Renewable Energy News

The government has confirmed new feed in tariffs for electricity generating microgeneration systems.

From 1st April 2010 41.3p can be claimed for every kwh that is generated from solar PV panels, as well as this, the rate is guaranteed for 25 years and linked to inflation. Add to this the saving made for not purchasing the electricity and again the money received for exporting, means there has never been a better time to install a solar microgeneration system in the UK.

The table below shows the new tariffs available, if you would like more information then please visit: http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/

- Solar PV new build (< 4 kW) 36.1p
- Solar PV retrofit (< 4 kW) 41.3p
- Solar PV retrofit (4-10kW) 36.1p
- Wind turbine (1.5-15 kW) 26.7p
- Wind turbine (15-100 kW) 24.1p

This is only available to customers who have systems installed by an MCS approved installer such as Intelligent Energy Solutions.

Labels: News, Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels, Wind-Turbines

The Government has announced the details of the proposed feed-in tariff for microgeneration systems. Small wind turbines and solar photovoltaic systems will now carry the following benefits:

- 36.5p/kWh for small solar photovoltaic systems up to 4kW and 28p/kWh for systems up to 10kW.
- 23.0p/kWh for small wind turbines between 1.5kW and 15kW.
- Replaces the current ROC system which pays 10p/kWh.
- Effective as of the 1st April 2010, but all systems commissioned from now on will qualify.
- Systems installed from now until April 2010 will be eligible for both LCBP grants AND the new tariff.

Labels: Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels, Wind-Turbines

All electricity companies in the UK have an obligation to generate a proportion of their supplied electricity from renewable sources. They achieve their targets partly by buying Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) from the private microgenerators. A member of the public can become a microgenerator by having a wind turbine or PV system installed.

Recent changes have seem the amount of ROC's awarded to microgenerators double so now a householder will be awarded 2 ROC's rather than 1 for every 1000kWh they produce.

Labels: News, Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels, Wind-Turbines

Intelligent Energy Solutions has joined the 'We support Solar' campaign. This campaign is designed to unite support for an attractive feed in tariff for solar PV installations. As things currently stand feed in tariffs are improving and energy companies such as Good Energy offer 16p for every kWh generated by the PV system. However, some energy companies still offer extremely low feed in tariffs. There is lots of room for improvement!

The government has put the feed in tariff on the agenda in 2010. The campaign wants to ensure that this opportunity is not missed and that the government responds to public demand. This will involve setting the feed in tariff at a level which will encourage large numbers of the general public to invest in this Co2 busting technology.

For more information visit www.wesupportsolar.net.

Labels: News, Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels

Leicester City Council in conjunction with Groundwork has launched a new grant scheme targeted at solar installations.

The grant allows a household to claim £2250 against a solar thermal (water heating) or a solar PV installation. The householder would also be eligible for an additional grant from the Low Carbon Buildings Program. This means that a house holder could claim £4750 against a solar PV installation or £2650 against a solar thermal installation. Depending on the size of the system would be more than half the installation cost.

Intelligent Energy Solutions is an approved installer on the scheme, please contact us for further details.
Click here for the Leicester Solar Grant Scheme details.

Labels: News, Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels, Solar-Water-Heating-Panels

Here at Intelligent energy Solutions we have just released our latest product brochure.

Please feel free download a version here
Intelligent Energy Solutions Renewable Energy Brochure

If you would like a paper copy then please email us using the web enquiry form. Alternatively call us on 01509 891256.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Labels: Heat-Pumps, News, Rainwater-Harvesting, Renewable-Energy, Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels, Solar-Water-Heating-Panels, Wind-Turbines

Electricity prices are through the roof so the time has never been better to start generating your own electricity.

Better Feed in Tariffs

Tariffs have slowly been improving over the past couple of years. However, 'Good Energy' and 'Ecotricity' have just lifted the bar!
They offer a tariff where they will pay you for everything that you generate and not simply the spare electricity. The rate they offer is 9p per unit. This means that you save twice, you save the money from buying the electricity in the first place but you also get paid for generating it. This could equate to more than 20p per unit.

People often take about how far ahead Germany are in respect to microgeneration tariffs but the UK is genuinely catching up.

Labels: Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels, Wind-Turbines

The world's largest rooftop solar power station is being built in Spain. The 12 megawatts of power covers an area of around 2 million square feet. The roof space is owned by General Motors but is being leased out to Veolia Envirnoment and Clairvoyant Energy.

The £40 million investment will see an output of more than 15 million kilowatt hours.

This shows that PV is a very viable prospect for commercial investment. Obviously smaller systems are available for domestic and commerical premises. Typical installations range from 1kW to 20kW peak power. Installation costs are typically around £5500 per kW. In a good position each kW of peak power should generate around 800kWh per year.

Labels: News, Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels

Off Grid On Grid - What does it all mean?

The first thing worth saying is that we are talking about solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and not solar water heating panels.

The term grid refers to the national electricity grid. On grid means that your solar electricity system is connected to the national grid. Off grid means that the national electricity grid is not connected to your solar panel system.

Most people, both commerical and domestic, would talk primerily about on grid applications. The grid is a wonderful thing and there is not usually any sense in disconnecing yourself from it.

However in some cases the grid is not available. This is usually a remote location such as a field with a building in it. In many cases the cost of running the cable from the nearest grid transformer is enormous and the power requirements can be met with an off grid solar photovoltaic electricity system.

This system comprises a set of solar panels, battery conditioner, battery bank and invertor. The batteries give you power when the sun is not shining and the invertor gives you 240V mains electricity.

Labels: Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels

Solar Electricity Panels

Solar Electricity (or PhotoVoltaic) panels generate electricity for domestic and commercial use. Panels come in a variety of different shapes and sizes but one question that people have to decide is whether to have the panels mounted on the roof or in the roof.

On Roof Solar Panels

The easier way of retrofitting solar panels is to mount them on top of the existing roof covering. this means that the existing tiles remain in place and the panels sits directly on top. The panels are fixed to the roof joists via special brackets.

Roof integrated Panels (In Roof)

As an alternative to on roof panels the existing tiles can be removed and the panel can be fitted into the roof structure. This leaves the panels almost flush with the existing tiles.

When making a decision as to which is best there are a number of factors to consider. On roof solar panels are easier and quicker to fit. Hence the installation costs are less. However, on roof panels will add additional loading to the roof structure.

Roof integrated panels require the existing roof covering to be removed, this may raise questions with the condition of the felt and battens beneath the tiles, if it is poor it will need rectifying. In roof panels also require expensive flashing sets to make the roof water tight. However, in roof panels aesthetically look better than on roof systems.

Of course if you have a house that has not yet had the roof fitted (new build or new extension) then roof integrated panels are almost certainly the way to go. You will also save some money as less tiles will need to purchased.

Labels: Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels

Many people believe that solar panels can only be positioned facing south. This isn't true.

Which direction is best?

South facing at an angle of 35degrees will maximise the output from a solar panel and give all year round best performance.
If the system is to optimised for winter performance then a steeper angle of upto 75 degrees will improve performance. This is because the sun is lower in the sky during winter.

What if I don't have a south facing roof?

If your roof faces roughly south, anywhere between South West to South East at between 30-40 degree will reduce output by a maximum of 10%.

My roof faces East-West?

A 35 degree roof that faces east or west can be utilises but with a couple of system modifications. This type of roof will normally have a reduced output of about 20%, with this knowledge we can oversize the panels to compensate for this reduction in performance.

If roof space is lmited then panels can be fitted on both the east and west roofs. This needs a more sophisticaled pumping station but can have an output similar to a south facing roof without a massive increase in installation cost.

Labels: Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels, Solar-Water-Heating-Panels

Engineers, trade unions, farmers and house builders today backed a campaign by Friends of the Earth and the Renewable Energy Association to introduce a "feed-in tariff" system that would improve Britain's take-up of renewable energy.

Ahead of a crucial House of Commons vote on Wednesday, which aims to add a feed-in tariff to the energy bill currently going through parliament, organisations such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the House Builders Federation , the TUC and the National Farmer's Union said they wanted to see a feed-in tariff (FIT).

FITs have been introduced in nearly 50 countries around the world, starting with Germany which has massively increased the roll-out of technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, ground-source heat pumps both at the domestic and industrial levels.

FITs work by setting a guaranteed price for renewable electricity fed into the national grid that is above the market price. The countries which have adopted one have made big carbon savings and created thousands of new jobs. Britain, though, lags behind almost every EU country in its use of renewables, producing just 2% of its energy in this way.

Pop star Lily Allen and her solar-power recording studio, the Premises, have emailed MPs urging them to vote for the measure on Wednesday.


Source: Guardian

Labels: Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels

Exported Solar Electricity

Solar Electricity Panels, also know also Solar PhotoVoltaic Cells, generate electricity that can used in your home or premises.

Excess electricity can be exported back onto the grid and most electricity suppliers will buy this electricity from you.

The rates that are being paid are improving all the time. Many supplier will now a similar amount to the import rate for the electricity you export, currently around 10p/kWhr.

What many people don't know is that in 2002 another parallel scheme was launched that will encourage suppliers to pay an additional amount of money for this electricity.

ROCs

A Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) is a green certificate issued to an accredited generator (the home or business owner) for renewable electricity generated. One ROC is issued for each megawatt hour (MWh) of eligible renewable output generated. This means that you get one ROC for each 1000kWhrs of electricity generated.

The scheme is designed to incentivise renewable energy generation in the UK. When the scheme was formulated an obligation was placed on the electricity suppliers to obtain an proportion of their energy from renewable sources. In 2005-06 this target was 5.5 per cent and in 2006-07 the obligation was set at 6.7 per cent.

If the electricity companies do not have enough ROCs they have to pay the other suppliers who do have enough. This means that the suppliers want to buy your ROCs to avoid being penalised.

The payment depends on the supplier but they typically pay around £30-£40 per ROC. This means that every unit of electricity generated is worth about 30-40% more.

The scheme is planned to run until 2027.

Labels: Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels

Solar Panels

Solar Panels collect the radiation from the sun and convert it into useful Energy such as heat or electricity.

Many people ask us if the UK has enough solar radiation to warrant the installation of solar panels.

The simple answer to this is a resounding yes.

UK Solar Radiation vs The Equator

It surprises many people that in the UK we received around 60% of the solar energy received at the equator. This means that solar panels can make an excellent contribution to heating your hot water or generating your electricity.

The major factor that determines the effectiveness of solar panels is their position. If the panels are facing anywhere between south-west to south-east at any angle between 10 and 50 degrees the panel will achieve over 90% of their potential.
Unfortunately north facing panels are not particularly effective.

More information can be found here about solar water heat panels and further information can be found here about Solar Electricity Panels.

Labels: Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels

What are Solar PhotoVoltaic Panels?

These panels cleverly convert the suns light into electricity. The cells are usually made up of layers of a semiconductor called Silicon. When exposed to light a DC electrical charge is generated. When numerous cells are banked together they can produce serious amounts of electricity. These cells can be used to power many electrical devices from calculators to your home appliances. The sunnier the position the more electricity that can be generated.

This often, but not always, means positioning the panels on a south facing roof. If the roof is flat the panels can be mounted on frames that hold the panels at the optimum angle.

When connected to the national grid a property can benefit from reduced electricity bills and can even export electricity to the national grid.

The panels tend to cost somewhere between £5k to £7k per kW.

Are Solar PV panels right for my property?

If specified properly, installing Solar PV WILL reduce your electricty bills. For roof mounted panels, having a south facing roof is useful. However, depending on the roof angle panels can function properly facing South West to South East. They still benefit from 95% of the suns radiation.

The panels can be sized in a number of ways, one method is to geat the capacity to the minimum load on the property, so if the property typically uses 1kW, install 1kW of panels. This means that on the sunniest day every bit of electricity being generated is being used. Alternatively, you can install a much larger capacity and sell the excess electricity back to the national grid. The rates the electricity companies will pay for this electricity is now starting to become more competitive.

Will this type of solar panel pay for itself?

This answer to this question depends heavily on way you measure payback. The environmental payback is extremely quick, perhaps even 6 months? With regard to financial payback the calculation becomes more complex, let's assume the following:-

- Electricity prices continues to rise as they have over recent years.

- The system adds 50% of it's installation cost to your homes value.

- You take a rebate from the electricity company for exporting spare electricity

Given these, not unreasonable, assumptions, a system could payback within 12 years. After 20 years the system would have paid for it's self twice over.

Some companies offer incredibly sort payback periods, be wary of this as their maths is often questionable.

Who will install Solar Panels for me?

Please contact Intelligent Energy Solutions, we will be happy to discuss your requirements in an open and honest manor. Given the fact that we also offer geothermal (ground source) heat pumps, wind turbines and solar water heating panels, we will recommend the most appropriate technology for you.

Believe it or not, if none of our products are viable for your property we WILL tell you!

Labels: Solar-PhotoVoltaic-Electricity-Panels