A: Photovoltaic panels convert the Sun's light into electricity using sheets of carefully constructed Silicon. As light falls on the panels electrons are excited and generate direct current. This current is converted and turned into electricity that can be used in the home or sold to the grid.
Click here to find out more about how photovoltaic panels work.
A: This can be a lengthy answer depending on your situation, however you can
click here to find out more info or call us on 0845 225 2727
A: Installed systems can vary from 4 panels (0.78kW) to 22 panels (4kW) for most domestic applications, but 66 panels (12kW) and above for more commercial applications.
The beauty of Photovoltaics is that it is entirely scalable so if you have space for 60 panels you could create 10 times more electricity than a 6 panel installation. Arrays can be constructed on roofs or on the ground facing south for maximum efficiency.
A: In most UK photovoltaic applications it is more suitable for home owners and businesses to sell directly back to the electricity grid and in doing so you will benefit 3 TIMES!
1 - Payment for generated electricity. A meter installed as part of every PV installation records the amount of energy produced by your installation. The electricity provider will pay you 31p - 36.5p for each kWh of electricity recorded on your meter whether you use it or not.
2 - Electricity used in the home. As electricity is generated from your panels you can use it before it returns to the grid. In doing so you will use less imported grid electricity and reduce your electricity bill.
3 - Electricity bought back. Energy not used in the home will be bought back for approximately 5p by your energy supplier.
A: Making use of the recent grants available, feed-in tariff changes in 2010 and using electricity as it is generated photovoltaics now has a payback period of approximately 10-12 years in the UK.
After April 2010 payback will likely extend to 15+ years for most homeowners as the MCS grants are likely to cease.
A: Only slightly. Pipes laid in the ground do get near zero degrees and in some cases will locally freeze the ground in the depths of winter. This freezing however is only very local around the individual pipes and at a depth of 1.5m-1.8m below ground level. RenEnergy's optimised pipe layout ensures the Sun's energy recharges the ground every year. As a result vegatation can be grown above the ground loops all year round without any problems.
A: Yes you can! A Ground Source Heat Pump using closed loops or an open pipe system can take energy from ponds, lakes, canals and even the sea. Correctly designed the energy the heat pump extracts will not effect the eco-systems involved and is more efficient than putting pipes in the ground.
A: Most domestic units range from compact units that look much like a combined fridge freezer unit which can stand in your kitchen or under the stairs.
Larger units that require a seperate buffer cylinder and the stand alone heat pump. These units require wall space in the order of 2m long by 2m high to fit all necessary cylinders and pipework in. The units stand out from the wall about 1m. Garages or dedicated plant rooms are often ideal for the larger systems.
A: Yes you can! As a rule heat pumps are only capable of reliably generating heat up to 50 degrees Celcius. There are however new heat pumps that can produce 60-65 degree water. Radiators come in all shapes and sizes and because of the lower flow temperature produced by heat pumps, the radiator outputs throughout the house should always be reviewed.
A: Pure calculation alone on running costs will tell you that durations of 10-15 years are expected. Many people often forget however that there are many intangible financial benefits to installing a Ground Source Heat Pump that are often forgotten about.
These include:
- Value added to retail value of property upon sale
- Not having to rely on fossil fuels that will continue to rise significantly in price as resources run dry
- Every pound saved today will amount to larger savings in the future
A: Yes you can! As a rule Heat Pumps are only capable of reliably generating heat up to 50 degrees Celcius. There are however new heat pumps that can produce 60-65oC water. Radiators come in all shapes and sizes and because of the lower flow temperature produced by heat pumps, the radiator outputs throughout the house should always be reviewed.
A: The size of outdoor units varies depending on the manufacturer, but they are approximately the following sizes...
5kW = 950mm wide, 750mm tall and 330mm deep
9kW = 950mm wide, 950mm tall and 330mm deep
14kW = 1020mm wide, 1350mm tall and 330mm deep
A: Pure calculation alone on running costs will tell you that durations of 5-10 years are expected. Many people often forget however that there are many intangible financial benefits to installing an Air Source Heat Pump that are often forgotten about.
These include:
- Value added to retail value of property upon sale
- Not having to rely on fossil fuels that will continue to rise significantly in price as resources run dry
- Every pound saved today will amount to larger savings in the future
A: The quality of outside units on Air Source Heat Pumps has come a long way in the last 10 years and noise levels less than 51dB for the large units and 47dB for the smaller units are achieveable. In real terms this is low level noise and is often covered by rustling leaves, birdsong and other everyday noises.
If in doubt, drop into out new showroom to listen for yourself.
A: Yes you do! The 11m Skyrota model currently sold and installed by RenEnergy fits into the first category making it as simple as possible to get permission.
To help you RenEnergy will supply you with a full "Skyrota planning pack" to give you the information you need about the product when applying for permission.
A: Skyrota produces a peak output of 5.0kW at 10m/s, with no drop-off in power at higher wind speeds.
Suitable sites have an average wind speed of no less than 5 m/s, with reasonable exposure, good site access, and not within close proximity of the nearby dwellings or premises. RenEnergy can conduct an initial assessment to discover whether your proposed site is suitable or not.
A: Payback based on money made by electrical power generation alone is heavily based on geography but typically payback is in the region of 10-20 years.
A: For generating small amounts of power <1kW this question is not particularly relevant, but for larger electricity requirements, macro and micro-scale surveys should really be carried out. Large scale survey information can be easily researched on the web; however site-specific conditions can vary significantly. The best way to determine whether a site is suitable however is to monitor wind conditions with a temporary data station over a period of at least 6 months. Renenergy can undertake these surveys for you to ensure you are fully confident of the future performance of a wind turbine solution.
A: Wind turbines can be used for both off and on-grid applications, but in most applications it is more suitable to sell directly back to the grid.
This is becoming increasing attractive with the introduction of ROC (Renewable Obligation Certificates), a scheme setup to support renewable energy projects in the UK. When there is no demand on site, the turbine will automatically export electricity to the grid. Selling this energy will require a special export meter. Its must be noted, that the grid connection is essential, even if you are not planning to export.
A: A biomass burner is a generic term for a highly efficient burner for material that has been grown, typically wood, but can be used to burn other natural materials, such as reeds or wheat. More often than not the fuel for the burner is wood and different designs can take logs, wood chips or compressed wood pellets.
A: Biomass burners can burn almost any fuel however the highest efficiencies come from logs, wood pellets and wood chips.
Click here to find out more about wood pellets and
click here to find out more about wood chip fuels.
A: Yes you can! Biomass boilers are an ideal replacement for oil or gas boilers as their high output temperatures can easily ensure that heating water is generated at 70oC.
A: Payback purely depends on site specific factors. If you can harvest and store your own fuel and you no longer rely on oil to heat your home you may be able to pay back the capital outlay in 2-3 years.
A: A Rainwater Harvester is a reinforced plastic tank usually buried beneath the ground which, when plumbed into your guttering system stores rainwater. Appliances such as washing machines, toilets and car washing equipment that do not need potable water can then draw on filtered rainwater when required.
Sensors in the tank use rainwater first and then transfer to mains water when the rainwater has run out. RenEnergy design systems to ensure minimal usage of mains water throughout the year.
A: A Rainwater system is predicted on average to save 50% of water bills in a domestic property or up to 80% in office premises. Water bills for an average home in the UK is approximately £150 per year. An approximate £75 saving per year can be expected from the systems.
A: "Wet" underfloor heating systems pass water below 40oC through loops of reinforced plastic pipe placed in a sand-cement screed laid on the floor of a property. The large area of low grade heat in the floor warms the entire fabric of the home and keeps it at a steady temperature instead of using traditional wall mounted radiators to heat the air alone.
A: One of the main advantages for having underfloor heating is that it warms occupants of the house using radiant heat unlike radiators.
In addition as the pipes are under the floor you have more free wall space allowing you to freely move furniture around a room.
If installed with a heat pump the lower flow temperatures in underfloor heating circuit can also mean significant savings on energy bills also.
A: Yes it will. The different floor coverings do effect the design of the system slightly, but not operation or comfort levels offered by the system. The low surface temperature that an underfloor heating system generates should also never reach a temperature that could cause damage to your floor surfaces.
A: Conservatories are an ideal situation for an underfloor heating system since the nature of construction usually leaves very little wall space to install a radiator. Likewise, most conservatories have large glass windows that, even when double glazed, can lead to cold rooms during the winter. Underfloor heating warms the conservatory gradually from beneath making them useable rooms all year round.
A: Yes, self-assembly packs (including full CAD drawing diagrams and installation instructions) can be purchased from RenEnergy. Please call 0845 225 2727 for more details.