Photovoltaics (PV) – harnessing the sun’s power
With global warming high on the political agenda in most countries, research into renewable energy has never seen more investment.
Photovoltaics (PV) is one of the areas that has benefited from this increase in investment. This is the use of large scale solar panels to trap energy from the sun. These can be used either in industrial sites, but also on a residential level.
For example, PV panels can be fitted to house roofs to meet some of the household energy needs and cut down on utility bills.
If the panels generate more power than is needed, the excess can even be sold on.
Categories: Renewable Tags: Photovoltaics (PV), Renewable energy, Solar panels
Cleantech – enhancing environmentally friendly energy efficiency
Cleantech, a portmanteau derived from clean technology, is the name given to services that aim to improve performance and productivity while reducing costs and energy consumption.
This has seen increased investment in recent years, all over the developed world, as people become more aware of global warming and corporations do more to cut their carbon footprint.
The tangible results of the human use of fossil fuels, such as the hole in the ozone layer, acid rain and global warming, show just how important cleantech is.
Fortunately, it looks like the pattern of increased investment will continue in the future, as the importance of efficient renewable energy sources moves even higher on the political agenda across the globe.
Categories: Renewable Tags: Cleantech, electricity, Energy efficiency
Wind turbines for residential use
A neighbour of mine – not one I know personally, but the house is nearby – has recently had a small scale wind turbine fitted to their roof, which got me thinking about the residential use of renewable energy.
Although there is the initial outlay of buying the turbine and having it fitted, the fact that it results in free electricity means you will save money in the long term.
Not only that, but you will be doing your bit for the environment too.
Categories: Renewable Tags: renewables, wind energy, wind turbines
King’s Lynn Hospital embraces renewables
King’s Lynn Hospital in Norfolk is to install a wind turbine in the grounds, to generate renewable electricity.
The turbine – which, according to an artists impression, will look like this – should save around £20,000 per year in energy costs and will generate around 18 per cent of the electricity used by the hospital.
The savings will be able to be put towards patient care. What’s more, the wind turbine should save reduce the hospitals CO2 emissions by around 500 tonnes.
While the plan for the wind turbine was originally put forward in 2007, it was initially rejected. Further consultation about the environmental benefits, health and safety and the visual impact was enough to have the wind turbine plan approved.
Categories: Renewable Tags:
