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Government turbine scheme flawed?

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Source: Catherine Deshayes

How many people are actually going to be able to install renewable energy-generating technology in their homes? That is the burning question which goes unanswered in the government's strategy document called "Warm Homes, Greener Homes".

The document outlines how the Government plans to cut carbon emissions from homes by 29% by 2020.

It includes helping as many households as possible install loft and cavity wall insulation within the next five years, and fitting seven million homes with solid wall insulation or renewable energy-generating technology such as solar panels or wind turbines by 2020.

This is a major commitment by the government, but while the document goes into detail about how it intends to deliver on this commitment, it does not really answer the question about how it will work. For example, will a wind turbine work in the middle of a housing estate?

And, in a country that is hardly known for year-round sun, is it feasible that millions of homeowners can rely on solar electricity systems to power their homes?

Much has been written on the theory of renewable energy-generating technology in the home, but what about the practice?

Bring me sunshine

It is a misconception that solar electricity systems, which convert sunlight into electricity by capturing the sun's energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells, need direct sunlight.

The PV cells can actually generate electricity on a cloudy day. However, the cells do need to be installed on a roof or wall that has an aspect that is within 90 degrees of south and is not overshadowed by buildings or trees.

Any shadow on the cells during the day will decrease the output of the system.

Then there is the issue of attaching the PV cells. The cells need to be attached to either a roof or wall strong enough to take their weight. They are not light and it is definitely worth checking with a qualified installer before proceeding.

If you live in an apartment and do not have roof access, then you will need your landlord's permission before mounting PV panels on the roof and connecting a cable from the panels to your flat. This is likely to be an issue with older, high-rise buildings.

Weather impact

For many homeowners, location, property type and the wrong weather conditions will make solar panels and wind turbines completely impractical as a green solution for their properties, irrespective of cost.

And for those who can benefit from this energy generation technology, many will consider the savings made are not impressive enough to justify the effort and expense, even with the help of the government's "green loan" scheme that is intended to circumvent the punitive up-front costs.

Although eco-makeovers will be right and convenient for some, for the majority of us the practice of installing energy generation technology is lagging behind the theory.

We are moving in the right direction, that much is sure, but it could be a few more years before people can make a seamless transition to domestic renewable energy generation.

Source: www.suttongriffin.co.uk

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