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Solar Power

Q	How effective is solar water heating in the UK?
A	Solar water heating is now very efficient. About 4m² of good quality panels on a roof should provide the average family with around 60-80% of their hot water needs spread throughout the year (100% on good sunny days)

Q	Does solar cut carbon emissions?
A	Yes. By installing a solar hot water heating system, you are actively contributing to cutting carbon emissions responsible for global warming. On average a typical domestic system will reduce 1-2 Tons of carbon a year.

Q	How much would a typical system cost?
A	Cost depends on the number of panels required, the size of the cylinder and on installation details such as accessibility for the scaffold and the complexity of the wiring. A typical system will cost between £2,500-£3,000

Q	How long do solar water heating systems take to install?
A	Time needed for installation will depend on the size and complexity of the job. However, most systems usually take 2 days to install.

Q	What financial incentives are there for me to install a solar heating system?
A	The Low Carbon Building Programme funded by the Government offers homeowners up to £400 to assist with installing a solar energy system.

I have a combination boiler, can I have solar?

Yes. However, the system will need to be specially designed. In all cases you will need a Solar cylinder, essentially a large insulated tank of water, which will be heated by the solar panels. Then, if your boiler is compatible, the water feed to the boiler passes through a heat exchanger in the store to be preheated before reaching the boiler. If the boiler in not compatible, then a diverting valve is installed that bypasses the boiler if the water is hot enough, otherwise the boiler is utilized.

Wind Turbines

HOW DO MICROWIND TURBINES WORK?

Its simple. Wind passing over the turbine blades causes them to rotate. The rotating turbine, in turn, produces electricity, which can either feed into - and complement - your mains supply or power your appliances on it’s own. Most household wind turbines generate direct current (DC) electricity; an inverter turns this into alternating current (AC) electricity - the sort that’s used in the home. Another important part of the wind energy system is the controller, which stops too much electricity being supplied to building and appliances.

	WILL A MICROWIND TURBINE WORK FOR MY HOME?
	Ask yourself the following questions:
	Do I get a decent amount of wind around my home? Wind speed - which affects the amount of energy produced - increases with height, so the ideal siting for a turbine is on a hill with lots of exposure to the wind. This location should ideally be free from excessive turbulence and obstructions like buildings and large trees.
	Does my home have a suitable place for a microwind turbine to be fitted? The smallest wind turbine can be fitted to your roof (roof mounted), or larger, freestanding wind turbines can be installed on a mast near your house. RENEWABLE ENERGY IS WORTH THE EFFORT. Renewable energy technologies like microwind turbines are a way for you to save money over the long term and to help prevent climate change. They can work alongside - and help you use less- energy generated from fossil fuels such as gas,oil and coal. And unlike fossil fuels they produce little or no carbon dioxide (CO2: the harmful gas that’s one of the biggest causes of climate change.
	How much will a microwind turbine cost? The cost of installing a wind energy system depends very much on the size and type of system you choose. Turbines have a ‘life’ of up to 20 years, but will need a service check every few years to make sure they’re continuing to work efficiently. Their blades might also need replacing at some point during this time - as will the batteries for off-grid systems, which usually last from six to 10 years.
	How much will I save? Assuming that you use 40% of wind-produced electricity in your home, and sell back 60% to the grid, an average 2.5kW wind energy system could save you £150 - £250 a year in electricity bills. Plus you would be cutting you homes CO2 emissions by one to two tonnes a year.
	What About Planning Permission? At the moment you need to get planning permission from your local authority, but that will change in the near future to make it easier for everyone to install a microwind turbine. either on their home or in the garden.
	Can I work with my mains supply? Of course, microwind turbines can be used in tandem with traditional mains supply of electricity, which itself will provide an automatic top up when wind speeds are low. If your home remains connected to the national grid, the inverter will turn DC electricity into an AC supply of grid-standard quality. And if your turbine is creating more power than you need, the controller will send any excess electricity straight back to the grid. Many electricity suppliers will buy this back from you, so it’s a good idea to compare the tariffs on offer.

CAN I USE A WIND TURBINE OFF THE ELECTRICITY GRID?

Yes-Those living in remote and suitably windy areas off the electricity grid can use a stand-alone microwind turbine system, even if you are still connected to the grid, also known as an "off grid" system. Off-grid systems use the electricity produces by the turbine to charge up banks of batteries. Your system controls make sure that these are never under or over charged: when they’re fully charged, it will divert surplus power to another useful source of power, like a room or water heater.