Renewable Energy

Could you generate electricity or heat for your home or business?

Renewable energy comes from unlimited natural resources, such as the sun, flowing water, wind, the heat of the earth or plants and waste products.  They produce little or no greenhouse gases and are therefore very effective in the mitigation of climate change.

Renewable energy is available to householders and businesses.  It depends on where you are (geographically) and your surroundings as to what would be appropriate.  Typically, the options available are:

• Photovoltaic solar panels - generate electricity from the sun  
• Solar water heating panels - heat water using the sun
• Wind turbines - generate electricity by using the wind to turn turbines
• Biomass - burning of organic matter to produce heat
• Ground source heat - harvesting of heat stored underground
• Air source heat - absorbtion of heat from outside to heat buildings

You can sell excess electricity back to the national grid by using what s called  Feed-in Tariffs .

Home energy generation - what suits your home?  Work through the Energy Saving Trust tool to find out.

Related links:

• Ofgem
• Energy Saving Trust
• Renewables Toolkit