New type of battery answer to world's energy crisis!

The Vanadium redox battery could be the answer to the world's energy crisis. Vanadium's alloying properties have been known for hundreds of years. Most famously when Henry Ford used it in 1908 to make the body of his Model T stronger and lighter. For the same reasons - and also for its heat resistance - it was used to make portable artillery pieces and body armour in the First World War.

But vanadium's history seemingly goes back even further. Indeed, mankind may have been unwittingly exploiting the metal as far back as the 3rd Century BC!

So why are we just hearing about it now?

Vanadium is the 22nd most
 abundant element in Earth's crust

Well the main reason is their relatively poor energy-to-volume ratio, and the system complexity in comparison with standard storage batteries. BUT the Vanadium redox battery is an exciting technology because they can be discharged and recharged 20,000 times without much loss of performance compared to the Lithium ion battery, and they are thought to last decades!

What does that mean?

It means its PERFECT for renewable technologies that are producing too much power but with no place to store it! Countries like Hawaii, New Zealand and some states in the U.S are losing a vast amount of power due to no storage space. New Zealand aren't even allowed to use their solar panels at peak times because they are  producing too much energy and they are like "Well... what do we do with it?" Oh the irony! 

Vanadium redox batteries nevertheless provide the answer to a lot of problems we are now starting to face and will be in the future; as the incredible advancements in solar technology being made even during this year by MIT, various companies (Apple are even putting solar screens in the iPhone 6!) and sole inventors means we are pushing ourselves towards a more renewable energy dependent planet which is great, but where are we going to put it when we have this almost abundant amount of energy, Vanadium Redox Batteries of course!  

Photo Credit: BBC Laurence Knight

When are we going to see a change?

According to the BBC the problem Hawaii are facing right now could very well be a problem the whole world will be facing in the next 10 years or 2 world cups and a half from now (how I measure time.) Although some people argue that fossil fuel companies might take advantage of this kind of technology I think that it is needed to make renewable energies more efficient and reliable, we have to think about our future. 

Find more on Vanadium Redox Batteries and how they work on this Wikipedia page here

If this blog has made you consider having your own domestic renewable energy you can use our websites down below for FREE quotes from multiple companies around in your area for Solar panels, Biomass, Air / Ground Source Heat Pumps

• FREE Solar Panel quotes here: http://www.solarpanelquoter.co.uk/?s_eng=blog
• FREE Biomass quotes here: http://www.biomassquoter.co.uk/
• FREE Air /Ground Source Heat Pumps here: http://www.heatpumpquoter.co.uk/?s_eng=blog

I bid you adieu my dear Sirs and Madams!

How to qualify for RHI

Anyone who installs a qualifying renewable heat system is eligible to claim the RHI. These are the qualification criteria...

There are several eligibility requirements which must be met for installations to receive tariffs:

First of all you have to be either in England, Scotland or Wales, sorry Northern Ireland!

They must use an eligible type of renewable heat production

Sadly not all renewable heat technologies are eligible. Here's a list of all the ELIGIBLE renewable heat technologies:

Photo Credit: JMacPherson

• Biomass boilers
• Biogas combustion (but only up to 200kWth)
• Deep Geothermal
• Ground Source Heat Pumps (heating water)
• Energy from biomass proportion of Municipal Solid Waste
• Solar Thermal (but only up to 200kWth)
• Water Source Heat Pumps (heating water)

Biomass and biogas heat generation must also use eligible sources of fuel.

The tariff paid depends on what type of energy is used and the size of the system.

There are limits to the system's size

For example solar and biogas heating are only eligible for installations below 200kW. 

This differs to the Feed-In Tariffs where a 5MW ceiling has been applied for all renewable technologies.

They have to be brand spanking new and they have been installed after 15th July 2009

Even then they might not be able to receive tariffs immediately. 

Only new equipment is eligible for RHI; converted installations aren't. However new systems replacing existing renewable technologies will do just fine.

There are some rules and restrictions on the equipment and suppliers you can use

Each eligible installation has to be registered by the energy regulator Ofgem.

There are some specific requirements you must meet. Such as, systems below 45kW capacity must comply with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

The tariff will be paid based on how much of the heat output of the installation

The heat cannot be wasted and must be used for a prescribed purpose; space, water or process heating (not for electricity production, for example).

There are criteria about how this output should be measured.

The installations will have to be maintained and may be inspected periodically.

Who can claim the tariffs?

The owner of the renewable heat installation is the beneficiary of the tariffs.

Want to learn more about RHI? Read our previous blog to find out more here! http://www.home-improvement-blog.co.uk/2014/04/new-rhi-launched.html

I bid you adieu my dear Sirs and Madams!

Top 5 reasons how solar power can save the world

1. The research and development monies now going into solar energy are great enough to fuel innovation and bring down prices rapidly. First Solar expects solar generation manufacturing costs to fall from 63 cents a watt to 35 cents a watt from now through 2017!

2. Honda is experimenting with a zero-carbon home. It includes a direct DC recharger for an electric car so as to cut down on energy lost to heat during the DC to AC conversion. Charging would take only 2 hours, direct from sunlight.

The opening of Honda Smart Home US, showcasing technologies that enable zero net energy living and transportation

3. Thin-skin solar panels will be installed directly on the cars, and a canopy recharger will fill them back up, economical cars are the future (not the Prius)

4. Even poor countries of the global South like Pakistan are finding it affordable now to create enormous solar parks. Bahawalpur faces blackouts and a deficit of 4 gigawatts of electricity. It will soon get 1 gigawatt of electricity from solar and other renewables.

5. There are new technological advancements in Solar Power almost everyday and and a giant flow of ideas of how Solar can save the world which come as abundantly as the actual resource! Japan want to put a solar panel ring around the moon which can have the potential to power a 1/3, THIRD of the world's energy demands. MIT are researching  solar panels that can grow from bacteria making them more affordable. A group of scientists also want to build solar plants in our oceans as the solar energy is greater there. The amount of solar energy that hits our Earth in an hour is enough to power the world for a year. Surely we have to harness this great natural, renewable resource?!

6. Okay okay, I know I said 5 but TOP 6 doesn't have the same ring to it, sorry for lying my dear Sirs and Madams but this one is important! After seeing the way Russia is bullying Western Europe over opposition in Brussels to Russia grabbing Ukrainian territory, with Russia threatening to cut off natural gas, many countries will be encouraged to invest in renewable energy sources that cannot be cut off. Thailand is investing in 3 gigawatts of solar energy, not only because its government wants more electricity but because it wants more energy independence! The falling price of solar panels will give a further economic motive for going green, but tensions in the ASEAN countries over the possibility of gradually being reduced to Chinese puppets are real– something Obama is trying to address on his current trip to Japan and other countries of the far east. The alternative to solar, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to produce natural gas, is not affordable in many countries; it uses enormous amounts of precious water, damages the environment, and produces huge methane emissions that threaten deadly climate disruption. Solar gives both cost savings and security, as well as a brighter climate future.

I bid you adieu my dear Sirs and Madams!

NEW RHI LAUNCHED:

Earn £3,690 per year for heating your own home

After months of speculating and lengthy delays, the domestic RHI has launched in the UK TODAY, WHOOPIE - rewarding home-owners choosing to heat their homes with renewable technology with high tariff payments. This is great news for eco-green buffs as they will be rolling in money, waving their cash around like they just don't care!

What is RHI?

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is the world’s first long-term financial support programme for renewable heat.

The RHI pays participants of the scheme that generate and use renewable energy to heat their buildings. By increasing the generation of heat from renewable energy sources (instead of fossil fuels), the RHI helps the UK reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet targets for reducing the effects of climate change.

Similar to the popular Feed-in-Tariff enjoyed by PV solar panels, the RHI will pay people for generating their own heat energy AND they get to heat their home efficiently - slashing their heating bills dramatically! I cannot convey the level of excitement I am currently in.

Speculations of an imminent launch rose considerably when the minister for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Greg Barker has announced via Twitter:
"Excellent progress on domestic RHI. All set now for launch by Easter."
This is excellent news for those that already have, or who are considering RHI approved renewable heating, as they will see annual earnings and savings (payable for 7 years) of:
- £3,690 for ground heat pumps
- £3,390 for biomass boilers
- £1,280 for air source heat pumps
- £600 for solar thermal systems

It's worth noting that currently, the hybrid solar panels (PV-T) that generate both electrivity AND hot water are not eligible for the RHI tariff.

Always check your system will be RHI eligible and use an MCS accredited installer.

Finally the government have got something right! The amazing thing about it is you will be independent, you won't have to rely on those energy providers with sky-rocketing prices and you will be paid for doing it!  Just think of what you could do with a couple of grand left over at the end of the year..

I bid you adieu my dear Sirs and Madams!

Costs and benefits of different Solar Panels

If you’ve ever wondered how much you would need to invest to harness the sun’s energy for your own personal use, this blog will give you an idea of the costs and benefits of each system. On the simplest level, there are two types of solar panels. Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels which produce electricity, and solar thermal panels which produce hot water.

Solar Photovoltaic

Panels which convert the sun’s energy into electricity use solar voltaic cells to capture it. They do not need direct sunlight to work, generating electricity even on cloudy days (though not as much). The cells convert the energy into electricity which can be used in the house, or sold back to your own electricity supplier. Details on tariffs can be found here

In May 2012, the Department of Energy and Climate Change assessed the costs of solar PV, based on the average 3kWp (kilowatts peak) system that is installed. The average cost of installation was found to be £7,700. Whilst larger systems cost more, they are actually more cost effective in terms of the savings they produce. If you are wondering how much a Solar panel will cost you, you can click here for a FREE quote from your region!

On average, a 3kWp system has been found to generate 2,500 kilowatt hours of electricity every year. This is equivalent to about 3/4 of the average household’s electrical needs for a year. A larger system could therefore exceed the household’s requirements, with the extra being sold onto grid.

So the obvious benefit is that once you have paid for the installation your bills will be significantly reduced. If you are producing more electricity than you need you can sell it back to the grid. Furthermore, if you are eligible for the Feed-in Tariff scheme, this could generate savings and income of approximately £750 per year (based on rates applicable since April 1st 2014). Here you get paid for both the electricity you generate and use and that which is sold back to grid. At this rate, the average payback is around 14 years.

There is very little maintenance required. As the panels are tilted at an angle, they should be cleaned by rain water. Being dirty will impair their performance, so if necessary you can contact window cleaning companies to wash them for you. The panels should last for 25 years, although inverters might break before then. 

Solar Thermal

Solar thermal panels work in conjunction with a hot water cylinder, so you must make sure you have a suitable one, or room to fit one, if you are thinking of installing this type of panel. The panels heat water that is circulated through a coil in the hot water cylinder, transferring the heat to the domestic hot water stored in the cylinder. If the panels are not able to produce enough hot water, an immersion heater or boiler will top it up. Once again there are the benefits of cutting you bills and reducing your carbon footprint.

The average cost of this system is £4800 and it produces moderate savings. In the summer it will produce most of your hot water. In the winter, it will need the boiler or immersion heater to produce most of it.

Maintenance costs are low and they come with 5 or 10 year guarantees. As with solar voltaic, they need to be kept clean, though hopefully rainfall will achieve this. You should also check it, or have it checked, for leaks. Leaks of the antifreeze in the panel will have a strong smell so should be noticeable. The pump may need changing after 10 years or so at a cost of around £100.

Studies have shown savings of around £55 per year (230kgCO2/year) when replacing gas heated hot water and £80 per year (510kgCO2/year) when replacing immersion hot water. However, savings will vary from house to house, depending on which way the panels are facing and which part of the country they are located.

Solar PV/T

It stands for ‘photovoltaic thermal’. It’s basically a hybrid solar panel consisting of photovoltaic (electrical), or PV, and thermal (heating) functionalities – usually separate – which will contribute towards a house’s electricity demands while heating hot water. 

PVT is essentially a photovoltaic collector that produces heat as a byproduct. The panel absorbs photons (electro­magnetic radiation) from the sun, and an inverter changes this direct current (DC) into an alternating current (AC), suitable for use in the home. The process naturally generates heat, which is transferred via an aluminium heat exchanger – located on the back of the collector – to a closed circuit through which runs an antifreeze heat transfer fluid (a mix of water and glycol); the fluid takes the heat to the hot water cylinder. When set up correctly, this process actually aids the functionality of the PV module, as it causes the heat in the cells to dissipate — and PV cells are more efficient when they are cooler. The best place to find this exclusive technology is at Newform Energy 

There is one potential problem in that heat output can be three times the electricity output. If we assume a 4kWp system, a standard PV array of that size would produce 3,000 to 3,200kWh of electricity each year. A PVT system will produce over 3,500kWh of electricity and up to 10,500kWh of hot water each year. That sounds fine, as an average house with four people in it will need about 4,000kWh for hot water and 8,000 to 10,000kWh for space heating. But, and it is quite a big but, PVT will produce around 50% of that hot water in the three summer months — some 5,250kWh when we actually need only 1,000kWh. So what do we do with the rest?

Conclusion

Clearly from a financial perspective, solar voltaic panels produce far greater savings. Continual improvements in technology and falling installation costs are also bringing the payback time down. PV/T would be more ideal but obviously it does cost a little bit extra and aren't guaranteed as long as PV. Whilst this blog has looked at costs and benefits in financial terms, what it cannot measure is the importance to you of going green. However, if the environment is your priority, the fact that your investment will pay back in time is a comforting bonus. After all you only need solar panels the size of Ireland to power the entire WORLD! So do your part! 

 In no way am I saying 'pave over Ireland with solar panels' think of the leprechauns!

I bid you adieu my dear Sirs and Madams!

Solar Panels, not just for your average Hippie?

Solar Power was once deemed only for the eco-green world, TO SAVE THE PLANET and so on. Not to be taken so seriously by your average Joe. But times are changing and it's becoming a big financial gain, becoming more public with 500,000 UK roofs with Solar Panels, its about time it got fully advertised.

First UK Solar advert to air here

The UK saw it's first Solar Panel advert recently from Eclipse Energy, right after everyone's daily dose of Emmerdale! Though a tad cheesy it proves that Solar Power is a more serious, mainstream business. Being targeted at the general, public ideally wanting to save a few quid!


Pioneering the way forward in the Solar Panel business is Chris Cash (Managing director of Eclipse Energy) who thinks that marketed the right way, it can become big industry. And rightly so! Solar Power is accessible to almost any home-owner with many rewards and benefits. Cash is paving the way forward showing the average Joe how Solar Power can help them.

Many other companies are stepping forward into the 'light' that Cash has so kindly shown, with companies like Spectrum Energy talking about their adverts coming out soon. The Solar business is finally coming into it's own. It has been steadily rising for a while now and I won't be surprised after a mass of adverts that it will finally hit it's stride, making solar industry boom!

              

Solar powered Air Source Heat Pump pays you twice

It makes sense to be as self-sufficient as possible when it comes to energy. Self-generated energy is far cheaper and greener as it comes from renewable sources.

Two of the most popular renewable technologies are solar PV panels and Air, or Ground Source heat pumps.  While PV panels generate electricity, heat pumps use electrical energy to extract more heat energy out of the air and the ground.

Combining the two it's possible to use free electricity from your Solar PV Panels to provide the power used by your air or ground source heat pump.

Installing both means you will potentially qualify for both Solar PV feed-in Tariff and the RHI payments for your Heat Pump - leveraging a multiplier from one, to power the other.  What could be better than that?

RHI grants are paid over a 7 year period, and PV feed-in-tariff is paid over 20 years while slashing your your heating costs by at least 50% against Oil or LPG and up to 30% against gas.

Should your PV panels not produce enough electricity, the mains electricity grid will simply take over and keep things running - getting the water and electricity still 50% cheeper than using an immersion heater.


Have you installed solar yet? Find prices for your home here.
Find prices on heat pumps for your home here.

Popularity rise in Solar Power, why?

Solar Power

Solar Power has grown incredibly in the recent years; with Britain now having 500,000 homes with Solar Panels, the business is booming! The general public are definitely opening their eyes to the brilliant benefits and opportunities that Solar Power has to offer.

Did you know Butterflies have Solar Panels on their wings? 

Financial benefits

Solar Panels obviously offer to cut down your electricity bills by becoming more dependent on solar power. The ever increasing prices of energy providers is clearly making people looking into Solar Power as it is an easy, cheap way of saving money. Also with the feed-in-tarrifs the government currently provides it makes it possible to earn up to £750 a year! Who doesn't want extra money in their back pocket? From the financial side of things, Solar panels are definitely a great benefit to home-owners looking to save money.

Feel good factor

Look how smug he is after his Solar Panel install

Solar Power is a clean, renewable energy which makes it GREEN! You can feel smug as you tell the world of how you produce clean energy which is potentially saving the Planet. Also speaking from personal opinion, there is nothing that makes you happier than seeing how much energy you're producing, and there is nothing that makes me look weirder than grinning insanely when I see that electric bill cut down to size!

The Buzz!

There is massive spike in the amount Solar Power is making into the media recently. Various government projects getting behind Solar Power like how the U.S. Navy plan to beam down energy from orbiting Solar Panels. Or even how one of Britain's biggest landmarks, Big Ben, could possibly be getting Solar Panels (Story here).

Mad Scientists

There is also gigantic leaps in the technological side of the Solar Panel world. With 'mad' scientists developing transparent solar panels, Solar panels that work better on cloudy days ! And even the revolutionary idea of the near possibility of being able to grow solar panels from BACTERIA. ITS ALIVE!!!

With all these contributing factors, it's no surprise that Solar Panels have been on the rise. There has never been a better time to get into the Solar Powered world, with so many people getting involved now, shouldn't you as well? If anything you have read has interested you in Solar Panels, visit this excellent site here for a FREE quote on Solar Panels ! 

Links:
All links to the stories can be found above. If none work I will post them down here too

• U.S. Navy story: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2014/03/space-solar/
• Big Ben story: http://www.ecorazzi.com/2014/03/24/big-ben-might-go-green-get-solar-panels/?utm_content=buffer5584c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
• Transparent Solar Panel story: http://tweepmag.com/GreenBizWorld/GreenBizWorld.php?a=1&r=80&rt=767018
• Cloudy day story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/10701064/British-scientists-develop-solar-panels-which-work-better-on-a-cloudy-day.html
• Bacteria Solar Panel story: http://qz.com/191122/the-solar-panels-of-the-future-could-be-grown-from-bacteria/?utm_content=buffer90a48&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
• FREE SOLAR PANEL QUOTE: http://www.solarpanelquoter.co.uk/?s_eng=Reactivated-20140324

More Renewable Energy Options for Homeowners with launch of new Heat Pump Quotes website.

To help homeowners control their energy bills even further, or 'go green', we've designed Heat Pump Quoter.

Air and Ground Source Heat Pumps are an alternative renewable energy to solar or wind, and can power your hot water as well as your heating, via underfloor heating, hot air convection or even radiators.

Unlike some renewable energy sources, Heat Pumps are not reliant on wind or sunshine to operate, so you can make the most of this energy efficient, renewable heat source, 24 hours a day, all year around.

Our newest 'Quoter website can offer you an instant online heat pump quote, without the need for salesmen to call on you.

To find out how Heat Pumps work, how suitable they may be for your home and what Government incentives are currently available, read more below...

How do Heat Pumps work?
Imagine a fridge working in reverse - taking the outside temperature of the air or ground and extracting the heat, compressing that heat and then passing it into your home to heat your hot water, underfloor heating, radiator or warm air convection system and that's the science behind Air and Ground Source Heat Pumps.


Air Source Heat Pumps are a small unit (much like a modern air-conditioning unit in size and shape), which fixes to the ground or wall adjacent to the property to be heated.

Ground Source Heat Pumps use heat taken from the ground and involve a series of looped fluid filled tubing buried in trenches within your garden. Because of the trench digging and pipe laying, these systems cost more to install.

Heat Pumps work at generally lower temperatures to more traditional fossil fuel heating so it's important, to make the most of your system, that your home is reasonably insulated before installation begins. What's more, they don't rely on wind or sunshine to function.


How do I get my money back? It's renewable energy right?
Absolutely right. Heat Pumps are a renewable heat source - the kind to be included in the Governments proposed Renewable Heat Incentives which are due to start Autumn 2012 and already included in the Governments current *Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme. The tariffs - the money the Government will pay you - will work similarly to the current solar panel feed in tariffs, but nobody knows the exact details yet.

The Government are currently offering a *Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme to encourage homeowners to install renewable heat sources onto their homes. The Government are making these one-off payments, to the tune of £1250 for Ground Source systems and £850 for Air Source systems to homeowners, to help them cover the cost of installing these systems. These installation incentives are set to run until 31st march 2012.


What's so green about Heat Pumps?
Sure, Heat Pumps use electricity to run, but the clever bit is they use far less that the energy they output.

The energy is called renewable because the heat is taken from the surrounding air / ground rather than artificially generated through the burning of a fossil fuel. This means that the CO2 emissions are low compared to an equivalent fossil fuel usage.


What can a Heat Pump heat?
Heat Pumps extract heat from their surroundings, compress it and apply it to a fluid which is then passed into your home. This hot fluid can be used to:

• Heat your emersion tank
• Power your underfloor heating
• Heat specially designed radiators in your home
• Power hot air convection heaters.

The systems are responsive and designed to work with thermostats so you can control the heat / water temperature.

Because of that overall lower heat output, if you're using your Heat Pump to power your hot water, you're installers will make sure you have an immersion heater fitted which will be timed to come on once a week for an hour or two, to superheat the water in your tank and kill off any bacteria.

The lower heat output also means you may find it more comfortable to leave the systems on for longer periods.

Specially designed radiators?
Yes, normal 'gas fired' central heating radiators aren't usually large enough to provide the surface area needed for the lower temperature water to effectively transfer enough heat to the radiator to 'radiate' and heat the room.

It may be you decide on a duel system - keeping your existing heating / hot water system but supplementing its heat with your Heat Pump. That will still lower your usual energy bills.

Is my home suitable?
Most properties will be suitable for either a ground or air heat pump system. There's even a water pump system that could draw heat from say a large pond or lake. Properties which will benefit the most include those that aren't on Mains Gas and use either Oil, LPG or other solid fuel for heating and hot water.

Properties that use storage heaters will also see the same benefits.

Even on properties with gas fired central heating will make a modest return (not including any future tariffs), by preheating hot water tanks etc or replacing the heating source on underfloor heating systems.

Will I need a new immersion tank?
That's a question for your preferred installers when they're conducting their quote survey.

Servicing and maintenance?
Heat pump technology has been around longer than you think. The units themselves require little maintenance other than an annual health check (like a regular gas boiler) and for an Air Source Pump, making sure the area around the pump is free from leaf debris etc.

How big a system will I need?
That depends on how dependent you want to be on its output from totally dependent to treating the system as an auxiliary system. The installation companies will take your wishes along with the size and type of your home and how many of you live within the property, into consideration when conducting their survey prior to quotation.

In conclusion…

• Heap Pumps use minimal energy
• Produce a steady, reliable renewable heat and hot water source for your home
• Aren't reliant on wind or sunshine
• Work all year round - 24/7
• Government incentives towards installation costs of such systems - up to £1250*
• Government expected to launch its Renewable Heat Incentive tariff scheme October 2012
• You could earn a regular payment for the renewable heat you produce.
• Lower your energy bills
• Reduce your homes CO2 Emissions

*Renewable Heat Premium Payments (Governments one-off payments towards your installation costs) are subject to certain criteria. You can find more information on the Energy Saving Trust's website here.