‘Green Energy’ is the use of resources such as wind, tides and geothermal heating to provide us with our everyday energy requirement. They’re all considered naturally able to replenish – and thereby ‘Green’. Often, by going back in time, we can see the value of wind power and windmills as modern energy sources. However, it is the result of eco-efficient and planet friendly options that this process is maintained.

The home can use a range of new ideas to help with energy usage – including Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating Collectors. To gain electricity from roof panels you would need solar electrical panels (PV’s). Biomass Energy is the next phase, and this involves Fuel, Pellets, Stoves and Boilers burning Wood. Then we have the ancient energy of the Sun and the heat that comes from it – now called Ground Source Heat Pumps. Considering items such as Wind Power and Hydro Turbines, we are finally getting to very old forms of energy production.

Solar Energy Systems: Often commonly referred to as Solar Energy, this is primarily captured by two types of solar panels; each of which utilises different technologies for the process. To begin with, we have the concept of drawing energy from the Sun to heat water – known as Solar Water Heating Collectors. Solar Electrical panels or Photovoltaic heat collectors transfer solar radiation into electricity. 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.

For the UK, this is often considered the most popular form of ‘Green Energy’. Solar Water heating systems can provide over 50 percent of a household’s hot water requirement during the year. There are two options to fit these items. The first is to get a professional fit and the second is a DIY system, the first will cost around 2-5k and the second between 500 and 1500 pounds.

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.)

Fast growing trees such as Willow and Poplar (under the banner of Short Rotation Coppice ‘SRC’) help to meet the need for ‘Energy Crops’ within the UK. Perennial grasses also produce a high yield of dry matter. Other less known materials within this field are Agricultural and Municipal Waste. Under normal agricultural activity, agricultural waste is a natural by-product. Municipal Waste such as food or wood can also be utilised as a biomass product.

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.

Last of all there is Hydropower – an area of especial importance to the UK. Just like a thousand years ago, we are utilising the energy from water. Within the UK, this form of energy production is responsible for somewhere in the region of 2 percent of all electrical needs.

Using a turbine, a Hydropower system can transform the energy of water into other forms. 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. Alternatively, ‘Micro-Hydro’ systems use hitherto outdated sluices and dams to generate electricity. Whilst considered a smaller form of electrical output, this system is thought to be able to give some 200mW of capacity to the UK. A micro-hydro system like this would be expected to cost between 200 and 3,000 pounds per kW of the energy.

Because of the energy need of the Western World, we are now seeing a rapid rise in ‘Green Energy’. To be fair, the UK domestic market is actually leading the resurgence, with a variety of schemes.

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.

(C) Scott Edwards 2009. Hop over to plumbingtraininggb.co.uk/GreenEngineerTraining.html or Green Engineer Courses.

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