Renewable Energy Workshop

By Kevin MacLennan Environmental Engineer

Overview

•  Introduction to Renewable Energy – What is it? – Why Use it? – What are the Technologies

•  Where is it suitable •  Available Financial Support •  Can I use Renewables •  What next

Before We Begin…

•  Before thinking about renewable energy, consider the energy hierarchy: – Reduce the need for energy – Use energy more efficiently – Use Renewable Energy – Use fossil fuels efficiently

Before we begin…

Why Use Renewable Energy?

• Renewable Energy can: – Reduce environmental impact – Save money – Increase security of supply – Improve the ‘green’ credentials of your

organisation

Remember…

•  The biggest returns will always be realised from using renewable energy on site

What is Renewable Energy?

• Renewable energy is energy that comes from resources which are continually replenished such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat.

Renewable Technologies:

• Wind •  Solar PV •  Solar Water Heating •  Biomass (including Biofuels) • Hydro-Electricity • Geothermal and Heat Pumps •  Anaerobic Digestion

Wind Power – What is it?

•  Power from the wind

It’s been around for years

Wind Power – Types of Turbines

Large Wind –Suitable for your site?

Some points to consider: • Is it windy – (Wind Energy Database)? • Is there space? • Connection to the National Grid • Planning permission • High Capital Costs

Small Wind – suitable for your site?

•  Again, is it windy (Wind Energy Database)?

•  Lower capital costs • Do you have an electrical baseload? •  Are there space, planning restrictions?

Wind Energy Database

Solar PV

Solar PV – Electricity from the Sun

•  It is a proven technology – in the right location

•  Low efficiency (~10%) and low energy output

• Works best where it’s sunny • Not financially viable in UK without

NIROCs (typical payback of 60+ years)

Solar PV – is it right for your site?

• Do you have rood space? •  ~£1,600 per kW •  14 year payback without NIROCs •  6.1 year payback with NIROC’s

Solar Water Heating

Solar Water Heating

Solar Water Heating

•  Slightly more effective than PV • Can be effective in the right circumstances • High capital costs compared to returns • Can not be considered as a primary

source of hot water. •  Benefits from RHI support

Solar Water Heating – Right for your site?

•  Available Roof Space? • DHW demand? •  £500 per m2 of panel •  ~£10-12 saving per m2 per year without

RHI – 42 year payback •  ~£30 saving per m2 per year with RHI (up

to 200 kWth output) – 17 year payback

Biomass Heating

Biomass Heating – is it suitable for your site

• How do you currently heat (oil, gas, electricity)?

• Can be very attractive compared to electricity or oil

•  Tried and tested technology • Can often be integrated with existing

systems.

Biomass Heating – is it suitable for your site

• Requires a lot of space, particularly for fuel storage.

• Most suited to predictable constant loads – good for meeting a heating baseload

• Generally works best in tandem with oil or gas heating

•  Benefits from RHI support

Hydro Electricity

Hydro Electricity

Hydro Electricity

•  Again, a tried and tested technology • Can be very predictable in terms of output • Highly dependant on site conditions • Capital costs can be high • Well supported by NIROC’s

Hydro Electricity – an opportunity for you?

•  Is there a water source on your site? •  Is there a drop in height (head)? •  Is there space to exploit it?

If the answer to all of the above is yes, then perhaps Hydro is worth exploring further.

Geothermal and Heat Pumps

Geothermal and Heat Pumps

Geothermal and Heat Pumps

• High capital costs for relatively low returns • May be cost effective where excavation is

being carried out • Unlikely to be suitable as a primary heat

source •  Paybacks typically 15+ years

Anaerobic Digestion

Anaerobic Digestion

Anaerobic Digestion

• Gas from organic material, such as:

– Catering waste – Vegetables – Milk – Manure

Anaerobic Digestion

•  Increasingly popular technology • Requires space and a waste stream • Relatively labour intensive • High capital costs • Can be tricky to get right

Anaerobic Digestion – right for you?

• Do you have a waste stream? • Do you have space? • Can you use the gas?

Funding Support

• Northern Ireland Renewable Obligation Certificates (NIROC’s)

• Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

•  Interest Free Loans

NIROC’s

• Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) can be sold on an open market

• ROCs earned per MWh of electricity generated (dependant on technology)

• Currently worth ~£50

NIROC’s

Renewable Heat Incentive

•  Financial incentive for renewable heat sources: – Solar Water Heating/Solar Thermal – Geothermal energy – Heat Pumps – Biomass – CHP with biomass fuel

Interest Free Loans

•  Available from the Carbon trust to SME’s

•  Based on amount of CO2 saved on site – doesn’t count electricity exported to grid

• Unsecured loans from £5,000 - £400,000

Which one is right for you?

• Can any of the above work for your site? • Using the hand-out, start working through

the questions. •  Is there a potential project?