Renewable
energy is energy that is derived from any inexhaustible sources
such as wind, sun, sea or replaceable sources such as waste
products and crops.
By using renewable energy sources alongside
traditional forms of energy (used efficiently) you
can positively help tackle climate change - specifically global
warming.
The types
of renewable energy source available in UK include:
Solar
Photovoltaic (Solar PV)
Solar electric technology is simply the conversion of solar
radiation into electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) cells are used in
simple applications e.g. calculators and watches and also for
larger applications. Large PV systems can be integrated into
buildings to generate electricity.
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Solar
water heating
Solar panels are typically roof
mounted. They work by absorbing solar radiation (the sun’s
energy) to heat water. Solar water heating (SWH) panels are the
most commonly used form of solar energy currently used today. A
typical installed system will provide 50-70% of hot water needs
over the year.
Ground Source
Heat Pumps
Ground source heat pumps (GSHP) transfer heat
from the ground into a building to provide space heating and, in
some cases, pre-heating domestic hot water. For every unit of
electricity used to pump the heat, 3-4 units of heat are
produced. As well as ground source heat pumps, air source and
water source heat pumps are also possible.
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Wind
Energy
People have used the power of the wind for many years to produce
mechanical power for milling grain and pumping water. In recent
times wind turbine technology has enabled us to harness wind to
generate electricity. This renewable source of energy has great
potential in both onshore and offshore wind farms. Wind power is
one of the cleanest and safest of all the renewable commercial
methods of generating electricity. The UK has the largest wind
resource in the whole of Europe.
Hydropower
The energy potential of moving water has been
harnessed for thousands of years, originally using water wheels
to drive mills and machinery. Hydropower currently produces 2%
of the UK electricity needs. Whilst most of this comes from
large dam projects installed many years ago, there is still an
untapped small hydropower potential in certain parts of the UK.
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Biomass
Energy
Today, fast growing trees like willow and poplar can be used as
commercial energy crops to meet local heating needs, or used in
power stations to generate electricity. These energy crops offer
a means of developing a renewable source in many agricultural
areas of the country, supplying power and creating employment.
Wastes from agricultural and forestry operations can also be
used in this way.
For more information contact the
Clear Skies Helpline on 08702 430 930 or visit
www.clear-skies.org
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_____________________________________________________________
The Bio-NETT project
Bio-NETT: Developing local supply chain networks
for linking Bio-fuel producers with public sector users
European Intelligent Energy project, STEER, EIE/05/190/S12.420028
About
the project
This
EU funded project intends to develop a supportive framework for
encouraging the growth of local markets for bio-fuels as a low
carbon fuel for Local Authorities and other public sector
transport fleets across the EU. Bio-NETT will enable and support
attitudinal change and capacity building within public sector
organisations, the agricultural sector (including young farmers
and rural women) and the wider supply chain. This will help them
to recognise the benefits of sustainable practices around the
theme of the development and use of bio–fuels. Ultimately the
project would seek to increase the supply and demand of liquid
bio-fuels by creating a more integrated and cohesive market
structure, linking suppliers and users through regional
networking in both the urban and rural context.
To
achieve this, the project aims to:
• Establish local supplier networks covering the whole supply
chain from growers through fuel production and distribution to
public sector users;
• Build capacity within these networks through skills
development and examining financial support mechanisms;
• The facilitation of at least 2 potential local transport
bio-fuels projects, to include public sector organizations and
suppliers in each partner regional network;
• Carry out information and awareness-raising with bio-fuels
producers and public sector fleet managers;
• Evaluate the success of these networks and develop best
practice in supporting local bio-fuel supply chains;
• Disseminate the results at the National and European level
• Establish a local bio-fuels information exchange and network
centre in each partner region.
A key output of the project will be the establishment of best
practice framework tools for bio-fuel supply networks, which can
be used as a model across partner countries.
The
project partners are:
-
Partner 1: North East London Energy Efficiency Advice Centre
Ltd (NELEEAC), UK
-
Partner 2: Regional Energy Agency of Central Macedonia
(REACM)Greece
www.anatoliki.gr
-
Partner 3: Municipal Energy Agency-Rousse (MEA), Bulgaria
-
Partner 4: Energy Agency for Southeast Sweden (ESS), Sweden
www.energikontor-so.com
-
Partner 5: Baltycka Agencja Poszanowania Energii SA (BAPE),
Poland
www.bape.com.pl
-
Partner 6: Tipperary Energy Agency Ltd (TEA), Ireland
www.tea.ie
-
Partner 7: Riga Managers School (RMS), Latvia
www.rms.lv
-
Partner 8: Severn Wye Energy Agency Ltd (SWEA), UK
www.swea.co.uk
-
Partner 9 : Agencia de Gestión
de Energía de la Región
de Murcia, (ARGEM), Spain
www.argem.regionmurcia.net
-
Partner 10: Comitato Termotecnico Italiano (CTI), Italy
www.cti2000.it/Bionett_ita.htm
For further information contact: Emma Owen,
Projects Co-ordinator, NELEEAC
eowen@lessenergy.co.uk
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