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Historically, non fossil fuel methods of generation
have not been cost effective. However, as a result of the ever increasing
cost of energy, many small scale renewable energy sources are now
becoming viable.
The chart opposite shows the relative installation
costs for renewable energy sources in the UK.
Here is a brief description of the most common systems available:
Solar Powered Water
Heating
Solar systems use rooftop solar collector panels to concentrate
the sun’s heat. They also include a hot-water tank and back-up
system to provide heat in the winter.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Heat pumps take low-level heat which occurs naturally underground
and convert it to high-grade heat using an electrically driven or
gas powered pump. Systems typically use an 80m long collector buried
underground.
Wind Power
You will have seen large turbines around the countryside, but small-scale
turbines are also available to generate energy for individual businesses.
A 6kW turbine will produce around 15,000kWh per year, enough to
supply a small office.
Small Scale Hydro Power
If you are near a suitable body of water, with both a flow and a
drop, you could generate electricity from this natural resource.
With a hydroelectric scheme comprising a turbine and generator,
the faster the flow and the further the water can fall, the more
electricity you will produce.
Biomass Boilers
Biomass boilers burn straw, logs or woodchips. They are especially
attractive if your business generates these fuels as a by-product
of the production process. A 20kW semi-automated woodchip system
is ideal for a small office and costs around £5,000.
Solar Electricity (Photovoltaics)
Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight into electricity. Whilst they
are obviously most effective in summer, they still produce some
power in the UK on cloudy days. If you have plenty of unshaded south-facing
roof space, you could produce a large amount of electricity. A small
office could generate 20% of its power with 40m2 of kWp panels.
Installation Costs for the UK’s
Most Popular Small Scale Renewable Energy Sources
There are often grants available to assist in
the design and capital costs of renewable energy installations.
Why not contact us to find out more.
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