1. Onsite renewable energy
Identifying the opportunities
Gareth Walton
SW Microgeneration Co-ordinator
Regen SW/Energy Saving Trust
West of England Carbon Challenge
25 March 2011
2. Current policy drivers for onsite renewables
• Legally binding targets to reduce CO2 emissions at least
34% on 1990 levels by 2020 & at least 80% by 2050
• 15% of total UK energy from renewables by 2020
• All new buildings to be zero carbon within a decade –
dwellings from 2016, public sector from 2018 &
commercial from 2019
• Reducing emissions from existing buildings
• Emissions from existing buildings approaching zero by 2050
• Reduce emissions from homes by 29% on 2008 levels by 2020
3. The size of the challenge
15
% of total energy from renewables
10
5
0
2009 2020
4. Feed-in Tariffs (FITs)
• Government financial incentive for renewable electricity up to 5MW - started 1
April 2010
• Open to everyone – individuals, businesses, organisations & public sector
• Generation tariff rather than a grant towards the capital cost
• Paid for all electricity generated & not just that exported to the grid
• 3p/kWh extra for electricity exported to the grid
• Varying tariffs depending on type & scale of technology
• Designed to give a 5-8% return on investment – ie you make a profit
• Guaranteed income for 10-25 years depending on type & scale of technology –
index linked (& tax free for individuals)
• Government currently proposing to reduce the tariff rates for solar PV above
50kW & to increase them for farm-scale AD
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/renewable/feedin_tariff/feedin_tariff.aspx
5. Tariff level for new installations in period (p/kWh)
Tariff
Technology Scale Year 2: 1/4/11- Year 3: 1/4/12- lifetime
Year 1: 1/4/10-
31/3/12 31/3/13 (years)
31/3/11
(RPI adjusted) (Not RPI adjusted)
Anaerobic =500kW 11.5 12.1 11.5
Feed- digestion >500kW 9 9.4 9
20
in =15 kW 19.9 20.9 19.9
>15-100 kW 17.8 18.7 17.8
Tariffs Hydro
>100 kW-2 MW 11 11.5 11
20
2010- >2 MW – 5 MW 4.5 4.7 4.5
MicroCHP pilot =2 kW 10 10.5 10 10
2013 =4 kW (new build) 36.1 37.8 33
=4 kW (retrofit) 41.3 43.3 37.8
>4-10 kW 36.1 37.8 33
PV 25
>10-100 kW 31.4 32.9 28.7
>100kW-5MW 29.3 30.7 26.8
Stand alone system 29.3 30.7 26.8
=1.5kW 34.5 36.2 32.6
>1.5-15kW 26.7 28 25.5
>15-100kW 24.1 25.3 23
Wind 20
>100-500kW 18.8 19.7 18.8
>500kW-1.5MW 9.4 9.9 9.4
>1.5MW-5MW 4.5 4.7 4.5
As
Export tariff N/A 3 3.1 3
technology
Comprehensive FITs Review looking at changes to tariffs from
April 2012 intended to be completed by the end of 2011.
“Installations already accredited for FITS will not be affected”.
6. Tariff level for new installations in period (p/kWh)
Tariff
Technology Scale Year 2: 1/4/11- Year 3: 1/4/12- lifetime
Year 1: 1/4/10-
31/3/12 31/3/13 (years)
31/3/11
(RPI adjusted) (Not RPI adjusted)
Anaerobic =500kW 11.5 12.1 11.5
Feed- digestion >500kW 9 9.4 9
20
in =15 kW 19.9 20.9 19.9
>15-100 kW 17.8 18.7 17.8
Tariffs Hydro
>100 kW-2 MW 11 11.5 11
20
2010- >2 MW – 5 MW 4.5 4.7 4.5
MicroCHP pilot =2 kW 10 10.5 10 10
2013 =4 kW (new build) 36.1 37.8 33
=4 kW (retrofit) 41.3 43.3 37.8
>4-10 kW 36.1 37.8 33
PV 25
>10-100 kW 31.4 32.9 28.7
>100kW-5MW 29.3 30.7 26.8
Stand alone system 29.3 30.7 26.8
=1.5kW 34.5 36.2 32.6
>1.5-15kW 26.7 28 25.5
>15-100kW 24.1 25.3 23
Wind 20
>100-500kW 18.8 19.7 18.8
>500kW-1.5MW 9.4 9.9 9.4
>1.5MW-5MW 4.5 4.7 4.5
As
Export tariff N/A 3 3.1 3
technology
Comprehensive FITs Review looking at changes to tariffs from
April 2012 intended to be completed by the end of 2011.
“Installations already accredited for FITS will not be affected”.
7. Tariff level for new installations in period (p/kWh)
Tariff
Technology Scale Year 2: 1/4/11- Year 3: 1/4/12- lifetime
Year 1: 1/4/10-
31/3/12 31/3/13 (years)
31/3/11
(RPI adjusted) (Not RPI adjusted)
Anaerobic =500kW 11.5 12.1 11.5
Feed- digestion >500kW 9 9.4 9
20
in =15 kW 19.9 20.9 19.9
>15-100 kW 17.8 18.7 17.8
Tariffs Hydro
>100 kW-2 MW 11 11.5 11
20
2010- >2 MW – 5 MW 4.5 4.7 4.5
MicroCHP pilot =2 kW 10 10.5 10 10
2013 =4 kW (new build) 36.1 37.8 33
=4 kW (retrofit) 41.3 43.3 37.8
>4-10 kW 36.1 37.8 33
PV 25
>10-100 kW 31.4 32.9 28.7
>100kW-5MW 29.3 30.7 26.8
Stand alone system 29.3 30.7 26.8
=1.5kW 34.5 36.2 32.6
>1.5-15kW 26.7 28 25.5
>15-100kW 24.1 25.3 23
Wind 20
>100-500kW 18.8 19.7 18.8
>500kW-1.5MW 9.4 9.9 9.4
>1.5MW-5MW 4.5 4.7 4.5
As
Export tariff N/A 3 3.1 3
technology
Comprehensive FITs Review looking at changes to tariffs from
April 2012 intended to be completed by the end of 2011.
“Installations already accredited for FITS will not be affected”.
8. Tariff level for new installations in period (p/kWh)
Tariff
Technology Scale Year 2: 1/4/11- Year 3: 1/4/12- lifetime
Year 1: 1/4/10-
31/3/12 31/3/13 (years)
31/3/11
(RPI adjusted) (Not RPI adjusted)
Anaerobic =500kW 11.5 12.1 11.5
Feed- digestion >500kW 9 9.4 9
20
in =15 kW 19.9 20.9 19.9
>15-100 kW 17.8 18.7 17.8
Tariffs Hydro
>100 kW-2 MW 11 11.5 11
20
2010- >2 MW – 5 MW 4.5 4.7 4.5
MicroCHP pilot =2 kW 10 10.5 10 10
2013 =4 kW (new build) 36.1 37.8 33
=4 kW (retrofit) 41.3 43.3 37.8
>4-10 kW 36.1 37.8 33
PV 25
>10-100 kW 31.4 32.9 28.7
>100kW-5MW 29.3 30.7 26.8
Stand alone system 29.3 30.7 26.8
=1.5kW 34.5 36.2 32.6
>1.5-15kW 26.7 28 25.5
>15-100kW 24.1 25.3 23
Wind 20
>100-500kW 18.8 19.7 18.8
>500kW-1.5MW 9.4 9.9 9.4
>1.5MW-5MW 4.5 4.7 4.5
As
Export tariff N/A 3 3.1 3
technology
Comprehensive FITs Review looking at changes to tariffs from
April 2012 intended to be completed by the end of 2011.
“Installations already accredited for FITS will not be affected”.
9. Proposed changes to Feed-in Tariffs for PV above 50kW &
AD up to 500 kW from FITs Fast Track Review
Tariff level for new installations in period (p/kWh)
Tariff
Technology Scale Proposed tariff lifetime
Tariff level from Year 3: 1/4/12-
level from 1/8/11- (years)
1/4/11 31/3/13
31/3/12
32.9 (>50 - ≤100 kW)
>50 - ≤150 kW 19.0 ?
30.7 (>100 - ≤150 kW)
PV >150 - ≤250 kW 15.0 ? 25
>250kW - ≤5MW 30.7 ?
8.5
Stand alone system ?
No changes proposed for PV up to 50kW from tariffs shown in previous slides
Tariff level for new installations in period (p/kWh)
Tariff
Technology Scale Proposed tariff lifetime
Tariff level from Year 3: 1/4/12-
level from ASAP - (years)
1/4/11 31/3/13
31/3/12
Anaerobic ≤250 kW 14.0 ?
11.5 25
digestion ≤250 kW - ≤500 kW 13.0 ?
No changes proposed for AD above 500kW from tariffs shown in previous slides
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/fit_review/fit_review.aspx
10. How the Feed-in Tariff works
Use 20,269kWh
£1,520 saved
No export
22.5kWp solar PV
Generates 20,269kWh
Income £6,668
TOTAL ANNUAL BENEFIT In this & almost all cases, you will still
need to buy electricity from the grid
= £8,188
11. Financial benefits over 25 year FITs lifetime
Fuel bill savings
£38,000
No export
Generation tariff
£166,700
Total income = £166,700
System cost = £70,000
PROFIT = £96,700 In this & almost all cases, you will still
Fuel bill savings = £38,000 need to buy electricity from the grid
TOTAL BENEFIT = £134,700
The total income & total benefit is likely to be
greater than those shown here because FITs is
index-linked & energy costs are likely to increase
12. Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
• New Government financial incentive for renewable heat
• £860m from 2011 to 2014 - directly funded by Government
• Like the FIT a generation tariff rather than a grant towards the capital cost
• Different approaches for the domestic & non-domestic sectors
• Non-domestic RHI tariffs available sometime after July 2011
• Domestic RHI tariffs not available until October 2012
• No details of domestic tariffs have been published – a consultation document will
be published later this year (post-May)
• From July 2011 to October 2012 one-off direct payments (called RHI Premium
Payments) available for domestic installations only
• Further details on RHI Premium Payments to be published in May 2011
• Note: a single renewable heating installation serving multiple residential dwellings,
such as district heating, counts as a non-domestic installation
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/renewable/policy/incentive/incentive.aspx
13. RHI tariff levels
for non-domestic installations only
Tariff
Technology Scale Tariff rate (p/kWh) lifetime
(years)
<200kWth 7.6 (Tier 1)
1.9 (Tier 2)
200-1000kWth 4.7 (Tier 1)
Solid biomass & municipal solid waste 20
1000kWth & above 2.6
Ground source & water source heat <100kWth 4.3
20
pumps & deep geothermal 100kWth & above 3
Solar thermal <200kWth 8.5 20
Biomethane - all
Biomethane injection & biogas
scales 6.5 20
combustion, except from landfill gas
Biogas <200kWth
Payments for biomass installations up to 1000kWth are split into two tiers – the Tier 1 higher rates are paid
for the first 1,300kWh of heat generated each year with the lower Tier 2 rates paid for heat generated
beyond that.
14. Selecting & installing renewable energy
1. Know how much energy (electricity & heating) you use
2. Reduce your energy demand through energy efficiency measures
such as increased insulation, low energy lightbulbs, efficient
appliances, better heating controls etc – this reduces the size &
cost of any renewable energy system needed & is usually very
cost effective
3. Identify any opportunities &/or constraints to renewable energy
on your site or property
4. Check with your local planning authority whether there are any
planning issues
5. Select appropriate renewable energy technology or technologies
6. Get quotes from 3 installers
(MCS if up to 50kW for FITs & 45kW for RHI)
16. Solar photovoltaics (PV)
• Generates electricity from daylight, although they produce most in direct sunlight
• The SW receives the highest levels of solar irradiation in the UK & is well suited to
solar PV
• Can be supplied as panels or tiles & can be built into the fabric of a building, bolted
on afterwards or built on a frame on the ground
• 3 main types of PV panel varying in cost & efficiency
• Must be correctly angled & orientated for best performance, with the ideal
position facing South at an angle of 30 degrees
• Variation from this will result in reduced performance, but facing between SE & SW
at an angle of between 30 to 40 degrees is generally OK
• Shading dramatically reduces performance & should be avoided
• Building’s roof must be able to take the weight of the panels
25. Solar PV performance
• Must be correctly angled & orientated for best performance, with the ideal
position facing South at an angle of 30 degrees
• Variation from this will result in reduced performance, but facing between
SE & SW & at an angle of up to 40/50 degrees is generally OK
• Shading dramatically reduces performance & should be avoided
26.
27. Civic Hall, Totnes
14kW PV array
Provides approx 1/3 of the building’s electricity
Cost approx £50,000 (2010)
Total FITs income & energy bill savings approx £135,000
28. Vassall Centre, Bristol
12.6kW PV array
Cost approx £55,000 (2009)
Total FITs income approx £94,000 + energy bill savings
29. Worthy Farm, Pilton near Glastonbury
200kW PV array
Cost approx £550,000 (2010)
Total FITs income & energy bill savings approx £135,000
Michael Eavis barn roof pics
Total FITs income approx £1.4m + energy bill savings
34. PV for free?
• Various companies offering PV for free or reduced cost
• Range of different offers – often target different property types
• Issues to consider:
- How much of the electricity generated will you use?
- Who pays? (for all the equipment)
- Who owns it?
- Who gets the FITs?
- Who gets the electricity & is it free?
- Maintenance & repairs?
- Insurance?
- Moving property before 25 years is up?
See www.energysavingtrust.org.uk for a full list of questions
35. Wind
• Generates electricity from the wind
• Can be stand-alone or building mounted (for small-scale)
• Require a good average wind speed - A small difference in wind speed will make a
large difference to the amount of electricity generated
• Advisable to monitor wind speeds at the site before deciding whether to install
• Local topography can significantly affect the wind speed – features such as trees &
buildings can dramatically reduce windspeed
• Need to be carefully sited, especially in built-up areas, to be effective
• Noise & visual impact may need to be considered
• Generally speaking building-mounted turbines have considerably lower outputs than
stand-alone turbines, due to turbulence from the building
• Building structure should be checked to see if it can cope with the additional stresses
& vibration generated by the turbine
• Annual service needed
38. Okehampton Rural Business Centre
6kW wind turbine, biomass boiler & PV
BREEAM Excellent & up to 80% CO2 reduction
Wind turbine cost approx £28,000 (2008)
Payback of less than 10 years pre-FITs
39. Yeovil Innovation Centre
15kW wind turbine
Cost approx £56,000 (2009)
Total FITs income approx £160,000 + energy bill savings
40. Hydro
• Generates electricity from running water
• Highly site specific
• Require a good year-round flow of water & preferably a good height
difference, known as ‘the head’, between the top of the scheme & the
turbine unless run-of-river scheme
• May require some civil works
• Licences & approval from the Environment Agency are required
• Mitigating measures such as a mesh screen & a fish ladder may need to be
installed
• Noise may be an issue
• Annual service needed
41. Forest of Dean Stone Ltd
12kW hydro
Provides 1/3 of the company’s electricity
Cost approx £70,000 (2010)
Total FITs income & energy bill savings approx £305,000
42. Biomass
• Biomass stoves can provide space heating for individual rooms
& water heating if they have a back boiler connected
• Biomass boilers provide space & water heating for whole
buildings or a group of buildings
• Suitable for ‘new build’ or existing buildings
• Main fuels are woodchips, pellets, or logs
• Almost CO2 neutral
• CO2 & cost savings will depend on the fuel being replaced
• In general, work best with fairly constant heating demand
• Biomass boilers in particular most efficient when operating
close to full load
• Sufficient space for the stove/boiler & for fuel storage is needed
plus good access to the fuelstore for deliveries
• Smoke control zones
• Require ash removal, although in general very small amounts
produced
43.
44. KEVICC School, Totnes
18kW PV array
400kW biomass boiler
Total FITs income approx £133,000 + energy bill savings
48. South Petherton Hospital
Two 100kW biomass boilers
Provide 50% of the hospital’s heat
requirements
Large biomass pics
49. Solar thermal
• Provides hot water from the sun
• Supplementary heat source such as a boiler or an
immersion heater usually needed when output is low eg in
the winter
• 2 main types - flat plate & evacuated tubes. Evacuated
tubes are more efficient, but also more expensive.
• Must be correctly angled & orientated for best
performance - can face between SE & SW at an angle of
between 30 to 50 degrees
• Shading reduces performance & should be avoided
• Building’s roof must be able to take the weight of the
panels
• The heating system, particularly the hot water tank &
boiler, needs to be compatible
• Should last for approx 25 years & require very little
maintenance
52. Clifton Lido solar thermal pics
Clifton Lido, Bristol
30kW solar thermal array
53. Heat pumps
• Use similar technology to fridges to extract heat from the air, ground or
water
• Can provide space & water heating
• Require electricity to run & the CO2 & financial cost of this needs to be
considered
• The more efficient the heat pump is running, & the higher the CO2
savings & the lower the running costs
• Provide a low-temperature heat output - best suited to meeting a low
heat demand eg well insulated properties with underfloor heating
• If providing water heating, best to use it to pre-heat the water & then use
another heat source to get the water to the necessary temperature
• Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) require either horizontal trenches or
vertical boreholes to be dug
• Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) & water source heat pumps
(WSHPs) require less space than GSHPs but have lower CoPs
• Noise may be an issue for ASHPs
• WSHPs may require approval from the Environment Agency
57. Cotswold Water Park, Cirencester
300kW water source heat pump
Water source heat pump pics
Cotswold water park
58. !! Important !!
• To be eligible for the Feed-in Tariff (FITs) or RHI
installations of 50kW & 45kW respectively must
be installed by a Microgeneration Certification
Scheme (MCS) approved installer using a MCS
approved product
• Can search for nearest installer by postcode on
www.microgenerationcertification.org/mcs-
consumer/installer-search.php
• Can search for installers for larger-scale
installations on Regen SW’s company directory
www.regensw.co.uk/directory/
59. Detailed FITs case
studies
Friends of the Earth/Arup FIT
for the Future report including
a number of detailed FITs case
studies including costs
www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/fit_for_future.pdf
60. EST FITs calculators
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Cashback-Calculator
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/business/Business/Local-Authorities/Funding/Feed-in-Tariffs
