Setting the standards for self-consumption
29Jul
posted by: Lee Sutton, technical director, 4Eco
Lee Sutton, technical director at 4Eco Ltd, takes us through the latest sector trends, explaining the rise in self-generation and consumption; as well as why emerging technologies are pushing forward the possibilities of green energy.
With rising utility prices, concern over carbon emissions and increasing government pressure to lower energy usage, balancing costs and minimising reliance on mains supply is becoming a key national priority.
In fact, energy consumption across the UK is higher than ever before, while an incrementally expanding population and resulting escalation in demand mean that this figure is only set to increase. Consequently, embracing alternatives to alleviate the pressure is not only a necessity, but also the only surefire tactic to future-proof our energy landscape.
However, recent progressions in sustainable technologies and self-generation systems have made substituting mains supply achievable. Although previously considered an unrealistic option due to perceived high costs and intermittent production capabilities, ongoing environmental research and technological development has seemingly turned such preconceptions upside-down.
Microgeneration
Over the past few years, the market emergence of resource-efficient microgeneration systems has been extensive. From biomass boilers and air source heat pumps to solar thermal technology and photovoltaic setups, there is now a wide range of energy alternatives to alleviate demand on national grid supply. These technologies require minimal initial investment and can provide a high volume of cost-effective renewable energy; all while helping to meet environmental targets and reduce utility costs. What’s more, with sustainability prioritised throughout design, development and manufacturing, they also significantly offset negative carbon emissions.
As part of a continued drive to boost the widespread uptake of these technologies, a number of green initiatives and subsidies have been introduced to support initial investment. From increased funding for efficient systems to calculating offsetting strategies, making the switch to renewables has become a realistic and cost-effective option.
It therefore seems that renewable energy is quickly becoming the saviour to our utility crisis; offering a viable solution to reducing non-renewable demand. There are, however, some downsides. For PV setups in particular, a key draw-back is the fact that in peak daytime hours when panels generate the most energy, more often than not domestic power consumption is at its lowest. PV owners thus find themselves ‘buying back’ electricity from the grid in the evenings at a higher rate per kilowatt hour (kWh) in order to heat their houses or hot water tanks.
However, thanks to continued investment in environmental solutions, combined with excellent R&D practices by the leading renewables companies, there is now a solution to overcome these issues – microgen switching technology.
The future
In the past, Europe has led the way in sustainability with large-scale renewable developments; focussing significant investment on multi-million pound generation sites and community-shared power supply. Although the UK always sat in the shadows and never wholeheartedly supported the switch to green, a continuous development process into smaller-scale technologies and domestic uptake has seen more and more individuals turn to renewable generation.
Rising fuel prices have also increased the appeal of onsite generation. To make the most of this trend and increase the possibility of renewable consumption, eco businesses nationwide have dedicated significant resource into developing innovative cleantech products; breaking the boundaries of capability and increasing the impact of renewable energy.
A massive progression in environmental capability, switching devices don’t store renewable energy, but instead automate the diversion of surplus electricity. This means that, whether in a small or large-scale commercial or domestic scenario, 100% of self-generated supply is utilised. In most instances, this involves redirecting surplus energy to heating and hot water systems at peak generation times to essentially provide free energy. This helps to reduce reliance on the grid, increasing the efficiency of microgeneration systems and ensuring that energy is used around the clock – even when generation conditions don’t permit.
4Eco’s immerSUN microgen controller offers a realistic reduction in energy consumption, saving circa 15 pence for every kWh generated.
Requiring a negligible amount of electricity to run, the immerSUN works with all microgeneration systems and allows automated programme settings and can be customised to meet each individual’s requirements – simply fit and forget. Accordingly, by using a wired connection, the immerSUN is able to monitor fluctuations at a rate ten times faster to the nearest battery-powered competitor, making it incredibly effective and resource-efficient.
The immerSUN’s propriety truSINE PWM control technology completely removes any risk of overload by keeping the delivered power as a true sine wave, regardless of any power spikes.
International standards
Unfortunately, to say that all renewable technologies are comparable is like saying the Internet is comparable to a carrier pigeon. Performance, possible cost-savings and usability differ dramatically, meaning no two products are wholeheartedly comparable.
It’s the same story with diversion technologies – in particular the way that each model manages the inevitable voltage fluctuations that come from self-generation.
Manufacturers have thus invested significantly in developing new tech to ensure the highest generation performance. Earlier this year the immerSUN device achieved international certification; the only device in the UK to do so.
Guaranteeing immunity to harmonic disturbance, the certification confirms that each unit manufactured meets strict performance requirements and surpasses the most stringent safety, efficiency, reliability and compatibility standards.
From harmonic resonance and voltage distortion to circuit breaking process and electronic wiring, each and every aspect of tested systems are fully scrutinised, to certify quality and dependability for use within both domestic and commercial settings. The certification not only endorses the highest electrical performance standards, it also ensures installers can guarantee excellent performance, reliability and safety for each and every fitting.
Exceeding each of the certification’s categories, the immerSUN is the only microgen switching device on the market to achieve these standards. This guarantees that each device is free from waveform issues and other defects, such as non-interference with inverters.
But product innovation and R&D shouldn’t stop at meeting standards. Safety and performance must be prioritised in all renewable technologies to safeguard efficiency and reliability. What’s more, continued investment and development in the sector is essential to driving forward the future of sustainability.
Effective installations
While the rise in renewables has led to increased investment across the industry, traditional eco setups, such as PV and solar thermal, are still being seen as stand alone renewable solutions. This said, it isn’t simply generating energy that pushes the boundaries of sustainability, but instead self-consuming of renewable resources and the effective use of microgeneration.
With this in mind, we need to start looking towards tandem technologies as a driver to increase sustainable performance. This will not only contribute to shorter pay-back periods on original investment, but also drive long-term, year-on-year savings, regardless of the volatility of incentive regimes.
On a practical level, the majority of microgen energy controllers are easy to install for someone with a good knowledge of electrics and renewables, with most installations taking about 40 minutes. Quick, simple and delivering shorter payback times, the business case for making the move to renewables is obvious.
Going forward
With energy preservation such a key national priority, self-generation and energy management must be a major tactic to ensure sustainability across the UK. By looking towards certified diversion systems, such as the immerSUN, it is possible to further increase the country’s commitment to green; hitting the highest echelons of international targets and future-proofing our energy landscape.
However, compliance must be considered a key priority; not only for short-term safety and performance issues, but also for long-term efficiency delivery, reliability and ongoing effective utilisation of renewable resources.
If we, as a nation, drive forward with cleantech developments and self-consumption of renewables, becoming a global player in carbon-free energy is not only a possibility, but a viable target.
