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The renewables GENERATION
W
e all know that energy bills are rising. While some parts of the media have tried to blame renewables, the fact is it’s fossil fuels, not renewables, which are really driving up our bills. Last year
renewables only added £20 to average household ener- gy bills, while fossil fuel prices hikes added over £160. By installing renewables in your home, you can protect yourself against these price increases, and even generate an income from Government incentive schemes, like the Feed-in Tariff (FIT, for electricity) and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI, for heat). All this, while contributing to the fi ght against climate change and strengthening our country’s energy security.
ELECTRICITY You might think that the FIT only pays homeowners for electricity they sell to the grid, but the main part of the FIT, the generation tariff, actually pays for every unit of renewable electricity you produce, whether you use it at home or export it. This tariff varies depending on the technology used to create power (see below). There is also an additional payment for every unit sold to the grid, called the export tariff. This tariff (3.2p/kWh for all technologies) is actually lower than the market price of electricity, so rather than selling it back to the grid, the best use of your home- grown energy is to run your most energy-intensive appliances (e.g. ovens, washing machines) when it’s sunny (for solar) or windy (for wind). Both tariffs are index-linked and guaranteed for
25 years, meaning that domestic renewable electricity is one of the surest investments around.
Solar power (PV) Domestic generation tariff: 9p-21p/kWh, depend- ing on size and EPC The costs of PV have fallen rapidly in recent months, so despite hasty adjustments to the FIT (causing some disruption within the industry), PV still offers returns which are as good as when the FIT was fi rst launched in 2010. However, you now need a level D (or higher) Energy Performance Certifi cate (EPC) to
get the best tariff. Around 50% of UK homes already meet this requirement – for the other 50%, some home improvement, such as cavity wall or loft insula- tion, will be required to achieve the D grade. These improvements will also help bring down energy bills.
Micro-hydro
Domestic generation tariff: 21.9p/kWh If you have a stream fl owing nearby, micro-hydro could be for you. Whether it’s a propeller or a water- wheel style system, micro-hydro systems can double as both an attractive water feature and a steady, base- load power supply. A small turbine on a hill stream could generate more than enough electricity to meet the needs of an average home.
Wind turbines
Domestic generation tariff: 28p-35.8p/kWh, depending on size
An average home in a windy location could meet up to half its electricity requirements from a building- mounted turbine, or more electricity than it needs from a pole-mounted turbine. Remember though, that both wind and solar are intermittent, so your bills won’t disappear completely.
HEAT The RHI, which is the main incentive scheme for renew- able heat, will be expanded to support domestic heat next year. In the meantime, the Renewable Heat Pre- mium Payment (RHPP) scheme offers one-off grants to homeowners who install a solar thermal system, a heat pump or a biomass boiler. And anyone who installs technology under the RHPP scheme will also be able to apply for the domestic RHI when it launches (detailed criteria of the RHI are yet to be fi nalised).
Heat pumps
Grant: £850-£1,250 depending on technology type Heat pumps extract heat from the surrounding air or ground and upgrade it to provide heating and hot water. They work best in well insulated homes and can provide signifi cant savings for homes which are off the gas grid.
Generating our own energy is not only good for the environment, but it can save us all money too! Here, Mike Landy from the Renewable Energy Association (REA) gives us an overview of the different technology options available and brings us up to date with current legislation.
Solar water heating Grant: £300
Solar thermal systems also transfer ambient heat from outside, through pipes on the roof which are heated up by the sun, and feed it into your hot water system. Solar thermal systems take up less roof space than solar PV systems, and a decent-sized roof can accommodate both.
Wood-fuelled heating Grant: £950
A biomass boiler can provide for your water heating needs, while a biomass stove can heat both water and the home, and cheer up your living room too! Don’t forget you’ll need somewhere to store your fuel, which usually comes in the form of logs, woodchips or pellets.
CONCLUSION Renewable energy supports 110,000 British jobs. By installing renewables in your home, you help support these jobs, and reduce our dependence on energy imports, which keeps money circulating in the UK economy. So installing renewables is good for your wallet, good for the planet, and good for the economy. What’s not to like!
USEFUL LINKS Renewable Energy
Association:
www.r-e-a.net
Solar Trade Association:
www.solar-trade.org.uk
REAL Consumer Code:
www.realassurance.org.uk
Energy Saving Trust:
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDES.CO.UK 61
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