Micro-renewable solutions explained
The launch of the Government's ‘feed-in tariff' scheme on the 1st of April marked a major milestone in the UK's commitment to renewable energy solutions. One of several new incentives designed to encourage homeowners to adopt micro-renewables, the scheme has great potential yet has left many confused as to how they stand to benefit.
Ian Nicol managing director of Active Renewable Energy Systems is aiming to clear up the confusion on how people can get involved with renewable technologies and explains exactly what the cost implications may be.
Q: What help is available to homeowners who want to install renewable technologies on their premises?
A: There is a wide variety of loans and grants available to homeowners looking to install renewable energy solutions; one of the most recent is the Government's ‘Green Homes' loan scheme. Aimed at helping British households improve the efficiency of their homes, the scheme will allow people to take out long-term loans at subsidised interest rates.
Although there are many options out there, it can be difficult for people to work out which scheme is best for them however; a good installation company should be able to advise its customers on the most effective way to fund the project. At Active we have a team of advisors on hand to help you identify the best technology to suit your circumstances as well as helping you through the paperwork.
Q: How long does it take to see a return on the investment?
A: It is no secret that it can take several years to see a return on investment but the introduction of feed-in-tariffs should reduce this time considerably.
The feed-in tariff consists of two elements; the first is a generation tariff which is a fixed payment of up to 41.3p/kWh from the electricity supplier for every unit of energy generated. The second element is an export tariff whereby any electricity not used on site can be exported to the National Grid for a guaranteed minimum payment of 3p/kWh.
The financial return to homeowners from the tariff is in addition to any savings made by purchasing less electricity from their supplier, as well as any income generated from the sale of surplus power to the Grid.
Q: Is there a lot of structural work and upheaval involved when installing these systems?
A: This depends entirely on which technologies you choose. Installing ground-source heat pumps often involves unwanted disruption but there are several alternatives.
One of the least invasive technologies is an air-source heat pump which can generate savings of around 46% on the energy bills of the standard UK home. Because the system takes heat from the air, there is no need for any excavation works and the outdoor unit can be located easily outside of a building, including flats.
Even in low temperatures heat pumps are up to four times as efficient as fossil fuel boilers. In order to maximise the energy saving opportunities of a heat pump system, it can be beneficial to install solar panels and under-floor heating to supplement its effects. PV solar panels can be used to generate electricity to power the heat pump and thermal solar panels can be used to heat water.
Q: How beneficial are renewable technology systems in a country like Scotland?
A: According to the Sustainable Housing Design Guide for Scotland, published by Communities Scotland, we have ample sunshine to make the use of solar panels viable - on cloudy days approximately 30% of solar radiation can still be usefully harnessed.
Even in low temperatures heat pumps are up to four times more efficient than fossil fuel boilers and are already used extensively in the colder climates of Europe. There is no reason we can't do the same here in Scotland.
In terms of wind energy, the UK is the windiest country in Europe so we are extremely well-placed to take advantage of wind turbine technology.
Active is a leading provider of sustainable energy systems, specialising in micro-renewables and efficient air-conditioning and ventilation solutions. The company is one of the only dedicated heat pump installers in Scotland able to design, install and maintain every element of the heating system including the heat pump, solar panels and underfloor heating.
