutions for homes and businesses in the South West.
We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.
We understand that introducing a renewable energy system i.e solar panels, to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house installation team and electrical division, it is our promise to you the customer, that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
The Granary, Phillips Lane, Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury SP1 3YR
Tel: 0800 2321624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Showing posts with label solar industry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label solar industry. Show all posts
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Friday, 30 March 2012
UK government loses Supreme Court case against solar feed-in tariffs
The UK government’s doomed case against the challenge to its
planned cuts of solar feed-in tariffs has been rejected by the Supreme Court.
The last ditch attempt by the government to overthrow
previous decisions by the High Court and the Court of Appeal that its action to
cut solar feed-in tariffs during the consultation period as “legally flawed”
failed on Friday 23 March 2012.
The Supreme Court’s rejection of the government’s appeal
marks the end of the legal wrangle and leaves the thousands of homeowners and
businesses who installed solar panels after the 12 December cut-off date and
before 3 March better off.
The lucky ones will now receive the higher FIT rate of 43.3p
per kWh, instead of the lower rate of 21p.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said he was
“disappointed” that the Supreme Court did not to grant permission to hear the
case, but said that the ruling “draws a line under the case”, which was
instigated by his predecessor Chris Huhne.
“We will now focus all our efforts on ensuring the future
stability and cost effectiveness of solar and other microgeneration
technologies for the many, not the few,” he said.
Andy Atkins, the executive director of Friends of the Earth, which
brought the challenge along with other solar installers, welcomed the ruling
that the government’s “botched… solar plans are illegal”.
“[The] landmark decision which will prevent ministers
causing industry chaos with similar subsidy cuts in future,” he added. “The
Coalition must now get on with the urgent task of restoring confidence in UK
solar power.”
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Current size of the UK PV market
Ofgem’s register tells us that in this current FiT year
there have been 197MW of PV installed to date. Still to be added are
more than 75MW of large-scale projects already connected to the grid,
while an estimated further 15MW in projects were extended under the FiT loophole.
Most in the industry assume that Ofgem is three months behind in logging registrations. By adding the latest installation figures with the confirmed large-scale projects, deployments in this current FiT year amount to around 287MW.
We can also add to this figure a number of large-scale social housing projects with as many as 5,000 homes at a time that have recently started deployment. This is likely to raise the run rate for domestic installs considerably and, as we are half way through the FiT year already, it looks likely that the UK will exceed 550MW by year end 31 March 2012.
Remember this is just PV installs the other technologies are just starting to ramp up.
Urban Energy
Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.
Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.
We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Most in the industry assume that Ofgem is three months behind in logging registrations. By adding the latest installation figures with the confirmed large-scale projects, deployments in this current FiT year amount to around 287MW.
We can also add to this figure a number of large-scale social housing projects with as many as 5,000 homes at a time that have recently started deployment. This is likely to raise the run rate for domestic installs considerably and, as we are half way through the FiT year already, it looks likely that the UK will exceed 550MW by year end 31 March 2012.
Remember this is just PV installs the other technologies are just starting to ramp up.
Urban Energy
Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.
Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.
We
only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy
industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically
sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality
assurance.
We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Friday, 2 September 2011
Scaling the Spinnaker for SolarAid
http://solar-aid.org/about/2011/08/scaling-the-spinnaker-for-sola.html
A small team of fundraisers from Urban Energy abseiled down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth last week, raising over £500 for SolarAid. The group, all staff from the solar installer Urban Energy, braved dizzying heights and difficult cross winds so that rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa can live with clean and affordable light.
The money is being raised as part of the Hot 100 Challenge for 100 people to raise £1,000 each by the end of the year. Donations will allow: schools to light their class rooms; families to breathe clean air, free of toxic fumes produced by kerosene; health clinics to stay open after dark and entrepreneurs to establish sustainable solar markets. What's more, winning fundraisers have the chance to visit our programmes in Africa and to learn for themselves just how their hard earned gifts are being spent.
Please take a look at Urban Energy's vertigo-inducing pics below. To donate please visit http://www.justgiving.com/UrbanEnergyHot100
A small team of fundraisers from Urban Energy abseiled down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth last week, raising over £500 for SolarAid. The group, all staff from the solar installer Urban Energy, braved dizzying heights and difficult cross winds so that rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa can live with clean and affordable light.
The money is being raised as part of the Hot 100 Challenge for 100 people to raise £1,000 each by the end of the year. Donations will allow: schools to light their class rooms; families to breathe clean air, free of toxic fumes produced by kerosene; health clinics to stay open after dark and entrepreneurs to establish sustainable solar markets. What's more, winning fundraisers have the chance to visit our programmes in Africa and to learn for themselves just how their hard earned gifts are being spent.
Please take a look at Urban Energy's vertigo-inducing pics below. To donate please visit http://www.justgiving.com/UrbanEnergyHot100
Urban Energy
Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.
Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.
We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.
We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
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, 30 June 2010
Renewables account for 3.1% of UK energy in 2009
Renewables accounted for 3.1% of the UK's primary energy requirements in 2009 - up 0.4% from the year before, according to the latest statistics published by Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
The figure - which includes renewables used for transport and heat as well as electricity generation - is up from 2.6% in 2008 and 2.2% in 2007.
When measured using the slightly different methodology of the 2008 EU Renewable Energy Directive - which measures energy on a net calorific value basis and includes a cap on fuel used for aviation - this equates to 3% of energy consumption coming from renewables.
This is up from 2.4% in 2008 and 1.8% in 2007 and means that the UK is now one-fifth of the way towards meeting its Directive target to produce 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
The data was contained in a special feature, entitled ‘Renewable Energy in 2009' which was published by DECC yesterday (June 24) alongside its June edition of Energy Trends and Quarterly Energy Prices.
The article updates information on renewable energy published by DECC in June 2009, looks at the latest position and provides the first look at the statistics on renewable energy production and use in the UK in 2009. It also breaks down energy generation by source and type - including electricity, heat production and renewable fuels.
Electricity
For electricity, the figures show that 6.6% of that sold by licensed suppliers in the UK was generated from renewables eligible for the Renewables Obligation, up from a revised 5.3% in 2008.
Wind continued to be the leading renewable technology for generating electricity (37%), with hydro second (21 %), followed closely by landfill gas (20%). Generation from wind was four percentage points higher than in 2008, whilst hydro's contribution was three percentage points lower.
Total electricity capacity in 2009 amounted to more than 8GW, compared with 6.8GW in 2008 - an increase of 1.2GW (18%). The main contributors to this increase were 663MW from onshore wind (+24%), 355MW from offshore wind (+61%), 81MW from plant biomass (+41%) and 77MW (+8%) from landfill gas.
Heat
For renewable heat, which is produced from around 14% of renewable sources, the main sources were found to be direct combustion of biomass (93%), active solar heating and geothermal aquifers. Domestic use of wood is the main contributor to renewable heat (39%) followed by plant biomass (21%) and industrial use of wood and wood waste (17%).
While use of renewable heat has historically been on the decline, the report noted that it had started to grow and "further significant growth" was anticipated, due to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) which is expected to provide a financial incentive from April 2011.
Transport fuel
Liquid biofuels for transport comprised nearly 15% of total renewable sources in 2009. In this period, 1,044 million litres of biodiesel and 317 million litres of bioethanol were consumed up from 886 million litres and 206 million litres in 2008 respectively. Biodiesel accounted for 4.2% of diesel, and bioethanol 1.4% of motor spirit. Their combined contribution was 2.9%.
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 figure - which includes renewables used for transport and heat as well as electricity generation - is up from 2.6% in 2008 and 2.2% in 2007.
When measured using the slightly different methodology of the 2008 EU Renewable Energy Directive - which measures energy on a net calorific value basis and includes a cap on fuel used for aviation - this equates to 3% of energy consumption coming from renewables.
This is up from 2.4% in 2008 and 1.8% in 2007 and means that the UK is now one-fifth of the way towards meeting its Directive target to produce 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
The data was contained in a special feature, entitled ‘Renewable Energy in 2009' which was published by DECC yesterday (June 24) alongside its June edition of Energy Trends and Quarterly Energy Prices.
The article updates information on renewable energy published by DECC in June 2009, looks at the latest position and provides the first look at the statistics on renewable energy production and use in the UK in 2009. It also breaks down energy generation by source and type - including electricity, heat production and renewable fuels.
Electricity
For electricity, the figures show that 6.6% of that sold by licensed suppliers in the UK was generated from renewables eligible for the Renewables Obligation, up from a revised 5.3% in 2008.
Wind continued to be the leading renewable technology for generating electricity (37%), with hydro second (21 %), followed closely by landfill gas (20%). Generation from wind was four percentage points higher than in 2008, whilst hydro's contribution was three percentage points lower.
Total electricity capacity in 2009 amounted to more than 8GW, compared with 6.8GW in 2008 - an increase of 1.2GW (18%). The main contributors to this increase were 663MW from onshore wind (+24%), 355MW from offshore wind (+61%), 81MW from plant biomass (+41%) and 77MW (+8%) from landfill gas.
Heat
For renewable heat, which is produced from around 14% of renewable sources, the main sources were found to be direct combustion of biomass (93%), active solar heating and geothermal aquifers. Domestic use of wood is the main contributor to renewable heat (39%) followed by plant biomass (21%) and industrial use of wood and wood waste (17%).
While use of renewable heat has historically been on the decline, the report noted that it had started to grow and "further significant growth" was anticipated, due to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) which is expected to provide a financial incentive from April 2011.
Transport fuel
Liquid biofuels for transport comprised nearly 15% of total renewable sources in 2009. In this period, 1,044 million litres of biodiesel and 317 million litres of bioethanol were consumed up from 886 million litres and 206 million litres in 2008 respectively. Biodiesel accounted for 4.2% of diesel, and bioethanol 1.4% of motor spirit. Their combined contribution was 2.9%.
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, 23 June 2010
Government is failing consumers by neglecting to publicise vital information about the Feed-In Tariff
Urban Energy are agree with other experts in the renewable energy field that believe the Government is failing consumers by neglecting to publicise vital information about the Feed-In Tariff widely enough.
The UK's Feed-In Tariff came into effect in April 2010 and offers generous financial incentives to consumers opting to install solar PV panels in their homes. Yet despite this, there has been relatively little by way of information and publicity about the tariff made available to consumers.
The Government has introduced this amazing scheme. They've made solar panels an investment, rather than an expense. But we're still continually finding that people simply either don't know exactly what it's all about or even don't know about it at all! The Feed-In Tariff here is particularly generous. It's been covered in newspapers and on TV all over the globe, yet we're failing to inform the very people it benefits, the UK consumers.
It is hoped that the Feed-In Tariff will encourage a higher uptake of solar panel installation here in the UK and that this in turn will contribute to the Government's carbon emission reduction targets. Publicising the tariff is imperative to the success of meeting these targets.
The British Government has pledged to cut our carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. Feed-In Tariffs are an incredible way to encourage solar installation and therefore reduce carbon emissions but if consumers aren't even aware of it, we'll never see its full potential.
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's Feed-In Tariff came into effect in April 2010 and offers generous financial incentives to consumers opting to install solar PV panels in their homes. Yet despite this, there has been relatively little by way of information and publicity about the tariff made available to consumers.
The Government has introduced this amazing scheme. They've made solar panels an investment, rather than an expense. But we're still continually finding that people simply either don't know exactly what it's all about or even don't know about it at all! The Feed-In Tariff here is particularly generous. It's been covered in newspapers and on TV all over the globe, yet we're failing to inform the very people it benefits, the UK consumers.
It is hoped that the Feed-In Tariff will encourage a higher uptake of solar panel installation here in the UK and that this in turn will contribute to the Government's carbon emission reduction targets. Publicising the tariff is imperative to the success of meeting these targets.
The British Government has pledged to cut our carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. Feed-In Tariffs are an incredible way to encourage solar installation and therefore reduce carbon emissions but if consumers aren't even aware of it, we'll never see its full potential.
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/
Friday, 5 March 2010
Solar Aid: enabling some of the poorest communities on the planet to receive clean, free energy!
Urban Energy actively supporting Solar Aid, enabling some of the poorest communities on the planet to receive clean, free energy:
Hi all at Urban Energy!
During my recent trip to Kenya and Tanzania last month, my colleagues and I made a series of short films about our work on the ground and how our donors and supporters are having a real impact on the lives of thousands of people. I’d love you to watch this short film. Please simply type: urbanenergy.mysolaraid.org into your web browser to view the special web page and to watch the short film. I hope you enjoy it! I look forward to catching up soon.
All the best,
Anna
Marketing Manager
SolarAid
http://defaultrecord1.mysolaraid.org/links/Microsites/8f9a5b31_fe4c_4056_9c05_a40fed929aa8/www/index.html?enc=5e6zaFEYMp2YYTDybwVAt/nvcnURQhK020/eECFlH6vHCX/dRH3w/7znXH9cNDzs7AXY3ug2BgQxdW4PJBfuXIQfcydyvoufunwoibyzTHVEFiTrvbTTS/wLZOLuXyksTG0Ny5VpY4SN93RY4Bdy9BMZxNmDnaqRzjrWh6UQIwURLCOWTnyEbxNJy4CyrxRq2KaLM4RjAAwcUpIXk1FRsEdpdTay7BxtU5BgR3uDJces0KJeluvdKGd2a8ArhEKSRyRzfTE3W1OhJDePILJzabs4I27GE7QGhBOhcJooibg=&
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Hi all at Urban Energy!
During my recent trip to Kenya and Tanzania last month, my colleagues and I made a series of short films about our work on the ground and how our donors and supporters are having a real impact on the lives of thousands of people. I’d love you to watch this short film. Please simply type: urbanenergy.mysolaraid.org into your web browser to view the special web page and to watch the short film. I hope you enjoy it! I look forward to catching up soon.
All the best,
Anna
Marketing Manager
SolarAid
http://defaultrecord1.mysolaraid.org/links/Microsites/8f9a5b31_fe4c_4056_9c05_a40fed929aa8/www/index.html?enc=5e6zaFEYMp2YYTDybwVAt/nvcnURQhK020/eECFlH6vHCX/dRH3w/7znXH9cNDzs7AXY3ug2BgQxdW4PJBfuXIQfcydyvoufunwoibyzTHVEFiTrvbTTS/wLZOLuXyksTG0Ny5VpY4SN93RY4Bdy9BMZxNmDnaqRzjrWh6UQIwURLCOWTnyEbxNJy4CyrxRq2KaLM4RjAAwcUpIXk1FRsEdpdTay7BxtU5BgR3uDJces0KJeluvdKGd2a8ArhEKSRyRzfTE3W1OhJDePILJzabs4I27GE7QGhBOhcJooibg=&
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Why solar panels are better than micro-wind turbines.
When thinking about renewable electricity for your home, two options spring to mind; photovoltaic panels and small wind turbines. But which one should you choose? The government has introduced a feed-in-tariff that pays a subsidized amount for the electricity they produce and the amount paid for small wind turbines is similar to that paid for small PV systems (34p/kWh compared to 41p/kWh).
The key criteria to deciding which technology will be the most profitable is the cost of producing a unit of energy from each one. For this you need to factor in the up front costs such as equipment and installation, and then look at how much energy they will produce once out there over an average year. Without going too heavily into numbers my argument is that in some instances, micro-wind turbines will have a lower cost of energy than solar panels, but for the majority of cases solar panels will be better and this can be explained by some basic science.
Without a doubt, on a large scale, wind energy is cheaper than solar. The cost of energy from large-scale wind farms is somewhere around 10p/kWh whereas the cost of energy from large-scale solar is three to four times greater at present. Big wind turbines are now very well designed products and many years of industry development means that the costs have fallen dramatically and continue to do so. Big solar farms are also rapidly reducing in cost and make a lot of sense in some locations, particularly in the many regions where wind farms are not suitable, but for now they do not compete.
On the small scale however, the economics are drastically different. As the size of a solar installation decreases, the performance falls linearly with the amount of area used, and therefore the cost of energy does not change so dramatically. In contrast, as wind turbines get smaller their performance gets disproportionately worse.
This is for two mains reasons:
The first reason is that as the turbine blade length gets shorter, the ‘swept-area’ decreases quadratically. This means that if you decrease the length of a blade from 80 meters to 40 meters, the area covered by the blade decreases from 20 thousand square meters to just 5 thousand. The ‘swept-area’ determines how much wind energy the turbine can use. So when you decrease the blade length you still need all the expensive moving parts like the generator, but you get disproportionally less energy – for one big wind turbine you would need thousands of smaller ones to cover the same area.
The second reason is that where you use micro-wind turbines the wind speed is generally slower. This is because most of us live in built up areas where there are other buildings nearby. These buildings disrupt the wind, making it irregular and slow. Wind speed is crucial to the effectiveness of a wind turbine, again because the energy contained in the wind is disproportional to its speed. If the wind speed drops by a factor of 2, the energy produced by a wind turbine decreases by a factor of 4. Comparing most built up areas, the average wind speed is much lower than half the wind speed found high-up in open spaces where you find most wind farms.
These two factors combine to mean that for most homeowners solar panels are the most sensible and safest option. Of course, if you live near an open space and get a lot of wind then a micro-wind turbine could be a great investment.
Reference: Solar Feed in Tariff
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, certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
0% interest instalment payment program available for domestic solar thermal and photovoltaic systems.
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 key criteria to deciding which technology will be the most profitable is the cost of producing a unit of energy from each one. For this you need to factor in the up front costs such as equipment and installation, and then look at how much energy they will produce once out there over an average year. Without going too heavily into numbers my argument is that in some instances, micro-wind turbines will have a lower cost of energy than solar panels, but for the majority of cases solar panels will be better and this can be explained by some basic science.
Without a doubt, on a large scale, wind energy is cheaper than solar. The cost of energy from large-scale wind farms is somewhere around 10p/kWh whereas the cost of energy from large-scale solar is three to four times greater at present. Big wind turbines are now very well designed products and many years of industry development means that the costs have fallen dramatically and continue to do so. Big solar farms are also rapidly reducing in cost and make a lot of sense in some locations, particularly in the many regions where wind farms are not suitable, but for now they do not compete.
On the small scale however, the economics are drastically different. As the size of a solar installation decreases, the performance falls linearly with the amount of area used, and therefore the cost of energy does not change so dramatically. In contrast, as wind turbines get smaller their performance gets disproportionately worse.
This is for two mains reasons:
The first reason is that as the turbine blade length gets shorter, the ‘swept-area’ decreases quadratically. This means that if you decrease the length of a blade from 80 meters to 40 meters, the area covered by the blade decreases from 20 thousand square meters to just 5 thousand. The ‘swept-area’ determines how much wind energy the turbine can use. So when you decrease the blade length you still need all the expensive moving parts like the generator, but you get disproportionally less energy – for one big wind turbine you would need thousands of smaller ones to cover the same area.
The second reason is that where you use micro-wind turbines the wind speed is generally slower. This is because most of us live in built up areas where there are other buildings nearby. These buildings disrupt the wind, making it irregular and slow. Wind speed is crucial to the effectiveness of a wind turbine, again because the energy contained in the wind is disproportional to its speed. If the wind speed drops by a factor of 2, the energy produced by a wind turbine decreases by a factor of 4. Comparing most built up areas, the average wind speed is much lower than half the wind speed found high-up in open spaces where you find most wind farms.
These two factors combine to mean that for most homeowners solar panels are the most sensible and safest option. Of course, if you live near an open space and get a lot of wind then a micro-wind turbine could be a great investment.
Reference: Solar Feed in Tariff
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, certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
0% interest instalment payment program available for domestic solar thermal and photovoltaic systems.
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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