Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is energy produced from sources that will remain indefinitely, such as sunlight, wind, tides, flowing water, and harvested crops such as wood, as opposed to non-renewable sources of energy such as fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas).

Wind Power
Solar
Solar Hot Water
Solar Cells or Photovoltaic Energy
Hydro Power
Frequently Asked Questions - Planning

Wind Power

Wind power harnesses the power of the wind. The kinetic energy of the wind can be changed into other forms of energy, either mechanical or electrical energy. Farmers have been using wind energy for many years to pump water from wells and low lying areas, to turn large grinding stones to grind wheat or corn. Today, the wind is also used to make electricity.

Blowing wind spins the blades on a wind turbine, the blades of the turbine are attached to a hub that is mounted on a turning shaft. The shaft goes through a gear transmission box where the turning speed is increased. The transmission is attached to a high speed shaft which turns a generator that makes electricity. In order for a wind turbine to work efficiently, wind speeds usually must be above 12 to 14 miles per hour. Wind has to be this speed to turn the turbines fast enough to generate electricity. It is then sent through a transformer to increase the voltage.

Please note planning permission may be required before installation, see your local planning department for more information.

For more information and grants towards wind power please check the links below

Wind Save scheme
Low Carbon Buildings Programme

British Wind Energy Association

Solar

The sun is simply our nearest star. Without it, life would not exist on our planet. We use the sun's energy every day in many different ways.

Solar Hot Water

Solar Hot Water is not a new invention, in fact it was being used back as early as the 1890’s in America. They dwindled in popularity with the discovery of large deposits of oil and natural gas. Today, solar water heaters are making a comeback. They can be used to heat water for use inside of homes and businesses, and even things such as swimming pools.

Panels on the roof of a building contain water pipes. When the sun hits the panels and the pipes, the sunlight warms them. 
    



Solar Cells or Photovoltaic Energy

We can also change the sunlight directly to electricity using solar cells. Solar cells are also called photovoltaic cells - or PV cells for short - and can be found on many small appliances, like calculators, and even on spacecraft. They were first developed in the 1950s for use on U.S. space satellites. They are made of silicon, a special type of melted sand. When sunlight strikes the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose. They move toward the treated front surface. An electron imbalance is created between the front and back. When the two surfaces are joined by a connector, like a wire, a current of electricity occurs between the negative and positive sides.

These individual solar cells are arranged together in a PV module and the modules are grouped together in an array. The electrical energy from solar cells can then be used directly. It can be used in a home for lights and appliances. Some experimental cars also use PV cells. They convert sunlight directly into energy to power electric motors on the car.

Please note planning permission may be required, please seek additional information from your local planning authority before installing.

Please see the links below for further information and grants towards solar heating and electricity.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Sungain

Hydro Power

For hundreds of years, moving water was used to turn wooden wheels on water mills that were attached to grinding wheels to grind (or mill) flour or corn. The Domesday Book recorded thousands of waterwheel driven mills in England. Water can either go over the top of the wheel or the wheel can be placed in the moving river. The flow of the river then turns the wheel at the bottom.

Hydro turbines use water to generate electricity. Water flowing down rivers turns the turbine which is used to produce power. The amount of electricity that can be produced is determined by how much water is available and how fast it flows. It is one of the most consistent forms of renewable energy.

Please see the links below for further information and grants towards hydro schemes.


Low Carbon Buildings Programme
British hydropower Association

Biomass

Biomass is matter usually thought of as garbage. Some of it is just stuff lying around -- dead trees, tree branches, garden clippings, left-over crops, wood chips and bark. It can even include used tires and livestock manure.

How biomass works is very simple. The waste wood, tree branches and other scraps are gathered together and dumped into huge hoppers. This is then fed into a furnace where it is burned. The heat is used to boil water in the boiler, and the energy in the steam is used to turn turbines and generators. Biomass can also be tapped right at the farm. In places where lots of animals are raised, the animals - like cattle, cows and even chickens - produce manure, when this decomposes, it gives off methane gas. This gas can be burned right at the farm to make energy.

Today, new ways of using biomass are still being discovered. One way is to produce ethanol, a liquid alcohol fuel. Ethanol can be used in special types of cars that are made for using alcohol fuel instead of gasoline. The alcohol can also be combined with gasoline. This reduces our dependence on oil - a non-renewable fossil fuel.

For more information on biomass please click on the link below


Renewable Energy Association 

*COMING SOON*  Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Planning Permission for Renewables

Please see Planning Department for further information on planning permissions.