There is much debate about the issue of Renewable energy –vs- Fossil Fuel – particularly for those skeptical about the risks of climate change resulting from man-made greenhouse gasses.

This has given rise to many myths about renewable energy.

Find these myths being busted below:

MYTH 1- Renewable Energy is Expensive:

In the case of solar and wind energy, all of the costs are in producing the equipment (and maintaining it in the case of wind). Once built there is no fuel.

More importantly, there are no hidden costs resulting from pollution. Electricity produced from coal is particularly polluting (and Ireland still uses the Moneypoint coal-fired station).

If (as we do) you believe that climate change is, or will be, caused by man-made greenhouse gases, the long term costs of energy from fossil fuels is truly enormous.

MYTH 2- Renewable Energy do not deliver 24*7 :

It is widely believed that renewable energy production is dependent on weather conditions and its production can vary depending on cases such as wind speed, solar power etc. But the reality is that in most cases, various forms of renewable energy are integrated and thus the variability can be adjusted accordingly. This is increasingly true if you add more solar power to the Irish grid where it complements wind and hydro power especially well, but with large grid interconnection, there is always a mix of sources available.

MYTH 3- Renewable Energy is Not a Reality Yet:

Though renewable energy is working in a full fledged manner in many countries, some refuse to consider it as anything more than fiction. Some data that can bust this myth:

Germany gets its 25% of electricity from renewable energy sources, which aims to power the country almost entirely on renewable sources by 2050.

Spain, Portugal, Iceland, Denmark are some of the other countries which are working towards attaining 100% renewable energy.

MYTH 4 – It takes more carbon or energy to make a solar panel or wind turbine than it produces in its lifetime

This simply is not true. Firstly, if that were true, the cost of the energy would be reflected in the product cost, and it could never repay its cost in its lifetime.

If you study the carbon emissions caused by the production of steel, aluminum, copper and other component parts of both wind and solar, you will find that the carbon emissions and fuel emissions saved by the product make up for its production within about 1 year.

Conclusion:

The internet is littered with misinformation, often given by well-intentioned people. But proper research will show that renewable energy is the only long-term way we can maintain our lifestyles. And even if you do not believe in climate change resulting from greenhouse gases, we can all understand that oil and gas are finite resources which cannot possibly power civilization forever.

For more information contact us via phone 0151 3245588.

Solar panels produce DC (direct current) when the silicon junction is exposed to light. A solar inverter converts this direct current to alternating current (AC power) which must be compatible with the grid so that domestic appliances can use the power.

Solar inverters become popular and are now mass produced as a result of the solar revolution taking place throughout the developed world. They are:

• Efficient – most inverters convert power at efficiency levels above 95%.
• Economical – mass production has brought the price of inverters down to about €300 for smaller models.
• Environmentally Friendly – made from materials which can be recycled at end of life, and with no moving parts, to ensure longevity of the units themselves.
• Very low maintenance – after the cost of initial installation, solar inverters are virtually maintenance free and durable.

1. A Stand Alone Solar Inverter – It pulls direct current power from batteries charged by various resources such as diesel generators, solar panels and wind turbines. These inverters convert battery direct current into the alternating current (AC) to create a mini-grid when there is no grid present. These are usually used in homes or industrial buildings as a power backup and or for operating small appliances depending upon the wattage. They are also commonly known as off-grid inverters”

1. A Grid Tie Solar Inverter – converts power from solar panels into AC power for transmission on the grid. This type of inverter must include a number of protections known as “anti islandint” to ensure that it does not send power to the grid during power cuts. This is essential for the safety of ESB staff working on power lines during an outage. Unfortunately this means that the panels cannot provide electricity during power cuts. In Ireland, inverter must meet EN50438 standards with some unique Irish variants.

How Does a Solar Inverter Work?

The main components of a solar power system are, solar panels to produce the power, an inverter to convert the power to AC and inject the power into the grid, Isolators to ensure that the system can be disconnected, and an MCB (trip switch). The electricity from the inverter flows into the household grid. From there it can either be used by appliances within the house, or if there is a surplus, it will be exported via a meter to the electricity mains grid.

The inverter is the “heart” of any solar power system. It not only converts the direct current generated by the solar panels to alternating current, but it also uses MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) to ensure that the panel is kept at an optimum voltage to produce the maximum amount of electricity.

For more information contact us via phone 0151 3245588.

Renewable energy is critical to the survival of our lifestyle – for two reasons; the fact that fossil fuels will eventually run out, and the need to reduce our emissions of climate change gasses.

There are various sources of renewable energy, each with its own advantage, but they all are clean and, provide jobs and boost the economy.

Solar photovoltaic in particular though is affordable at a domestic or household scale, and requires no maintenance.

Clean:

Solar photovoltaic panels produce electricity reliably for over 25 years, and many panels made over 40 years ago are still working. Solar energy complements wind turbines because usually in Ireland, when you have less wind, you have more sunlight. There is a seasonal balance when you combine wind and solar. Solar panels also produce all of their power during the daytime when demand from industry is highest.

Affordable:

According to a report by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Ireland has saved more than €1bn from fossil fuel imports as a result of the roll-out of renewable energies, and has cut down on CO2 emissions by 12m tonnes. In the long term, as oil and gas prices rise, this will stabilize the cost of electricity production.

Domestic:

If you use the electricity you generate, you save the full retail price of electricity, and you future proof yourself from future price rises.

Depending on your location, a 4kWp system can generate between 3,400 kilowatt hours and 4,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year – roughly equivalent to a typical household’s electricity needs.

Renewable/ Infinite:

 Renewable energy or renewable power, as the name suggests is such a source of power that can replenish itself over and over again. This is not true of oil and gas, all of which will eventually run out. Why should we wait to make the switch?

Less maintenance:

Renewable energy projects based on solar photovoltaic panels require less maintenance compared to traditional generators. And with evolving battery technology, it is widely believed that self-consumption will increasingly become widespread.

Jobs and the Economy:

The Irish Wind Energy Association in 2012, claimed that the renewable energy sector could compete with Ireland’s financial, electronics and pharmaceuticals sectors and could expect generation of 18,000 new jobs in the coming eight years.

The group also claimed that if the targets are met then there could be investment of more than €18bn into the Irish economy.

This sector can grow beyond those targets if solar is combined with wind. The advantages of solar are that the investment and profit can be in the hands of local householders. Any house can benefit from the addition of solar panels to reduce reliance on imported oil and gas.

For more information contact us via phone 0151 3245588.