Uncovering Green Engineer Certification – Straightforward Advice

In a nutshell, ‘Green Energy’ utilises natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat to provide our daily energy requirement. ‘Green’ basically means that all the energy is renewable. It is easy to think that we may be travelling back in time when we think of items such as wind power and windmills. Overall, this is the method of using modern techniques to provide eco-efficiency and planet friendly options.

The home can use a range of new ideas to help with energy usage – including Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating Collectors. To gain electricity from roof panels you would need solar electrical panels (PV’s). Biomass Energy is the next phase, and this involves Fuel, Pellets, Stoves and Boilers burning Wood. Then we have the ancient energy of the Sun and the heat that comes from it – now called Ground Source Heat Pumps. Considering items such as Wind Power and Hydro Turbines, we are finally getting to very old forms of energy production.

Solar Energy Systems: Often commonly referred to as Solar Energy, this is primarily captured by two types of solar panels; each of which utilises different technologies for the process. To begin with, we have the concept of drawing energy from the Sun to heat water – known as Solar Water Heating Collectors. Solar Electrical panels or Photovoltaic heat collectors transfer solar radiation into electricity. To get best results these panels need to be situated 30 degrees from the horizontal, on a south facing roof and obviously free from blockages such as trees and buildings.

In the UK, Solar Water Power is now one of the most sought after forms of Solar Energy. With the capacity to deliver 50 percent plus of a household’s hot water requirement annually, Solar Water heating systems are crucial to energy in the UK. Getting a professional fitting will cost around 2-5k, however, doing the job yourself could make it as low as 500 to 1500 pounds in total.

Biomass Energy Technology: In the modern world this now includes genetically engineered ‘Energy Crops’ – but it also takes in natural plant and animal substances. It is by using these materials in new ways to create energy that makes it so exciting. It is a useful point to make that the UK is one of the major producers of Biomass fuels within Europe. The lack of C02 given out by this form of energy is another positive element in the whole process. With a new tree being planted as each is felled, you can see how the C02 produced during heating is minimised – and why the system is deemed sustainable.

‘Energy Crops’ trees such as Willow and Poplar play a major part in the process – under the banner of Short Rotation Coppice (SRC). Of equal importance is the production of perennial grasses – because of their yield of dry matter. Equally significant within this practice sit Municipal and Agricultural waste products. As a by-product, Agricultural Waste is simply part of the farming process. However, waste derived from food or wood is another biomass entity – called Municipal Waste.

Systems Based On Geo-Thermal Energy: The constant energy of the Sun heating the Earth results in both warm water and electricity being produced. Having a consistent ground temperature of around 12 degrees centigrade is fortunate for the UK – as it allows both the heating and cooling of buildings. Whilst these heat pumps require energy to operate, their rate of return is excellent – being four units produced for every one unit used. A greater return of energy (sometimes almost 100 percent) is produced – because heat source pumps can operate in-line with wind turbines and solar electrical panels.

Systems Based On Wind Energy: When you consider the milling of grain and pumping of water, it is easy to see how long wind energy has been with us. Where the local power grid demands it, energy can be diverted and sold there. With regard to wind generation, it is the UK that has the highest production within Europe. Potentially, we can produce 10 percent of our annual energy needs through wind power, although at present within the UK we still only use 1 percent. Electricity can be produced from as little as 2p per kWh, but generally comes in somewhere between 2-10p per kWh. Recovery of the cost involved is somewhere between 6-9 months.

Within the UK, Hydropower suits the energy generation model. Although new in its approach, the act of harnessing energy from water has been going on for a long time. Interestingly enough, this type of energy production meets around 2 percent of the UK electrical total demand.

A hydropower system transforms the kinetic energy of the moving water into another type of energy by means of a turbine. It is by either water ‘drop-offs’, or Natural River runs, that turbines can work through this process. ‘Micro-Hydro’ however utilises old outdated sluices and dams. Having been reviewed recently, this form of electricity supply could provide 200mW of the UK capacity. Between 200 pounds and 3k per KW of energy output, is a good estimate of the overall cost of a project such as this.

Because of the energy need of the Western World, we are now seeing a rapid rise in ‘Green Energy’. To be fair, the UK domestic market is actually leading the resurgence, with a variety of schemes.

Electrician and Plumbers are thought to be key in providing expertise during domestic installations. Grants and financial aid is also set to increase within the EEC and the UK – as ‘Green Energy’ gets ever higher status. This is a new industry – but getting the right certification can only improve job security and opportunities for the future. Electrical or plumbing training that incorporates green technology could be very useful for the future.

(C) 2009 – S. Edwards. Check out Green Engineer Training or plumbingcourseinfo.co.uk/GreenEngineerCourses.html.

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