Microgeneration – the Small Scale Generation of Heat and Power Microgeneration – the Small Scale Generation of Heat and Power Mobile Ones

GCE LEVEL FACT FILE Environmental Technology For first teaching from September 2013 For first award in Summer 2014 Microgeneration – the small scale generation of heat and power Microgeneration – the small scale generation of heat and power mobile ones. concernedprimarily withfixed power supplies rather than It isnot to be confused withmicropowerbenefit. asitis lowering footprint ofacarbon andfor personaleconomic environmentally conscious alternative whichaspires to the supply. However, theterm isusedcurrently for both an or location providing tothe ingrid connecting difficulty considerations,by practical suchasunreliability ofsupply traditional macrogenerated power. This canbemotivated needs, asalternatives orasadditionalsource ofsupplyto communities andsmallbusinessesto meettheirown powerscale generation ofheat andelectrical by individuals, The term microgeneration generally refers to thesmall- Microgeneration • • • Students shouldbeableto: generation ofheat andpower Microgeneration –thesmallscale security ofsupplyandfinancialincentives;security contribution to environmental targets, enhanced microgeneration, includingreduced energy costs, identify themainbenefitsofhome/community heat pumps, biomass); microheat technologies (solarthermal, ground source technologies (solarPV,microelectricity wind,), and list themainsources ofmicrogeneration in heat andpower; define microgeneration asthesmallscalegeneration of Specification ContentSpecification Course Content fitted to adomesticor community resource. panels andwindgenerators canbeusedinthisway when receiving afinancial inaddition return to that saved.Solar can alsosupplyexcess energy to thenational system so or replace that derived from national sources. The user equipment canthenbeusedinthehometo supplement resource.or community energy generated Electrical by the and setupofequipment at thelocation e.g. familyhouse Using microgeneration techniques involves thepurchase • • • Sources ofheat • • Sources ofelectricity; to generate heat. andthosewhicharethose whichgenerate used electricity Microgeneration sources canbeclassifiedintotwo groups – Sources ofmicrogeneration biomass Ground source heat pumps thermal Solar Wind PV Solar

iStockphoto / Thinkstock.com 1 Microgeneration – the small scale generation of heat and power • • Microgeneration ofheat involves theuseof: iStockphoto / Thinkstock.com domestic hotwater. underneath theearth’s to provide asource surface of Ground source heat pumpswhichuseheat from supply. heat whichcanthenbeusede.g indomestichotwater panelswhichconvert heatSolar from thesun’s rays into

iStockphoto / Thinkstock.com • Biomasswhichinvolves thecombustion ofnatural • • • include: microgeneration benefitsofhome/community Main microgeneration. The mainbenefitsofhome/community - - contribution to environmental targets, terrace/ae198/digesters.html#anchor1558768) Portglenone. (http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/ that canbe usedfor heating e.g. Abbey, Bethlehem Agricultural waste canalsobeusedto generate biogas material e.g. wood to produce heat inthehome. 0Alw#how source-heat-pumps?gclid=CPW26oftvrcCFVDJtAodnS energy/Choosing-a-renewable-technology/Ground- http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generating- For additional information see - - reduced energy costs, - - - - the Earth’s resources. Using renewable energy suppliesdoesnotdeplete combat climate change. energy sources rather thanfossil fuels, helpingto emissionsby incarbon usingrenewableReduction weather. emissions, regardless ofbuildingorientation or all year round, reducing fuelbillsandcuttingcarbon microgenerationSome systems canprovide benefits same process at thepoint ofuse. canbothbegenerated inthe Heat andelectricity explained/ guides/ground-source-heat-pumps- creating-an-energy-saving-home/ http://www.which.co.uk/energy/

iStockphoto / Thinkstock.com 2 Microgeneration – the small scale generation of heat and power • • - - - financial incentives; - enhanced ofsupply, security ------exported backto thegrid.exported and anotherfixed payment for any energy surplus receive afixed payment for energy generated, government grants. This meanstheconsumer will Many microgeneration technologies qualifyfor fluctuations. The userislesslikelyto beaffected by energy price be vastly reduced. as thewindandSun,sooverall energy costs can Microgeneration usesfreely available resources such weather. interruption to supplybeingcausedby inclement thereor localcommunity islesslikelihoodofan is beinggenerated at thepoint ofusei.ethehome theenergyBecause beingusedby theconsumer even reaches theconsumer. waste over before halfofthefuelintransportation it opposed to traditional power stations whichcan than 90%ofthefuelisconverted to energy, as isimprovedEnergy generation efficiency asmore parts. pump works. Draw andlabeladiagram showing themain Use theinternet to findouthow a ground source heat Wind turbines panels(PV) Solar Wood fuelledheating waterSolar heating Ground source heat pumps technology listthebenefitsof following technologies- org.uk/Generating-energy/Choosing-a-renewable- Using information from http://www.energysavingtrust. Activity 2 Activity 1 Activity 3