Welcome to TiddlyWiki created by Jeremy Ruston, Copyright © 2007 UnaMesa Association
[[What is this Tiddlywiki about?]]
A better business guide to saving energy helps businesses identify measures that they can take to improve their efficiency. It suggests conducting an energy review by walking around your site to identify where energy is being used and potential opportunities for savings. It is important to conduct a number of surveys at different times of the day to observe how energy is used at different pattern consumptions.
The main areas to observe on a walk around in a commercial setting are: heating, lighting and electrical office equipment.
Heating is typically one of the largest energy demands a building has and can account for about half of all energy used. An effective way to reduce heating costs is to ensure that your equipment is working efficiently. Heating costs can increase between 10 and 30% if a boiler is poorly operated or maintained, and regular servicing will help reduce this. It is necessary to identify which areas of the building need heating and ensure that they are well insulated. It is recommended to insulate pitched roofs to a depth of 300mm and any parts of the heating system where heat may be lost. Draught proofing also reduces heat loss by placing draught strips on windows and doors at minimal cost. Controlling the system with timers and thermostats that are set correctly will improve efficiency as heat costs rise by around 8% for every 1 ºC of overheating.
Reducing energy consumption in a building by improving the operation and usage of efficient lighting systems can provide savings of up to £2/m² annually. Improvements to the usage can be completed by ensuring lights are switched off when they are not needed. This may be when people leave the room or when they are not required as there are sufficient natural light levels during daylight hours. This also applies to exterior security lights by ensuring they only operate at night when required and during the summer months only operate when it is dark. Savings can be made by upgrading older lighting systems, for example, replacing standard tungsten light bulbs with energy saving compact bulbs can produce energy saving of 75%. Replacing older T12 fluorescent tubes with newer T8 or T5 tubes can result in energy savings of over 8%.
Electrical office equipment can account for a substantial amount of a company’s energy usage, in particular computers can account for about 10% of energy usage. By ensuring that computers and monitors enter into stand by or low power mode after a preset time can improve efficiency. Leaving a single computer monitor on 24 hours a day will cost around £45 a year, ensuring they are turned off at the end of the day will massively reduce this cost. Check all photocopiers and printers are entering into standby mode, as an energy efficient printer can drop to around 15 to30 Watts in standby mode. Assessing the use of vending machines and water coolers can reduce your energy usage as it may not be necessary for these to remain on at all times. A typical vending machine can cost around £120 per year in energy costs, this can be minimised by asking if the operating temperatures can be reduced or the removal of the inside light. A solution for ensuring that electrical items are switch off out of hours is to invest in a timer plug that can preset to your requirements.
Another application that may help you to identify your total energy usage and assist in monitoring the results is [[Smart Metering]].
>Source:
Carbon Trust ‘Office equipment introducing energy saving opportunities for businesses’, March 2006, CTV005
Carbon Trust ‘Better business guide to energy saving ‘, March 2008, CTV034
There are a wide range of bio fuel options available all with different properties and preferred uses. For the generation of heat the most common fuels are woody related such as pellets, chips, logs, sawdust and briquettes as they are more commonly available and provide higher carbon savings. Other fuels can be used such as agricultural residues and food waste, however a sustainable source is required and they can produce reduced carbon savings in comparison to woods.
Every fuel has an energy density which is a measurement of how much energy a fuel can provide in kWh per kg of fuel. The energy density of a fuel will therefore effect how much of the fuel you will require to operate a system. The main variant between woody bio fuels which affects the energy density is the moisture content. The lower the moisture content the higher the energy. The lowest moisture content fuel is wood pellets at around 6 to 10% moisture content. They are processed to achieve these results which contribute towards their higher costs of around £120 to £180 per tonne. However, this makes them ideal for limited storage requirements as less fuel is required but increases overall running costs impacting upon potential savings. The most cost efficient fuel is wood chips which have a moisture content of around 25 to 30% providing a lower energy density. However, typical cost is less, varying around £40 to £80 per tonne and resulting in a competitive price with mains gas per kW of heat produced. According to the’ Low Carbon Heating with wood pellet fuel report’ which was sponsored by the Energy efficiency trust the unit cost of wood chips priced at £50 per tonne is 1.2 pence per kWh.
The sourcing and availability of a biomass fuel is essential since greater delivery distances will reduce the carbon savings provided by the system. The choice of fuel can also influence the type of boiler system installed as different systems are tailored to suite different fuel types. Finally, the [[Storage of biomass fuel]] is also important as it requires a suitable space next to the boiler system.
>Source:
Carbon Trust, 'Biomass sector review for the Carbon Trust' October 2005, CTC512
Biomass fuel is used to create energy through the burning of a recently living organism as opposed to fossil fuel. The idea is to create a closed carbon cycle by removing C02 from the atmosphere during the growth or creation of the fuel and then it is released back during the burning. The burning of biomass fuel creates a carbon natural heating source which can be implemented into a range of situations. The most common [[Biomass fuels]] used for heat generation are wood chips, wood pellets, short rotation coppice and energy crops. There are two main [[biomass heating systems]] which can be used to create heat which are stoves or boiler systems.
An important factor to consider with biomass heating is the [[Storage of biomass fuel]] as it requires a suitable sized area. Storage solutions include external silos, underground storage bunkers or for less heavy users biomass can be purchased in 1 tonne bags for non automated systems. [[Planning permission for Microgeneration technologies]] needs to be considered and indentifying if you are in a [[smokeless zone]] which restricts emissions under the Clean air act.
To roughly estimate the size of biomass heating system you may require to heat your building you will need to take into account the size of the building and number of hot water points. Every 1kW of heat is approximately worth 10m² of space. Therefore, a building which has 250m² of floor space will require approximately a 25kW boiler system. A system of this size could cost anywhere up to £12,000 installed. However, it is possible to purchase the boiler systems and then outsource the installation. A standard 80% efficiency 25kw boiler could be purchased for around £5,000 with no extras.
Key benefits of biomass heating
• Exempt from the [[Climate Change Levy]] due to the type of fuel used
• Wood chips purchased in bulk can be competitively priced against mains gas
• Reduction in your businesses carbon footprint
CHP production can be split into three categories: Micro CHP, small scale CHP and large scale CHP which are defined by their power outputs. Micro CHP typically operates under 5kW and use reciprocating or recently stirling engines to create power. Small scale CHP operates below 2MW and is usually created by reciprocating engines and gas turbines. Finally, large scale CHP is 2MW and above using gas turbines and compression ignition engines. [[CHP technologies]] are better suited to individual applications due to the different power to heat ratios they produce and the required power output.
Sizing a system correctly is very important as oversized system will be inefficient and produce no benefits. To size a system you will need to know the building or sites electrical load profile alongside the heat demand over time.
Packaged CHP systems generally consist of a control panel, power unit, heat distributor system and a storage unit. The Control panel operates the system seeking to maintain it at optimum output with minimal wasted energy. The engine or power unit is the energy producing part of the system that is generating electricity and heat. The heat distributor will control the distribution of heat to the building channelling it between space and water heating. Finally, the storage unit provides extra capacity to hold hot water until peak demands times on the system.
Other applications for CHP include steam and absorption cooling systems which can be incorporated for specific solutions. Steam generation systems can provide steam at a range of pressures for industrial processes. However, it is better suited to larger systems such as 300kW and above as below this the quantity of recovered energy reduces. Absorption cooling allows the heat produced by the system to be used for cooling eliminating the need for tradition methods. This will intern reduce the electrical demand by eliminating the need for alternative cooling systems such as air conditioning increasing savings.
Reciprocating engines are commonly used in small scale CHP and outputs can range from 40kW to 800kW. They operate by spark ignition to drive a reciprocating engine which intern drives an electric generator creating electricity. The heat is then recovered from the exhaust and cooling system. Typically they have a heat to power ratio of 1.5:1 with larger custom built systems achieving ratios of 1:1. Heat recovered from the jacket cooling water can provide temperatures of 95 degrees centigrade with the exhaust systems providing gases at 600 degrees centigrade.
Gas turbines are typically used in large scale CHP with outputs above 1MW operating on gas or light oil. They operate by igniting fuel mixed with high pressure air in combustion chambers which turn a number of bladed fan wheels that rotate a shaft. This then drives an electric generator and heat is recovered through the exhaust which operates at temperatures of 450 to 550 degrees centigrade. The hotter temperatures provide a higher heat to power ratio of 1.5:1 to 3:1 depending on the turbine and application. It is also possible to gain higher heat to power ratios of up 5:1 through supplementary firing of exhaust gases to provide more flexibility during higher heat loads.
Fuel cells are a developing technology which works on the principal of combining hydrogen fuel and oxygen to produce electricity. Currently they have some carbon emissions since most of the hydrogen used comes from reformed natural gas. However, there is potential for limited carbon emissions as hydrogen can be provided by a non fossil fuel source. The benefits of fuel cells are the high electrical working efficiencies in comparison to traditional combustion engines and the lack of moving parts. This makes them very quiet and efficient to operate but the technology comes at a high capital cost.
>Source:
Action Energy, 'Combined heat and power for buildings good practice guide', April 2004, GPG388
A carbon footprint is described as “A measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change.” It assesses all of the activities of an individual or business and identifies how much green house gases this emits into the atmosphere, this is measured in tonnes. A carbon footprint is affected by your direct and indirect emissions. Direct or primary emissions are activities similar to electricity and heating usage, whereas Indirect or secondary are concerned with the type of products you purchase or use and their impact.
There are a number of sites which allow you to calculate your businesses carbon footprint and a guide to carbon footprinting, produced by the Carbon Trust, contains details and the key issues when calculating your footprint.
>Sources:
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/solutions/CarbonFootprinting
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/publications/publicationdetail.htm?productid=CTV033
Carbon Trading
The European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) became active in 2005 and is another control which has been put into place in an attempt to reduce green house gases and the threat of global warming. The scheme operates by placing a price on carbon emissions which are then limited by the member state. This creates a market for carbon and carbon trading between organisations, with the cost of emissions being determined by the market itself. The industries which are involved with the EU ETS are dependent on the amount of carbon their activities emit. This covers heavy industries like electricity generation, iron and steel production and mineral processing industries, these contribute to around 46% of the total European emissions. We are currently in phase 2 of the scheme which will take us into 2012 with a cap already agreed on the amount of emissions available.
>Source:
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/climatechange/policy/eu_ets.htm
The Climate Change Bill is currently under parliamentary debate and is expected to be passed later on in 2008. It currently outlines new targets for the reduction of UK emissions by at least 60% by 2050 and 26% by 2020 by using 1990 as a base line. These targets may be made higher still depending upon an independent committee on climate change. The bill also includes five year carbon budgets which will set limits on emissions. An independent committee will be created in order advise the best methods to achieve these new targets and aspects of the bill. It also identifies emission reductions made outside of the UK to ensure reductions are made in the most cost effective way.
>Source:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/legislation/index.htm
The climate change levy was introduced in 2001 and was designed to be a tax on the use of energy in industry. The costs incurred by organisations are offset by a 0.3% reduction in employers’ NI contributions in an attempt to encourage energy efficiency. However, many of the larger energy users receive an 80% reduction in the tax by meeting climate change agreements which involve energy efficiency targets. The response towards the levy has been mixed with the government stating in the 'climate change programme' that the “climate change levy will reduce overall costs for businesses by 0.13 by 2010%.” Nevertheless, some people oppose the levy and the conservatives would like to replace it altogether with a carbon levy.
How can my business avoid the levy?
The climate change levy is only applicable to energy that is produced using certain commodities such as fossil fuels. Energy produced using renewable sources is exempt from the charge providing the supplier has achieved a Levy Exemption Certificate (LEC). Any energy produced with a LEC and then consumed by your business is free of the levy.
For more information see: www.berr.gov.uk/files/file39846.pdf
>source:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/ukccp/pdf/ukccp06-all.pdf page 53
Combined heat and power (CHP) or cogeneration improves efficiency by utilising the waste heat produced during the generation electricity. Conventionally, during the generation of electricity the burning of fuel creates a rotary motion. This in turn is then connected to a generator to create electricity. CHP uses the heat energy which is a waste product of the generation of electricity to provide heating for a building or area. By utilising the waste heat CHP systems can achieve overall operating efficiencies of around 70 to 90% compared to 30 to 45% for conventional power generation. The government has supported CHP and has had targets for growth since 1990 with the current target of achieving 10,000MW CHP capacity by 2010. However, they failed to reach their 2000 target of 5,000 MW CHP capacity which has put them behind schedule for the current target.
[[CHP systems]] can be grouped by their power output rating and the method they use to create power. They are available in a range of sizes from a few kW smaller domestic applications to larger industrial MW systems providing power and heat for facilities such as hospitals and large residential areas. CHP systems can be powered by a range of fuels with 67% of systems in 2005 using natural gas. Improvements in [[CHP technologies]] have seen an increase in the use of bio and renewable fuels which provide increased carbon savings in comparison to alternative methods.
For a CHP system to be economical it needs to have long demand periods, operating for around 14 to 16 hours a day. This equates to around 5,000 running hours a year which only makes them suitable for certain applications. The price of systems range with power output and the optimum time to consider CHP unit is when a replacement system is required to reduce cost. To gain the greatest savings systems should be installed where there are high heat demands for long periods of time. Payback times vary on application and can range from 5 to 15 years with saving ranging from up to 15 to 30% a year on energy bills.
Support for CHP development is available through the [[Good quality CHP]] programme which accredits systems and allows access to fiscal incentives. The scheme ensures that significant energy efficiency and environmental benefits are attained through CHP in comparison to conventional methods of power and heat generation.
Key benefits of CHP
• Creates energy security
• In the correct application can create savings on energy cost
• Wide range of power outputs and solutions available
• Reduction in your businesses carbon footprint
>Source:
http://www.chpa.co.uk/
Defra ‘The government’s strategy for combined heat and power to 2010’, 2004, PB 9539
[[What is this Tiddlywiki about?]]
Energy management seeks to maximise the energy efficiency of a building or business through a range of implementations and policies. By looking at energy as a resource instead of a fixed overhead it can provide a number of benefits to a business. Fundamentally, there is a financial benefit, however there are others involving the reduction of your [[Carbon Footprint]] and other ethical factors.
How much will it cost my company?
Energy management can cost as little as you want. There are energy management services available that will asses your usage and create an energy plan for your company. There is also a government affiliated organisation called the Carbon Trust who provides a similar service. If you would like to assess your own energy usage the Carbon Trust have produced a [[Better Business Guide to Energy Saving]] which outlines some key areas and actions on the subject.
According to the Carbon trust “A 20% cut in energy costs represents the same bottom line benefit as a 5% increase in sales in many businesses”. For a business to improve its energy efficiency it may need to look at some of its current policies and procedures and identify how they can make them more energy efficient. Simple improvements to facilities and systems can also improve efficiency. For more examples see [[Better Business Guide to Energy Saving]].
To better manage your energy you will need to have an understanding of the amount of energy you consume. This can be completed through technologies such as [[Smart Metering]] and [[Energy Monitors]] which provide energy usage data. This data can then be analysed to identify the impacts of your potential energy saving.
>Source:
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/publications/publicationdetail?productid=CTV034 page 01
Energy monitors are a device designed to provide you with real time information on your energy consumption. They normally comprise of a handheld display which provides information to the user and transmitter clip which attaches around the electric meter. These meters are primarily aimed at the residential market however; they can be used in smaller commercial settings with some models possessing the ability to be three phase compatible. They range in price from £30 to £120 with varying performances and some can posses the ability to store data on your consumption.
The energy white paper was published in 2007 and contains the government’s strategy towards energy in the domestic and international climate. It discusses need for carbon targets in the UK through the [[Climate Change Bill]] to reduce emissions. It stresses the need to support renewable technologies; this is suggested through improvements made to the planning rules and the use of [[Renewable Obligation]] (RO) as an incentive. Additionally, it identifies the countries increased reliance upon imports in order to produce energy and investments that are required to replace the current power infrastructure. The need for investment is due to the inevitable closure of existing power stations. The energy white paper aims to encourage more energy saving in businesses through [[Carbon Trading]] and the instalment of [[Smart Metering]] for monitoring. Also, it highlights the potential costs to the economy for these actions and estimates to reach a 30% emissions reduction by 2020, resulting result in the GDP being between 1.3 to 2 % less.
>Source:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file39564.pdf
It may be viewed that energy management seeks to maximise energy efficiency through the controlled use of energy.
Enhanced capital allowances allow businesses to claim tax relief against investments in energy saving technologies. Providing the technology is listed businesses can claim first year tax relief and can make savings of up to £225 per £1,000 invested.
>Source:
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/energy/takingaction/eca.htm
Evacuated tubes consist of an array of glass tubes which have an absorbing coating inside of a vacuumed space. In the middle of the tubes runs the water which is contained in copper pipes to allow efficient transfer of heat energy. This technology is more efficient than [[Flat plate collectors]] and can produce results above 200 degrees centigrade operating at around 40 percent efficiency. However, this comes at a higher price with a standard installed system costing around £4,000 to £5,000 compared to flat plate collectors. Due to the efficiency they require less space around 2-3m² of suitable space for a standard system.
>Source:
Energy saving trust, ‘Renewable energy fact sheet 3’, November 2005, DV33C
Flat plate collectors harness the suns energy though an absorber plate which is usually constructed from some form of black metal sheet. This energy is enclosed in an insulated box with a transparent glazed front that has small flow tubes running through it. These are normally made of copper and contain water flowing through them. The heat energy is then transferred into the flow tubes and the water which is being pumped around the system.
Flat plate collectors are cheaper costing around £2,000 to £3,000 as a standard system installed. The panels are ideal for standard hot water usage as they have the ability to provide water at a temperature of 30-70 degrees centigrade. Since they are less efficient working at around 30 percent efficiency compared to [[Evacuated tubes]] they require more installation space. A standard system would require around 3-4 m² of suitable roof space.
>Source:
Energy saving trust, ‘Renewable energy fact sheet 3’, November 2005, DV33C
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The good quality CHP is a voluntary programme run on the behalf of defra which aims to monitor and improve the quality of CHP schemes. A CHP system will be assessed on the energy efficiency and the environmental impact it provides. It is a self assessed application and once accredited it allows access to benefits such as [[Climate Change Levy]] exemption, [[Enhanced Capital Allowances]] and exemption from business rates of power generating plant and machinery.
>Source:
http://www.chpqa.com/html/about.htm
The UK’s government has pledged itself to a range of climate change and energy saving targets in an attempt to reduce carbon emissions. One of the initial frameworks which they have committed to is the [[Kyoto Protocol]] which was agreed upon in 1997 with the aim of addressing climate change. The UK agreed under the protocol to a target of reducing greenhouse emissions by 12.5% between the time period of 2008 to 2012. There has also been the introduction of the [[Climate Change Bill]] which should be completed by the end of 2008. This includes longer term emissions targets such as a reduction in emissions of 60% by 2050.
As a result of these targets there hava been a number of Government Reports commissioned to help create strategies which will assist in achieving these targets. The UK Climate Change Programme was published in 2006 and outlines the government’s policies for the UK in a range of sectors including the commercial sector. It comments on the introduction of the [[Climate Change Levy]] in 2001 and the [[Carbon Trading]] system. Other reports include the [[Energy White Paper]] which identifies carbon reduction and the need for energy security. One of the latest reviews is the [[Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation]]; this is currently being produced due to the UK agreeing to the European Union target of 20% renewable energy by 2020.
Ground source heat pump systems consist of a ground loop, heat pump and a heating distribution system. The ground loop comprises of a length of collector pipe buried under the ground in a trench or bore holes to source heat. The heat pump contains an evaporator, compressor and a condenser which keeps the working liquid inside the system flowing and pressurised allowing transferral of heat. Finally, the heat distribution will be space heating or direct how water or both depending upon requirements. The [[efficiency of ground source heat pumps]] if affected by the choice of heat distribution producing better results from lower output temperatures. The best results are from under floor heating systems as they operate at around 30 degrees centigrade as appose to conventional radiators which operate around 55 degrees centigrade.
Something which may affect smaller sites considering this technology is the required eclectic supply for larger systems. Typically systems of above 8kW will require a 3 phase power supply due to the energy required to power the eclectic pump. This may result in needing to upgrade your power supply which can be expensive.
>Source:
Energy saving trust ‘Renewable energy factsheet 5’, November 2005, DV33E
Ground source heat pumps operate by extracting heat from the ground and delivering it to a building as space or water heating. The system works on the concept of the ground temperature remaining around 9 to 12C throughout the year even during winter. This makes it an ideal source for heat pumps as their performance is affected when there is large difference between the temperature of heat source and required temperature output. [[Ground source heat pump systems]] operate in a similar fashion to refrigerator system delivering heat energy between source and sink locations via a working fluid.
Ground source heat pumps are restricted by the available space in the ground for the collector pipes which draw the heat from the ground. These can be laid horizontally in trenches about 1.5 to 2m below the surface but requires a large amount of space around 10m per 1kW of heating power installed. The pipes can also be laid vertically in bore holes which take up less space by going deeper into the ground but are more expensive.
The performance and [[efficiency of ground source heat pumps]] is affected by the required temperature of the heating distribution system. By producing lower temperatures of around 35degrees centigrade for under floor heating it can provide the best efficiency or coefficient of performance.
[[Heat pumps]] can also be used in a range of other applications for heating and cooling of a building working on the same principal using air or water as the heat source.
The cost of installing a typical full 8kW system can vary between £8,000 and £12,000 and would include the installation of a heat distribution system. The cost of installation ranges from around £800 to £1,400 per kW of heat power installed depending if bore holes or trenches are used.
Ground source heat pumps could be a viable heating solution providing there is suitable space for the ground loop and insulation measures have already been installed. Payback periods will vary and the need for a backup system to operate alongside may be required depending on the system installed.
>Source:
Energy saving trust ‘Renewable energy factsheet 5’, November 2005, DV33E
Alternative heat pump systems operate on the same principal by drawing heat from a source point and delivering it to a sink point. Other sources which can be utilised are the air and water which can provide heating and cooling. The most common system used in the commercial sector is air to air which can be used to provide cooling during the summer and heating in the winter. Another useful application is variable refrigerant flow which provides cooling and heating at the same time in a building. This is ideal for large commercial properties which require heating in the office and cooling in the server rooms. One of the more suited applications for ground source heat pumps and where savings have been made is in swimming pool centres. This is because it is possible to provide dehumidification and heating to the pool reducing costs compared to conventional methods with payback periods around 5 years.
The electricity generated through solar PV can be stored either on the national grid or independently. The ability to be connected to the national grid may be restricted for remote installations due to the vicinity of the national grid, forcing independent storage with the use of batteries. The advantage of being connected to the national grid is the ability to sell back the energy a system creates to energy suppliers. To be able to sell energy back through the national grid you will require a meter which support this activity. This may cost up to £60 depending on the size of the system installed and current meter. You can expect to receive between 4.25p/kWh to 11.26p/kWh depending upon which tariff you select. You will also receive a ROC for the generation of the energy through the [[Renewable Obligation]] incentive.
Systems which create an output of 12kW and above will fall into the G59 requirement and are required to achieve certain standards to prove the quality of the power they are placing back into the grid. This can result in a more expensive meter being required and can cost in the region of £1,000.
>Source:
Ofgem, 'Reviewing the microgeneration market', June 2008, Factsheet 74
To calculate the power contained in the potential water source you can use the equation:
P= H x Q x g x e.
P is equal to power in kW, H is the water head measurement in meters, Q is the flow rate measured in cubic meters, g is gravitational constant (9.8m/s²), e is efficiency of the system (i.e. 0.7 is 70% efficiency).
>Source:
Energy Saving Trust,'Renewable energy factsheet 7', November 2005, DV33G
Hydro power systems can be categorised by the head height of the water source which powers them. Low head systems would operate from a 20 to 5m source; medium head form a 100 to 20m and high head from 100m and above.
Small scale hydro systems are normally rated at less than 100kW and typically consist of an intake system which draws water in from the source and diverts it into a fore bay tank. This filters out anything from the water such as fish and rubbish and is fed to a penstock pipe which connects to the powerhouse. This contains the turbine which powers the generator creating the electric current which is fed out via cables to the required location. Finally, the water is released back into the source through the outflow. When installing a hydro system it is also important to consider the environmental impacts a system may have on the water’s ecosystem.
A low head system of up to 10kW would cost around £3,000 to £4,000 per kW installed with costs reducing as more kilowatts are installed. A medium head system would come with a fixed cost of around £10,000 plus £2,500 per kW installed. So, for example, a 3kW system would cost around £17,500 with costs reducing again as more kilowatts are installed.
>Source:
Energy saving trust ‘Discover renewable energy using water to make your own electricity’, March 2007
Hydro power utilises the kinetic energy contained inside moving water by directing it through a turbine to generate electricity. Hydroelectricity is restricted by the requirement for a suitable water source which is usually found in rural areas. An example of a suitable source for a turbine would be a stream that flows at a rate of 15 litres per second from a head height of 15 meters. From this source you could expect to generate around 1kW of power at any given time which would contribute towards a reasonable amount of a small offices power needs.
[[Hydroelectric systems]] vary in size and output capacity, an indication of the size of the system can be identified by the head height of the water source. [[Hydroelectric performance]] is affected by the water source and most systems will achieve efficiency of around 60 to 80% depending upon the system.
[[The storage of hydroelectric power]] can independent through an array of batteries or connected to national grid providing the facility to sell energy created back to the energy suppliers.
Key benefits of Hydroelectricity
• Creates energy security
• Can sell energy created back through the national grid
• Reduction in your businesses carbon footprint
These are available for small or medium enterprises that have been trading for at least 12 months in England. Loans of £5,000 to £100,000 payable over 4 years are available depending on carbon saving achieved.
>Source:
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/energy/takingaction/loans.htm
The Kyoto protocol was agreed upon in 1997 and since then the protocol has been ratified to make it legally binding for all counties who have agreed to it. They are required to achieve reductions in green house gases by 5.2% from levels of 1990 over the period of 2008 to 2012. The UK’s target was agreed by the European Union who has set a joint target for all members to achieve a total reduction in emissions by 8%. This would be achievable through the use of the ’bubble’ facility which allows emissions to be counterbalanced against one and other to assist economic growth in certain state members. The UK agreed to a target of reducing greenhouse emissions by 12.5% which it is currently on target to attain. According to Defra total greenhouse emissions fell by 15.3% between 1990 and 2005.
>Source:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/internat/un-kyoto.htm
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Megawatt hour which is a mearsure of of electric power consumption eaqual to 1,000 kilowatt hours.
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Background Information
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[[Government Targets]]
[[Oil Prices]]
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Microgeneration
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[[Biomass heating]]
[[Solar thermal]]
[[Solar photovoltaics (PV)]]
[[Hydroelectricity]]
[[Ground source heat pumps]]
[[Combined heat and power (CHP)]]
[[Wind power]]
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Energy Management
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[[Smart Metering]]
[[Carbon Footprint]]
The government defines microgeneration as “The production of heat and/or electricity on a small-scale from a low carbon source.” This can include a range of technologies which have been placed into two main categories displayed below:
Electricity generating technologies
[[Solar photovoltaics (PV)]]
[[Wind power]]
[[Hydroelectricity]]
[[Combined heat and power (CHP)]]
Heat generating technologies
[[Solar thermal]]
[[Ground source heat pumps]]
[[Biomass heating]]
[[Planning permission for Microgeneration technologies]] has recently changed to make it easier for installation, through the General Permitted Development Order.
To support the development of microgeneration technologies and to reach [[Government Targets]] on carbon emission the Carbon Trust has been created. They are an independent governmental organisation who provides support for industry and businesses to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency. Alongside advice they also provide financial support through [[Interest free loans]] and [[Enhanced Capital Allowances]] for organisations wishing to invest into microgeneration technology.
>Reference:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/sustainable/microgeneration/what/page43815.html
Currently oil prices are at record high and are continuing to grow with the average price of a barrel of oil over double what it was in July 2007. The global demand for oil has been growing faster than supply; it has been driven by expanding economies in the Far East, such as China and India. The instability of some of the oil producing countries has raised concerns about the security of supply. This has contributed towards the price sensitivity of oil and has become even more reactive to outside influences in recent times. Current speculation with regards to global reserves has also placed pressure on prices. All of the major oil importing countries are currently stock piling reserves in this uncertain time. In the 2007 state of the union address George W. Bush advocated increasing the country's stocks to 1.5 billion in the near future. The low price of the US Dollar has also contributed towards the rise in prices since investors are purchasing oil as an alternative investment. However, many reports also place blame on speculation for driving up prices as people anticipate a shortage in supply.
As oil continues through its life cycle people are debating when we will experience the ‘oil peak’ by which production reaches its maximum output. Some believe we may be entering this stage now and others such as Shell PLC believe it will be in 2025, displayed in the report ‘Peaking of world oil production’ produced by Robert L. Hirsch.
We have also seen an increase of oil production costs as oil companies are claiming it is becoming more difficult and expensive to extract oil from their sites. It can be said that this is due to the oil fields maturing. Jeroen Van Der Veet, Chief Executive of Shell, commented at the Shell annual general meeting how large investments are required in order to access the remaining oil resources.
Oil production in the UK is beginning to decline. Oil and Gas UK published figures stating that in 2007 we were producing 2.8 million barrels a day and now we are expected to produce between 2.6 to 2.7 million barrels a day in 2008.
This is having a direct impact upon the [[UK’s Energy Market]] as oil and gas prices are closely linked due to the nature in which they are extracted.
>Sources:
Victor D .G, and Eskreis Winkler S., ‘In the Tank: Making the most of strategic oil reserves’, August 2008, Vol 87. http://www.shell.com/home/content/media/news_and_library/speeches/2008/agm_2008_ollila_vdveer_20052008.html
Hirsch R.L, Bezdek R, and Wedling R. ‘Peaking of work oil production’ 2005. http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/others/pdf/Oil_Peaking_NETL.pdf
Article from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/business/7425489.stm
Changes in the planning permission required for microgeneration technologies have been introduced by the General Permitted Development Order. The order grants the rights to complete certain microgenration installations without the need for planning permission. The order applies to the technologies listed below in England.
Solar PV and Thermal which is roof mounted
Restrictions apply to:
• Installations of panels which protrude more than 200mm
• Installations of panels placed on the principal elevation facing into or visible from the highway in buildings in conservations areas and world heritage sites.
Solar PV and Thermal which is stand alone
Restrictions apply to:
• Installations which are over 4 meters in height
• Installations which are less than 5 meters away from a boundary
• Installations which have an area above 9m²
• Installations situated within any part of the cartilage of the dwelling house or would be visible from the highway in conservation areas and world heritage sites.
Biomass boilers, stoves and CHP
Restrictions apply to:
• Installations where the flue exceeds 1m above the height of the roof
• Installations on the principal elevation facing into or visible from the highway in buildings in conservations areas and world heritage sites.
Ground source heat pumps
Permitted
Micro wind
Is currently not covered by the order but is expected to be introduced through further legislations later on this year.
The outcome of planning permission is often affected by the visual impact on the landscape and expected noise output of the installation. Planning permission is generally needed for installations which have a rotor with a diameter greater the two meters. However, it is always recommended contacting the local planning office first.
The order does not extend to listed buildings for which planning regulations still apply.
>Source:
Energy Saving Trust ‘Planning permission for Microgeneration’ April 2008
The Renewable Energy Strategy is currently being debated and is expect to be published in spring 2009. This report is aimed at helping the UK reach its suggested target of 15% renewable energy production by 2020. It will identify barriers to installing microgeneration technology and how to overcome them whilst covering other areas such as information and cost constraints.
>source:
http://renewableconsultation.berr.gov.uk/
Renewable obligation is a government incentive to encourage the production of renewable energy through microgeneration. Providing you are producing 50kW or less of renewable energy you may be issued with a Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC). One ROC is issued for each MWh of electricity produced. These can then be sold to energy suppliers on the open market who require them to meet their renewable obligations. Therefore, ROC prices can change depending on the market and can be sold for £15 to £40.
>Source:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/policy/renewables-obligation/microgeneration/page39851.html
Is it feasible for you and your company?
Smart meters provide users with live data on their energy usage which can then be analysed to highlight performance. A smart meter replaces an old meter and supplies an energy meter reading every half hour via SMS output. This eradicates the need for estimated billing and the problems associated with it by producing bills on accurate energy consumption. The data can also be used to identify consumption patterns and energy usage which can then be used to tailor tariffs to your needs. The recording of your energy usage allows you to analyse how energy is used and help to identify when energy is being wasted. An example of this would be to examine your usage during operational down time, when you are expecting a low output. It also allows you to monitor the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures which have been put into place. It is also possible to compare the performance of multiple sites against each other. Reports can be constructed from the data containing accurate energy measurements to help create control and feedback on energy consumption.
The installation of a smart meter could reduce the standard DC/DA meter charges you currently pay. If you are on a 05 to 08 monthly profile you could expect to see reductions from £5 to £120 per year, depending on which area you are in. This saving is caused by eliminating the need for a data collector to come and provide meter readings, since they are done so automatically by the smart meter. However, for 03 to 04 quarterly profiles you could expect to see an increase in standard DC/DA charges of between £30 and £41 a year. There is also an associated cost with accessing the data and is dependant on which level of recording you desire. The basic access costs are around £5 for the year leading up to £17 a year per meter.
During installation of the new meter you will experience some down time of power to the site, normally lasting around 45 minutes depending on the existing meter.
To attain optimum performance from a solar system it needs to be exposed to the maximum amount of daylight. Therefore, systems should be installed south facing at an angle of around 35-40 degrees with no shadowing from objects such as tress and chimneys. The performance is also affected during the winter months due to the reduction in daylight hours. An average output from a 1kW system in the winter months is 25kW per season compared to 96kW per season in the summer.
The average output from a 1kW peak solar cell in the UK is 700-850kWh per year and a typical PV system of 2kW will require 10-15m² of suitable space. A small office will use approximately 16,000kWh of electricity a year. Therefore, to produce 10% of a small offices power through PV it would require a 2kW system operating at peak. The cost of installing solar PV is around £6-8K per kW installed which will have a 30 year plus life expectancy.
>Source:
Carbon Trust, ‘Renewable energy sources technology overview’, 01/12/06, CTV010
DTI, ’Photovoltaicss in buildings second edition’,2006, DTI/Pub URN 06/1972
There is a range of solar systems and panels available, providing solutions for a variety of situations. Traditionally systems are installed on the top of buildings however, it is possible to install them at ground level providing the area is not shaded. The performance of the panel is measured in conversion efficiency which can range from 14% -17% for crystalline panels and 7% to 9% for thin film. The performance of panels may reduce over the lifetime of the system and they require minimal maintenance, only the occasional cleaning of the panel.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) captures the suns energy through an array of silicone cells which are solid-state semiconductors. When the cells are exposed to the light they generate an electric current which is then captured and inverted into functional power. Solar PV only provides electricity during daylight and the [[Solar Performance]] depends on the size of the Solar system installed. [[Solar Systems]] range in power output from smaller 1kW systems to larger MW solar farms. In the UK an important factor is identifying suitable area which they can be installed on which has no shading and can support the weight of the system.
[[How to store the solar power]] needs to be considered through the feasibility of becoming connected to the national grid. Planning permission is not usually required for smaller installations unless the building is listed. [[Planning permission for Microgeneration technologies]] has recently had new legislation introduced.
Key benefits of solar PV
• Green energy produced with zero carbon emissions
• Can sell the power created to the national grid
• Wide range of power performances and solutions available
• Reduction in your businesses carbon footprint
Solar thermal technology captures the suns energy and uses it to heat water which is then kept warm in a boiler. This hot water is then used to supply all hot water taps in a building or it can be adapted for other solutions such as solar pool heating. Solar thermal has the ability to provide up to 50% of a buildings hot water needs. However, this does not include the hot water for heating systems needs such as radiators. [[Solar thermal performance]] is also reduced during the winter months in the UK due to the reduction in daylight hours.
There are two main types of panels which are installed: [[Flat plate collectors]] and [[Evacuated tubes]]. These are a main component of the larger [[Solar thermal system]] which is often integrated into the existing hot water system due to the need for a backup system.
Generally businesses which will benefit from solar thermal heating are ones which have high hot water demands. This is due to the potential savings a system will provide for the initial capital costs. An example of potential savings in an average three bed semi detached home would see reductions of around £50 per year off their gas bill for a £3,000 solar installation according to the energy saving trust.
Key benefits of solar thermal
• Reduces the reliance on conventional boiler systems to produce hot water
• Can be used in a wide range of situations
• Reduction in your businesses carbon footprint
>Source:
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/generate_your_own_energy/types_of_renewables/solar_water_heating
To attain optimum performance from a solar system it needs to be exposed to the maximum amount of daylight. Therefore, systems should be installed south facing at an angle of around 35-40 degrees with no shadowing from objects such as tress and chimneys. The performance is also affected by the reduction of sunlight over the winter months. For example, systems solar irradiation output over December will be around 22 kWh/m² compared with 158 kWh/m² in July.
Solar thermal systems also require electricity to power the pump which keeps the water moving in the system. [[Solar photovoltaics (PV)]] can be used to power the pump or conventional electricity can be used which will have an impact on the running costs.
A £4,000 solar heating system could contribute between 1,500kWh and 2,000kWh towards hot water energy usage a year.
Solar thermal hot water systems are usually integrated into existing hot water systems due to performances and the need for a supporting conventional system. Restrictions on space can affect how the water is stored, either alongside conventionally heated water in a duel cylinder boiler or in a separated single storage boiler. Systems can also be installed as open or closed whereby an open system heats the actual water which will be used and a closed system heats the water through a heat exchange which is then used. This is normally determined by the current systems water pressure. Solar thermal systems require little maintenance once installed only requiring the pressure being checked every couple of years.
Biomass heating systems often require a storage bunker or silo due to the sums of fuel they require. The quantity of fuel is dependent on the application of the system, but for example a 50kW boiler would be expected to use around 23 tonnes of wood chip a year rated at 25% moisture content. At peak usage during the winter daily fuel consumption should be around 0.65m³ to 0.75m³ of wood chip for a 50kW system, depending on the application. One tonne of dried wood is approximately 6m³ and a suitable store size for this 50kW system is around 20m³. It is vital to have adequate storage space for the system since it enables larger purchases of fuel making them less frequent and reducing the overall cost of fuel delivery.
>Source:
Carbon Trust, ‘Renewable energy sources technology overview’, December 2006, CTV010
The ability to be connected to the national grid may be restricted for remote installations due to the vicinity of the national grid, forcing independent storage with the use of batteries. The advantage of being connected to the national grid is the ability to sell back the energy a system creates to energy suppliers. To be able to sell energy back through the national grid you will require a meter which supports this activity which may cost up to £60 depending on the size of the system installed and current meter. You can expect to receive between 4.25p/kWh to 11.26p/kWh depending upon which tariff you select. You will also receive a ROC for the generation of the energy through the [[Renewable Obligation]] incentive.
>Source:
Ofgem,'Revewing the microgeneration market- updated', June 2008, Factsheet 74
Torse ltd is a successful energy broker situated in the midlands providing services for the SME sector.
For more information click: http://www.torse.co.uk/
/***
Contains the stuff you need to use Tiddlyspot
Note you must also have UploadPlugin installed
***/
//{{{
// edit this if you are migrating sites or retrofitting an existing TW
config.tiddlyspotSiteId = 'torse';
// make it so you can by default see edit controls via http
config.options.chkHttpReadOnly = false;
window.readOnly = false; // make sure of it (for tw 2.2)
window.showBackstage = true; // show backstage too
// disable autosave in d3
if (window.location.protocol != "file:")
config.options.chkGTDLazyAutoSave = false;
// tweak shadow tiddlers to add upload button, password entry box etc
with (config.shadowTiddlers) {
SiteUrl = 'http://'+config.tiddlyspotSiteId+'.tiddlyspot.com';
SideBarOptions = SideBarOptions.replace(/(<<saveChanges>>)/,"$1<<tiddler TspotSidebar>>");
OptionsPanel = OptionsPanel.replace(/^/,"<<tiddler TspotOptions>>");
DefaultTiddlers = DefaultTiddlers.replace(/^/,"[[WelcomeToTiddlyspot]] ");
MainMenu = MainMenu.replace(/^/,"[[WelcomeToTiddlyspot]] ");
}
// create some shadow tiddler content
merge(config.shadowTiddlers,{
'WelcomeToTiddlyspot':[
"This document is a ~TiddlyWiki from tiddlyspot.com. A ~TiddlyWiki is an electronic notebook that is great for managing todo lists, personal information, and all sorts of things.",
"",
"@@font-weight:bold;font-size:1.3em;color:#444; //What now?// @@ Before you can save any changes, you need to enter your password in the form below. Then configure privacy and other site settings at your [[control panel|http://" + config.tiddlyspotSiteId + ".tiddlyspot.com/controlpanel]] (your control panel username is //" + config.tiddlyspotSiteId + "//).",
"<<tiddler TspotControls>>",
"See also GettingStarted.",
"",
"@@font-weight:bold;font-size:1.3em;color:#444; //Working online// @@ You can edit this ~TiddlyWiki right now, and save your changes using the \"save to web\" button in the column on the right.",
"",
"@@font-weight:bold;font-size:1.3em;color:#444; //Working offline// @@ A fully functioning copy of this ~TiddlyWiki can be saved onto your hard drive or USB stick. You can make changes and save them locally without being connected to the Internet. When you're ready to sync up again, just click \"upload\" and your ~TiddlyWiki will be saved back to tiddlyspot.com.",
"",
"@@font-weight:bold;font-size:1.3em;color:#444; //Help!// @@ Find out more about ~TiddlyWiki at [[TiddlyWiki.com|http://tiddlywiki.com]]. Also visit [[TiddlyWiki.org|http://tiddlywiki.org]] for documentation on learning and using ~TiddlyWiki. New users are especially welcome on the [[TiddlyWiki mailing list|http://groups.google.com/group/TiddlyWiki]], which is an excellent place to ask questions and get help. If you have a tiddlyspot related problem email [[tiddlyspot support|mailto:support@tiddlyspot.com]].",
"",
"@@font-weight:bold;font-size:1.3em;color:#444; //Enjoy :)// @@ We hope you like using your tiddlyspot.com site. Please email [[feedback@tiddlyspot.com|mailto:feedback@tiddlyspot.com]] with any comments or suggestions."
].join("\n"),
'TspotControls':[
"| tiddlyspot password:|<<option pasUploadPassword>>|",
"| site management:|<<upload http://" + config.tiddlyspotSiteId + ".tiddlyspot.com/store.cgi index.html . . " + config.tiddlyspotSiteId + ">>//(requires tiddlyspot password)//<br>[[control panel|http://" + config.tiddlyspotSiteId + ".tiddlyspot.com/controlpanel]], [[download (go offline)|http://" + config.tiddlyspotSiteId + ".tiddlyspot.com/download]]|",
"| links:|[[tiddlyspot.com|http://tiddlyspot.com/]], [[FAQs|http://faq.tiddlyspot.com/]], [[blog|http://tiddlyspot.blogspot.com/]], email [[support|mailto:support@tiddlyspot.com]] & [[feedback|mailto:feedback@tiddlyspot.com]], [[donate|http://tiddlyspot.com/?page=donate]]|"
].join("\n"),
'TspotSidebar':[
"<<upload http://" + config.tiddlyspotSiteId + ".tiddlyspot.com/store.cgi index.html . . " + config.tiddlyspotSiteId + ">><html><a href='http://" + config.tiddlyspotSiteId + ".tiddlyspot.com/download' class='button'>download</a></html>"
].join("\n"),
'TspotOptions':[
"tiddlyspot password:",
"<<option pasUploadPassword>>",
""
].join("\n")
});
//}}}
The UK’s energy market has recently witnessed record breaking price increases for the cost of gas and electric and has come under scrutiny. In February 2008 Ofgem announced that it is launching an investigation into the electricity and gas markets for household and small businesses after concerns over the competitiveness of the market. The investigation will cover: barriers to switching suppliers, suppliers’ markets shares, the relationship between wholesale and retail energy prices, competitiveness of different pricing types for customers and the barriers to entry for new competitors in the market. The initial findings for the report are due to be published in September 2008.
The generation of power in the UK is created through a range of sources with the majority coming from gas, coal and nuclear. The current fuel mix published by the BERR displays that 37.7% of electricity is sourced from natural gas, 28.6% from coal, 28.1% from nuclear, 3.5% from other fuels and 2.1% from renewables. With the expected closures of the UK’s current fleet of nuclear power stations over the next few decades and the anticipated increase in demand for power the UK’s energy mix may begin to see significant changes.
>Source:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/markets/electricity-markets/fuel-mix/page21629.html
| !date | !user | !location | !storeUrl | !uploadDir | !toFilename | !backupdir | !origin |
| 05/09/2008 12:57:49 | Torse | [[/|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/]] | [[store.cgi|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/store.cgi]] | . | [[index.html | http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/index.html]] | . | ok |
| 05/09/2008 16:19:26 | Torse | [[/|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/]] | [[store.cgi|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/store.cgi]] | . | [[index.html | http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/index.html]] | . | ok |
| 05/09/2008 16:23:03 | Torse | [[/|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/]] | [[store.cgi|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/store.cgi]] | . | [[index.html | http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/index.html]] | . | ok |
| 05/09/2008 16:28:09 | Torse | [[/|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/]] | [[store.cgi|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/store.cgi]] | . | [[index.html | http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/index.html]] | . | ok |
| 05/09/2008 16:29:28 | Torse | [[/|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/]] | [[store.cgi|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/store.cgi]] | . | [[index.html | http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/index.html]] | . | ok |
| 05/09/2008 16:30:23 | Torse | [[/|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/]] | [[store.cgi|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/store.cgi]] | . | [[index.html | http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/index.html]] | . | ok |
| 05/09/2008 16:41:12 | Torse | [[/|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/]] | [[store.cgi|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/store.cgi]] | . | [[index.html | http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/index.html]] | . | ok |
| 05/09/2008 16:42:21 | Torse | [[/|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/]] | [[store.cgi|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/store.cgi]] | . | [[index.html | http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/index.html]] | . | ok |
| 05/09/2008 16:45:24 | Torse | [[/|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/]] | [[store.cgi|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/store.cgi]] | . | [[index.html | http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/index.html]] | . | ok |
| 05/09/2008 16:56:25 | Torse | [[/|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/]] | [[store.cgi|http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/store.cgi]] | . | [[index.html | http://torse.tiddlyspot.com/index.html]] | . |
/***
|''Name:''|PasswordOptionPlugin|
|''Description:''|Extends TiddlyWiki options with non encrypted password option.|
|''Version:''|1.0.2|
|''Date:''|Apr 19, 2007|
|''Source:''|http://tiddlywiki.bidix.info/#PasswordOptionPlugin|
|''Author:''|BidiX (BidiX (at) bidix (dot) info)|
|''License:''|[[BSD open source license|http://tiddlywiki.bidix.info/#%5B%5BBSD%20open%20source%20license%5D%5D ]]|
|''~CoreVersion:''|2.2.0 (Beta 5)|
***/
//{{{
version.extensions.PasswordOptionPlugin = {
major: 1, minor: 0, revision: 2,
date: new Date("Apr 19, 2007"),
source: 'http://tiddlywiki.bidix.info/#PasswordOptionPlugin',
author: 'BidiX (BidiX (at) bidix (dot) info',
license: '[[BSD open source license|http://tiddlywiki.bidix.info/#%5B%5BBSD%20open%20source%20license%5D%5D]]',
coreVersion: '2.2.0 (Beta 5)'
};
config.macros.option.passwordCheckboxLabel = "Save this password on this computer";
config.macros.option.passwordInputType = "password"; // password | text
setStylesheet(".pasOptionInput {width: 11em;}\n","passwordInputTypeStyle");
merge(config.macros.option.types, {
'pas': {
elementType: "input",
valueField: "value",
eventName: "onkeyup",
className: "pasOptionInput",
typeValue: config.macros.option.passwordInputType,
create: function(place,type,opt,className,desc) {
// password field
config.macros.option.genericCreate(place,'pas',opt,className,desc);
// checkbox linked with this password "save this password on this computer"
config.macros.option.genericCreate(place,'chk','chk'+opt,className,desc);
// text savePasswordCheckboxLabel
place.appendChild(document.createTextNode(config.macros.option.passwordCheckboxLabel));
},
onChange: config.macros.option.genericOnChange
}
});
merge(config.optionHandlers['chk'], {
get: function(name) {
// is there an option linked with this chk ?
var opt = name.substr(3);
if (config.options[opt])
saveOptionCookie(opt);
return config.options[name] ? "true" : "false";
}
});
merge(config.optionHandlers, {
'pas': {
get: function(name) {
if (config.options["chk"+name]) {
return encodeCookie(config.options[name].toString());
} else {
return "";
}
},
set: function(name,value) {config.options[name] = decodeCookie(value);}
}
});
// need to reload options to load passwordOptions
loadOptionsCookie();
/*
if (!config.options['pasPassword'])
config.options['pasPassword'] = '';
merge(config.optionsDesc,{
pasPassword: "Test password"
});
*/
//}}}
/***
|''Name:''|UploadPlugin|
|''Description:''|Save to web a TiddlyWiki|
|''Version:''|4.1.0|
|''Date:''|May 5, 2007|
|''Source:''|http://tiddlywiki.bidix.info/#UploadPlugin|
|''Documentation:''|http://tiddlywiki.bidix.info/#UploadPluginDoc|
|''Author:''|BidiX (BidiX (at) bidix (dot) info)|
|''License:''|[[BSD open source license|http://tiddlywiki.bidix.info/#%5B%5BBSD%20open%20source%20license%5D%5D ]]|
|''~CoreVersion:''|2.2.0 (#3125)|
|''Requires:''|PasswordOptionPlugin|
***/
//{{{
version.extensions.UploadPlugin = {
major: 4, minor: 1, revision: 0,
date: new Date("May 5, 2007"),
source: 'http://tiddlywiki.bidix.info/#UploadPlugin',
author: 'BidiX (BidiX (at) bidix (dot) info',
coreVersion: '2.2.0 (#3125)'
};
//
// Environment
//
if (!window.bidix) window.bidix = {}; // bidix namespace
bidix.debugMode = false; // true to activate both in Plugin and UploadService
//
// Upload Macro
//
config.macros.upload = {
// default values
defaultBackupDir: '', //no backup
defaultStoreScript: "store.php",
defaultToFilename: "index.html",
defaultUploadDir: ".",
authenticateUser: true // UploadService Authenticate User
};
config.macros.upload.label = {
promptOption: "Save and Upload this TiddlyWiki with UploadOptions",
promptParamMacro: "Save and Upload this TiddlyWiki in %0",
saveLabel: "save to web",
saveToDisk: "save to disk",
uploadLabel: "upload"
};
config.macros.upload.messages = {
noStoreUrl: "No store URL in parmeters or options",
usernameOrPasswordMissing: "Username or password missing"
};
config.macros.upload.handler = function(place,macroName,params) {
if (readOnly)
return;
var label;
if (document.location.toString().substr(0,4) == "http")
label = this.label.saveLabel;
else
label = this.label.uploadLabel;
var prompt;
if (params[0]) {
prompt = this.label.promptParamMacro.toString().format([this.destFile(params[0],
(params[1] ? params[1]:bidix.basename(window.location.toString())), params[3])]);
} else {
prompt = this.label.promptOption;
}
createTiddlyButton(place, label, prompt, function() {config.macros.upload.action(params);}, null, null, this.accessKey);
};
config.macros.upload.action = function(params)
{
// for missing macro parameter set value from options
var storeUrl = params[0] ? params[0] : config.options.txtUploadStoreUrl;
var toFilename = params[1] ? params[1] : config.options.txtUploadFilename;
var backupDir = params[2] ? params[2] : config.options.txtUploadBackupDir;
var uploadDir = params[3] ? params[3] : config.options.txtUploadDir;
var username = params[4] ? params[4] : config.options.txtUploadUserName;
var password = config.options.pasUploadPassword; // for security reason no password as macro parameter
// for still missing parameter set default value
if ((!storeUrl) && (document.location.toString().substr(0,4) == "http"))
storeUrl = bidix.dirname(document.location.toString())+'/'+config.macros.upload.defaultStoreScript;
if (storeUrl.substr(0,4) != "http")
storeUrl = bidix.dirname(document.location.toString()) +'/'+ storeUrl;
if (!toFilename)
toFilename = bidix.basename(window.location.toString());
if (!toFilename)
toFilename = config.macros.upload.defaultToFilename;
if (!uploadDir)
uploadDir = config.macros.upload.defaultUploadDir;
if (!backupDir)
backupDir = config.macros.upload.defaultBackupDir;
// report error if still missing
if (!storeUrl) {
alert(config.macros.upload.messages.noStoreUrl);
clearMessage();
return false;
}
if (config.macros.upload.authenticateUser && (!username || !password)) {
alert(config.macros.upload.messages.usernameOrPasswordMissing);
clearMessage();
return false;
}
bidix.upload.uploadChanges(false,null,storeUrl, toFilename, uploadDir, backupDir, username, password);
return false;
};
config.macros.upload.destFile = function(storeUrl, toFilename, uploadDir)
{
if (!storeUrl)
return null;
var dest = bidix.dirname(storeUrl);
if (uploadDir && uploadDir != '.')
dest = dest + '/' + uploadDir;
dest = dest + '/' + toFilename;
return dest;
};
//
// uploadOptions Macro
//
config.macros.uploadOptions = {
handler: function(place,macroName,params) {
var wizard = new Wizard();
wizard.createWizard(place,this.wizardTitle);
wizard.addStep(this.step1Title,this.step1Html);
var markList = wizard.getElement("markList");
var listWrapper = document.createElement("div");
markList.parentNode.insertBefore(listWrapper,markList);
wizard.setValue("listWrapper",listWrapper);
this.refreshOptions(listWrapper,false);
var uploadCaption;
if (document.location.toString().substr(0,4) == "http")
uploadCaption = config.macros.upload.label.saveLabel;
else
uploadCaption = config.macros.upload.label.uploadLabel;
wizard.setButtons([
{caption: uploadCaption, tooltip: config.macros.upload.label.promptOption,
onClick: config.macros.upload.action},
{caption: this.cancelButton, tooltip: this.cancelButtonPrompt, onClick: this.onCancel}
]);
},
refreshOptions: function(listWrapper) {
var uploadOpts = [
"txtUploadUserName",
"pasUploadPassword",
"txtUploadStoreUrl",
"txtUploadDir",
"txtUploadFilename",
"txtUploadBackupDir",
"chkUploadLog",
"txtUploadLogMaxLine",
]
var opts = [];
for(i=0; i<uploadOpts.length; i++) {
var opt = {};
opts.push()
opt.option = "";
n = uploadOpts[i];
opt.name = n;
opt.lowlight = !config.optionsDesc[n];
opt.description = opt.lowlight ? this.unknownDescription : config.optionsDesc[n];
opts.push(opt);
}
var listview = ListView.create(listWrapper,opts,this.listViewTemplate);
for(n=0; n<opts.length; n++) {
var type = opts[n].name.substr(0,3);
var h = config.macros.option.types[type];
if (h && h.create) {
h.create(opts[n].colElements['option'],type,opts[n].name,opts[n].name,"no");
}
}
},
onCancel: function(e)
{
backstage.switchTab(null);
return false;
},
wizardTitle: "Upload with options",
step1Title: "These options are saved in cookies in your browser",
step1Html: "<input type='hidden' name='markList'></input><br>",
cancelButton: "Cancel",
cancelButtonPrompt: "Cancel prompt",
listViewTemplate: {
columns: [
{name: 'Description', field: 'description', title: "Description", type: 'WikiText'},
{name: 'Option', field: 'option', title: "Option", type: 'String'},
{name: 'Name', field: 'name', title: "Name", type: 'String'}
],
rowClasses: [
{className: 'lowlight', field: 'lowlight'}
]}
}
//
// upload functions
//
if (!bidix.upload) bidix.upload = {};
if (!bidix.upload.messages) bidix.upload.messages = {
//from saving
invalidFileError: "The original file '%0' does not appear to be a valid TiddlyWiki",
backupSaved: "Backup saved",
backupFailed: "Failed to upload backup file",
rssSaved: "RSS feed uploaded",
rssFailed: "Failed to upload RSS feed file",
emptySaved: "Empty template uploaded",
emptyFailed: "Failed to upload empty template file",
mainSaved: "Main TiddlyWiki file uploaded",
mainFailed: "Failed to upload main TiddlyWiki file. Your changes have not been saved",
//specific upload
loadOriginalHttpPostError: "Can't get original file",
aboutToSaveOnHttpPost: 'About to upload on %0 ...',
storePhpNotFound: "The store script '%0' was not found."
};
bidix.upload.uploadChanges = function(onlyIfDirty,tiddlers,storeUrl,toFilename,uploadDir,backupDir,username,password)
{
var callback = function(status,uploadParams,original,url,xhr) {
if (!status) {
displayMessage(bidix.upload.messages.loadOriginalHttpPostError);
return;
}
if (bidix.debugMode)
alert(original.substr(0,500)+"\n...");
// Locate the storeArea div's
var posDiv = locateStoreArea(original);
if((posDiv[0] == -1) || (posDiv[1] == -1)) {
alert(config.messages.invalidFileError.format([localPath]));
return;
}
bidix.upload.uploadRss(uploadParams,original,posDiv);
};
if(onlyIfDirty && !store.isDirty())
return;
clearMessage();
// save on localdisk ?
if (document.location.toString().substr(0,4) == "file") {
var path = document.location.toString();
var localPath = getLocalPath(path);
saveChanges();
}
// get original
var uploadParams = Array(storeUrl,toFilename,uploadDir,backupDir,username,password);
var originalPath = document.location.toString();
// If url is a directory : add index.html
if (originalPath.charAt(originalPath.length-1) == "/")
originalPath = originalPath + "index.html";
var dest = config.macros.upload.destFile(storeUrl,toFilename,uploadDir);
var log = new bidix.UploadLog();
log.startUpload(storeUrl, dest, uploadDir, backupDir);
displayMessage(bidix.upload.messages.aboutToSaveOnHttpPost.format([dest]));
if (bidix.debugMode)
alert("about to execute Http - GET on "+originalPath);
var r = doHttp("GET",originalPath,null,null,null,null,callback,uploadParams,null);
if (typeof r == "string")
displayMessage(r);
return r;
};
bidix.upload.uploadRss = function(uploadParams,original,posDiv)
{
var callback = function(status,params,responseText,url,xhr) {
if(status) {
var destfile = responseText.substring(responseText.indexOf("destfile:")+9,responseText.indexOf("\n", responseText.indexOf("destfile:")));
displayMessage(bidix.upload.messages.rssSaved,bidix.dirname(url)+'/'+destfile);
bidix.upload.uploadMain(params[0],params[1],params[2]);
} else {
displayMessage(bidix.upload.messages.rssFailed);
}
};
// do uploadRss
if(config.options.chkGenerateAnRssFeed) {
var rssPath = uploadParams[1].substr(0,uploadParams[1].lastIndexOf(".")) + ".xml";
var rssUploadParams = Array(uploadParams[0],rssPath,uploadParams[2],'',uploadParams[4],uploadParams[5]);
bidix.upload.httpUpload(rssUploadParams,convertUnicodeToUTF8(generateRss()),callback,Array(uploadParams,original,posDiv));
} else {
bidix.upload.uploadMain(uploadParams,original,posDiv);
}
};
bidix.upload.uploadMain = function(uploadParams,original,posDiv)
{
var callback = function(status,params,responseText,url,xhr) {
var log = new bidix.UploadLog();
if(status) {
// if backupDir specified
if ((params[3]) && (responseText.indexOf("backupfile:") > -1)) {
var backupfile = responseText.substring(responseText.indexOf("backupfile:")+11,responseText.indexOf("\n", responseText.indexOf("backupfile:")));
displayMessage(bidix.upload.messages.backupSaved,bidix.dirname(url)+'/'+backupfile);
}
var destfile = responseText.substring(responseText.indexOf("destfile:")+9,responseText.indexOf("\n", responseText.indexOf("destfile:")));
displayMessage(bidix.upload.messages.mainSaved,bidix.dirname(url)+'/'+destfile);
store.setDirty(false);
log.endUpload("ok");
} else {
alert(bidix.upload.messages.mainFailed);
displayMessage(bidix.upload.messages.mainFailed);
log.endUpload("failed");
}
};
// do uploadMain
var revised = bidix.upload.updateOriginal(original,posDiv);
bidix.upload.httpUpload(uploadParams,revised,callback,uploadParams);
};
bidix.upload.httpUpload = function(uploadParams,data,callback,params)
{
var localCallback = function(status,params,responseText,url,xhr) {
url = (url.indexOf("nocache=") < 0 ? url : url.substring(0,url.indexOf("nocache=")-1));
if (xhr.status == httpStatus.NotFound)
alert(bidix.upload.messages.storePhpNotFound.format([url]));
if ((bidix.debugMode) || (responseText.indexOf("Debug mode") >= 0 )) {
alert(responseText);
if (responseText.indexOf("Debug mode") >= 0 )
responseText = responseText.substring(responseText.indexOf("\n\n")+2);
} else if (responseText.charAt(0) != '0')
alert(responseText);
if (responseText.charAt(0) != '0')
status = null;
callback(status,params,responseText,url,xhr);
};
// do httpUpload
var boundary = "---------------------------"+"AaB03x";
var uploadFormName = "UploadPlugin";
// compose headers data
var sheader = "";
sheader += "--" + boundary + "\r\nContent-disposition: form-data; name=\"";
sheader += uploadFormName +"\"\r\n\r\n";
sheader += "backupDir="+uploadParams[3] +
";user=" + uploadParams[4] +
";password=" + uploadParams[5] +
";uploaddir=" + uploadParams[2];
if (bidix.debugMode)
sheader += ";debug=1";
sheader += ";;\r\n";
sheader += "\r\n" + "--" + boundary + "\r\n";
sheader += "Content-disposition: form-data; name=\"userfile\"; filename=\""+uploadParams[1]+"\"\r\n";
sheader += "Content-Type: text/html;charset=UTF-8" + "\r\n";
sheader += "Content-Length: " + data.length + "\r\n\r\n";
// compose trailer data
var strailer = new String();
strailer = "\r\n--" + boundary + "--\r\n";
data = sheader + data + strailer;
if (bidix.debugMode) alert("about to execute Http - POST on "+uploadParams[0]+"\n with \n"+data.substr(0,500)+ " ... ");
var r = doHttp("POST",uploadParams[0],data,"multipart/form-data; boundary="+boundary,uploadParams[4],uploadParams[5],localCallback,params,null);
if (typeof r == "string")
displayMessage(r);
return r;
};
// same as Saving's updateOriginal but without convertUnicodeToUTF8 calls
bidix.upload.updateOriginal = function(original, posDiv)
{
if (!posDiv)
posDiv = locateStoreArea(original);
if((posDiv[0] == -1) || (posDiv[1] == -1)) {
alert(config.messages.invalidFileError.format([localPath]));
return;
}
var revised = original.substr(0,posDiv[0] + startSaveArea.length) + "\n" +
store.allTiddlersAsHtml() + "\n" +
original.substr(posDiv[1]);
var newSiteTitle = getPageTitle().htmlEncode();
revised = revised.replaceChunk("<title"+">","</title"+">"," " + newSiteTitle + " ");
revised = updateMarkupBlock(revised,"PRE-HEAD","MarkupPreHead");
revised = updateMarkupBlock(revised,"POST-HEAD","MarkupPostHead");
revised = updateMarkupBlock(revised,"PRE-BODY","MarkupPreBody");
revised = updateMarkupBlock(revised,"POST-SCRIPT","MarkupPostBody");
return revised;
};
//
// UploadLog
//
// config.options.chkUploadLog :
// false : no logging
// true : logging
// config.options.txtUploadLogMaxLine :
// -1 : no limit
// 0 : no Log lines but UploadLog is still in place
// n : the last n lines are only kept
// NaN : no limit (-1)
bidix.UploadLog = function() {
if (!config.options.chkUploadLog)
return; // this.tiddler = null
this.tiddler = store.getTiddler("UploadLog");
if (!this.tiddler) {
this.tiddler = new Tiddler();
this.tiddler.title = "UploadLog";
this.tiddler.text = "| !date | !user | !location | !storeUrl | !uploadDir | !toFilename | !backupdir | !origin |";
this.tiddler.created = new Date();
this.tiddler.modifier = config.options.txtUserName;
this.tiddler.modified = new Date();
store.addTiddler(this.tiddler);
}
return this;
};
bidix.UploadLog.prototype.addText = function(text) {
if (!this.tiddler)
return;
// retrieve maxLine when we need it
var maxLine = parseInt(config.options.txtUploadLogMaxLine,10);
if (isNaN(maxLine))
maxLine = -1;
// add text
if (maxLine != 0)
this.tiddler.text = this.tiddler.text + text;
// Trunck to maxLine
if (maxLine >= 0) {
var textArray = this.tiddler.text.split('\n');
if (textArray.length > maxLine + 1)
textArray.splice(1,textArray.length-1-maxLine);
this.tiddler.text = textArray.join('\n');
}
// update tiddler fields
this.tiddler.modifier = config.options.txtUserName;
this.tiddler.modified = new Date();
store.addTiddler(this.tiddler);
// refresh and notifiy for immediate update
story.refreshTiddler(this.tiddler.title);
store.notify(this.tiddler.title, true);
};
bidix.UploadLog.prototype.startUpload = function(storeUrl, toFilename, uploadDir, backupDir) {
if (!this.tiddler)
return;
var now = new Date();
var text = "\n| ";
var filename = bidix.basename(document.location.toString());
if (!filename) filename = '/';
text += now.formatString("0DD/0MM/YYYY 0hh:0mm:0ss") +" | ";
text += config.options.txtUserName + " | ";
text += "[["+filename+"|"+location + "]] |";
text += " [[" + bidix.basename(storeUrl) + "|" + storeUrl + "]] | ";
text += uploadDir + " | ";
text += "[[" + bidix.basename(toFilename) + " | " +toFilename + "]] | ";
text += backupDir + " |";
this.addText(text);
};
bidix.UploadLog.prototype.endUpload = function(status) {
if (!this.tiddler)
return;
this.addText(" "+status+" |");
};
//
// Utilities
//
bidix.checkPlugin = function(plugin, major, minor, revision) {
var ext = version.extensions[plugin];
if (!
(ext &&
((ext.major > major) ||
((ext.major == major) && (ext.minor > minor)) ||
((ext.major == major) && (ext.minor == minor) && (ext.revision >= revision))))) {
// write error in PluginManager
if (pluginInfo)
pluginInfo.log.push("Requires " + plugin + " " + major + "." + minor + "." + revision);
eval(plugin); // generate an error : "Error: ReferenceError: xxxx is not defined"
}
};
bidix.dirname = function(filePath) {
if (!filePath)
return;
var lastpos;
if ((lastpos = filePath.lastIndexOf("/")) != -1) {
return filePath.substring(0, lastpos);
} else {
return filePath.substring(0, filePath.lastIndexOf("\\"));
}
};
bidix.basename = function(filePath) {
if (!filePath)
return;
var lastpos;
if ((lastpos = filePath.lastIndexOf("#")) != -1)
filePath = filePath.substring(0, lastpos);
if ((lastpos = filePath.lastIndexOf("/")) != -1) {
return filePath.substring(lastpos + 1);
} else
return filePath.substring(filePath.lastIndexOf("\\")+1);
};
bidix.initOption = function(name,value) {
if (!config.options[name])
config.options[name] = value;
};
//
// Initializations
//
// require PasswordOptionPlugin 1.0.1 or better
bidix.checkPlugin("PasswordOptionPlugin", 1, 0, 1);
// styleSheet
setStylesheet('.txtUploadStoreUrl, .txtUploadBackupDir, .txtUploadDir {width: 22em;}',"uploadPluginStyles");
//optionsDesc
merge(config.optionsDesc,{
txtUploadStoreUrl: "Url of the UploadService script (default: store.php)",
txtUploadFilename: "Filename of the uploaded file (default: in index.html)",
txtUploadDir: "Relative Directory where to store the file (default: . (downloadService directory))",
txtUploadBackupDir: "Relative Directory where to backup the file. If empty no backup. (default: ''(empty))",
txtUploadUserName: "Upload Username",
pasUploadPassword: "Upload Password",
chkUploadLog: "do Logging in UploadLog (default: true)",
txtUploadLogMaxLine: "Maximum of lines in UploadLog (default: 10)"
});
// Options Initializations
bidix.initOption('txtUploadStoreUrl','');
bidix.initOption('txtUploadFilename','');
bidix.initOption('txtUploadDir','');
bidix.initOption('txtUploadBackupDir','');
bidix.initOption('txtUploadUserName','');
bidix.initOption('pasUploadPassword','');
bidix.initOption('chkUploadLog',true);
bidix.initOption('txtUploadLogMaxLine','10');
/* don't want this for tiddlyspot sites
// Backstage
merge(config.tasks,{
uploadOptions: {text: "upload", tooltip: "Change UploadOptions and Upload", content: '<<uploadOptions>>'}
});
config.backstageTasks.push("uploadOptions");
*/
//}}}
The idea for this tiddlywiki was developed from the changes which are occurring in the [[UK’s Energy Market]]. We have seen the introduction of a range of [[Government Targets]] whilst experiencing record [[Oil Prices]] which is having a direct impact on the cost of energy.
The aim of this Tiddlywiki is to provide users with a brief overview of the energy market whilst exploring renewable energy sources through [[Microgeneration]] and the feasibility of this technology for businesses.Also to identify other tools which are available such as [[Energy Management]] and the potential benefits which they present.
Wind turbines are used to capture the energy of moving air mass which is then transferred into electricity through a rotary motion. [[Wind turbine performance]] is influenced by objects in surrounding vicinity and the average level of wind speed in an area. The Energy saving trust recommend you should only consider this technology if your area has a local annual wind speed average of 6m/s or more.
[[Wind turbine systems]] vary in size from micro turbines which generate hundreds of watts to large scale wind farm turbines capable of producing megawatts. Smaller 1kW systems can cost around £3,000 installed leading up to around £90,000 for 75kW systems and beyond.
With the creation of power there becomes a need for it to be stored and the [[storage of wind power]] can be completed in an ‘on’ or ‘off’ the grid system. An important factor to consider when looking at wind turbines is the required [[Planning permission for Microgeneration technologies]] as wind turbines are not currently covered by recent legislation.
To produce enough electricity to power a small office a 6kW wind turbine would be required producing 15,768kWh per year at a cost of around £18,000 installed. A suitable site would also be required considering a free standing 6kW turbine could have a height in excess of 9m and produce around 65dB of noise at high wind speeds, this is the equivalent noise level of a vacuum cleaner being operated 1 meter away.
Key benefits of wind power
• Green energy produced with zero carbon emissions
• Can sell the power created to the national grid
• Wide range of power outputs available
• Reduction in your businesses carbon footprint
The ideal position for wind turbines is on the top of a hill with clear surroundings to reduce air turbulence from buildings and trees. The local wind speed also is very important for the performance of the turbine with most turbines requiring a minimum wind speed of 5m/s. It is possible to achieve lower working speeds with some micro turbines but the power output is very low. It is possible to check your local wind speeds at the British wind speeds web site or alternatively you can test them yourself with an anemometer. In the UK most of the prevailing winds come from the south westerly direction so ideally this area needs to be free of obstructions.
When considering wind speeds it is important to remember that the power available from the wind is a function of the cube of the wind speed. Therefore, small increases in wind speed can have large impacts on power produced. For example a doubling of the wind speed will give you eight times the power output from a turbine.
The height of the turbine also has an impact on performance as wind speeds are increased with height. Most turbines come with a range of mast heights, for example a 2.5kW turbine could range from 6m to 15m depending on wind speeds and planning permission. It is also possible to use the height of a building providing adequate support for the turbine is available. Finally, the other factor that has an impact on performance is the diameter of the rotor blades which can be increased to gain more power.
Due to the nature of an urban environment the amount of power available from the wind is often distorted. This is as a result of large buildings and obstacles creating turbulence and therefore making it much more difficult to achieve positive results from turbines.
>source:
http://www.bwea.com/ref/tech.html
Wind turbines have a range of system sizes available enabling them to be used in a wide variety of situations. By calculating an estimate of a turbines output it can enable you to indentify the potential benefits one may possess for your business. As a guide, a good site will provide you with an average output of 30 percent of the turbines rated capacity. For example, If you were to install a 3kW system the calculation for the estimated power output would be 3 x 0.3 x 8,760 (24 hours x 365 days) = 7884kWh per year.
Wind turbines have an expected life of 20 years or more and will require maintenance checks every few years to check the working efficiency.
>Source:
Energy Saving Trust 'Renewable energy fact sheet 6', November 2005, DV33F
The two main types of heating systems are stoves and boilers. Stoves only provide heat and are much smaller systems of up to 12kW, normally providing heat for a small area or a room. They cost around £1,500 to £4,000 installed and are typically more aesthetically pleasing since they are aimed at the domestic market. A suitable application may be in a small shop such as an estate agents or small office space. Boiler systems provide heat and hot water and are available in a range of sizes from 15kW to industrial sized 1MW systems. The price of systems ranges depending upon site requirements and size of the boiler. A smaller 25kW system installed can cost around £12,000 leading to around £80,000 for a 200kW system installed with an integrated storage bunker. The efficiency also affects price and performance as standard systems start from around 80% efficiency and increase towards 90% efficiency. Alternative solutions include containerised systems which comprise of a full heating system incorporated into a container which are ideal for solving mobility and limited space solutions.
All larger systems need to have an automatic feed system delivering the fuel from its storage point to ensure sufficient fuel is available. Furthermore, most boiler systems will require an annual service and frequent ash removal is required depending upon the system installed. Self cleaning systems are also available with automatic ash removal.
>Source:
Carbon Trust, ‘Renewable energy sources technology overview’, December 2006, CTV010
Ground source heat pumps are measured on the coefficient of performance (COP) which is a ratio that expresses the amount of outputted heat energy per input of power. For example if a system had a COP of 4 it would produce 4kW of heat for every 1Kw of electricity supplied. COP can range from 5:1 to 2:1 depending on the system and the application it is being used for. The most efficient heating distribution system would use under floor heating as it operates around 30 degrees centigrade and you could expect to achieve a COP of around 4:1. Conventional radiators operating around 60 degrees centigrade would achieve a much lower COP of around 2:1 as they have a much higher operating temperature. A system with modern radiators working at lower temperatures of around 40 degrees centigrade can achieve better COP efficiencies of 3:1.
The efficiency can also be affected by the ground which the collector pipe is buried under with better performance found from wet soil as opposed to dry sandy conditions.
According to Powergen in a study they found a well insulated property of around 100m² would use around 17,000kW/h of gas using a conventional boiler with a life span of 15 years. A ground source heat pump in the same property would require 3,500kW/h of electricity with a life span of 20 years saving around £100 a year on heating costs.
>Source:
http://www.heatpumpcentre.org/ CaseStudies.htm
[[What is this Tiddlywiki about?]]
Clean air acts were introduced during the 1950’s and 1960’s to combat the issues of smog and the associated effects on health. The most recent act which incorporates this legislation is the Clean Air Act 1993 which controls smoke emissions and other pollutants. Under the act it prohibits the burning of smoky solid fuels such as coal and woods in smoke control areas. Smoke control areas are mainly in urban situations and are controlled and enforced by local authorities. There are a range of appliances which are exempt from the act as they have been tested and proven not to emit dark smoke during operation making it possible to install this technology in restricted areas.
>Source:
http://www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk
Most turbines produce [[DC]] electricity which is then converted into [[AC]] or mains electricity via an inverter. This electricity can then be stored either independently or on the national grid system. The ability to have a grid tied system depends on the accessibility to the national grid from the site location. The advantage of being connected to the national grid is the ability to sell back the energy a system creates to energy suppliers. To be able to sell energy back through the national grid you will require a meter which supports this activity which may cost up to £60. You can expect to receive between 4.25p/kWh to 11.26p/kWh depending upon which tariff you select. You will also receive a ROC for the generation of the energy through the [[Renewable Obligation]] incentive. The alternative is to store the electricity independently through battery systems. This option can cost more as batteries are expensive and in most cases you will require a diesel generator for back up. The diesel generator is used to charge the batteries during periods of low output due to limited wind. Batteries also have a shorter life span of up to ten years.
>Source:
Ofgem,'Revewing the microgeneration market- updated', June 2008, Factsheet 74