Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Building Energy Rating?
The Building Energy Rating, BER in its most basic terms is the amount of energy required per meter squared of property to bring it up to a required level. Sustainable Energy Ireland has developed a method of rating a property using what they call the Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP), where they go through a series of tests to determine the overall energy requirement for the entire property would be. The BER is determined based on the energy required per meter squared compared against the BER-chart
New regulation states that all dwellings that apply for planning permission after 1st January 2007 need a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate before they are offered for sale, BER certificates are valid for 10 years and all dwellings will require this certificate if offered for sale or rent after 2009.
Photovoltaic FAQ
- What does photovoltaic stand for?
- How do photovoltaic (PV) panels work?
- Does PV work in Ireland?
- Isn't solar power expensive?
- Why should I use photovoltaics (PV)?
- What are the components of a photovoltaic (PV) system?
- How do you know that the system is taking power from the panels and not the grid?
- What maintenance and cleaning do the systems need?
- What is the lifetime of PV modules?
- What is the output of the PV modules?
- How can PV affect the Building Energy Rating (BER) of my home?
- What effect will a Photovoltaic installation have on the BER?
- What effect does PV have on the energy rating of a domestic home?
- How much electricity does a standard domestic house use?
What does photovoltaic stand for?
First used in about 1890, the word has two parts: photo, a stem derived from the Greek phos, which means light, and volt, a measurement unit named for Alessandro Volta (1745-1827), a pioneer in the study of electricity. So, photovoltaic (PV) could literally be translated as light-electricity. And that's just what photovoltaic materials and devices do; they convert light energy to electricity. This phenomenon is known as the Photoelectric Effect.
How do photovoltaic (PV) panels work?
Sunlight is made up of photons, and when it hits the semi-conductor metal of the PV panel, electrons are released; these electrons form a direct current. People have been using PV for years; your pocket calculator for example typically has a number of PV cells. NASA has been using and developing this technology for years, satellites and other space going bodies rely on this technology to produce the power in order to run.
Does PV work in Ireland?
There is an opinion out there that Solar technology would not work in Ireland, this stems from people thinking that we don't get enough sunlight in the Summer, never mind the Winter.
This however is not true, photovoltaic cells work on sunlight as opposed to the heat from the sun. In fact, Ireland has the same annual Irradiation levels as many parts of Central Europe, ranging from 1200 kWhr/m2/yr in the South of the country to 1000 kWhr/m2/yr in the North of the country, a good average for the entire country is 1100 kWhr/m2/yr.
If you consider our typical winters would not be as bad as many parts of Central Europe, Irelands mild climate is ideal for Solar installations, as we never get too hot or too cold and we have good light levels for a large part of the year.
Isn't solar power expensive?
A solar installation adds as little as 4% to the build cost of an average three bedroom home, but over 10% to its final value when sold. It also helps 'future proof' a home against rising fuel prices making properties doubly attractive to price conscious house buyers; as fuel prices continue to rise, energy efficient renewably powered homes will continue to sell at a premium.
Although the initial investment may seem quite large, once the system is installed it would provide free electricity for the life of the product.
Why should I use photovoltaics (PV)?
The number of PV installations is fast increasing in Ireland due the many advantages associated with this technology.
- Meet new regulation - From January 2008 new legislation states that 40% of your energy requirements must come from renewable sources in order to be granted planning permission. Installing PV will allow you to meet this new legislation.
- Increase the value of your property - for new builds PV can add as little as 4% to the cost of your home but once installed can increase the value of your property by up to 10%
- Environment - PV systems create no pollution and generate no waste products when operating.
- Maintenance - PV systems require no maintenance.
- Durability - Our PV modules are based on a proven technology, as a subsidiary of CareyGlass International we work hard to protect our reputation and always offer only top quality products and stand over all of our installations.
What are the components of a photovoltaic (PV) system
A PV system is made up of Photovoltaic Modules, usually roof mounted. Wiring from the PV array to an Inverter, this changes the PV generated DC current to AC current, matching the ESB grid supplied electricity. It is because of these inverters that we can grid connect seamlessly, without a need to switch from one power source to another. The inverter then connects directly into your Distribution (Fuse) Board to be used by your domestic appliances.
How do you know that the system is taking power from the panels and not the grid?
The system will take power from the PV panels "first" naturally and will only draw power from the grid if there insufficient power available from the PV panels. The flow of electricity in a system is determined by the electrical potential at all points in the system. The simplest analogy is to think of the flow of electricity in a network of conductors connected to the grid as being like the flow of water through a network of pipes connected to a water main. If there is more pressure in the network of pipes than in the water main, water will flow out into the water main - and vice-versa.
What maintenance and cleaning do the systems need?
Solar photovoltaic systems have no moving parts and require no maintenance whatsoever.
What is the lifetime of PV modules?
PV modules have a manufacturer's warranty of 25 years and a working lifetime of 40 years and beyond. As the photovoltaic effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon, there is nothing to say that the panels will not continue to create electricity for as long as they are in sunlight. A PV system that is designed, installed, and maintained well will operate very efficiently for at least 25 years. The best way to ensure and extend the life and effectiveness of your PV system is to purchase quality components from a reputable company who will guarantee that your system is correctly installed and commissioned.
What is the output of the PV modules?
The CareyGlass Solar standard module is 165 watts, our installed arrays are typically producing 1,100kWh per kWp per annum.
How can PV affect the Building Energy Rating (BER) of my home?
Market research in the UK has shown that properties with a good energy rating and using renewable energy sources achieve better market value. With the recent introduction of the Building Energy Rating Scheme by the Irish government, this trend is without a doubt going to be reinforced. With current trends in the Irish property market the installation of renewable energy and having a good BER rating may be the deciding factor between one house and the next.
What effect will a Photovoltaic installation have on the BER?
The SEI have stated that introduction of micro-generation has the single greatest effect on the energy rating; it is also considered one of the only ways to get up to an A1-rating. The reason it has such a great effect is because when micro-generation is introduced into the building envelope it reduces the Primary Energy rating of the building. The Primary Energy is the amount of energy that the energy supplier, in this case the ESB, has to produce in order to supply the dwelling.
Grid electricity has a very high energy and greenhouse gases content due to the inefficiency of centralized power plant using fossil fuels like peat, coal, oil, etc. and high distribution losses. So for every 1 kW of electricity used in your home 2.7 kW of electricity needs to be produced by the ESB, this 2.7 kW is passed directly onto your homes BER. Conversely the introduction of 1 kWp of PV has a minus 2700 on the DEAP result, which makes up the BER.
By comparison, photovoltaic energy is produced on site using sunlight, a free clean and inexhaustible source of power. Investing in PV is one of the best ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your property.
What effect does PV have on the energy rating of a domestic home?
As mentioned above, PV has a hugely positive impact on the Building Energy Ratings of a house. The primary energy rating of the house is greatly affected.
Consider the new regulations for Fingal County Council where the maximum allowable energy requirement per meter squared is 60 kWh/m2/yr on a dwelling of 120 m2. So the building energy rating for this dwelling is A3.
The introduction of a Photovoltaic array of size 1.65 kWp will result in a new BER rating of A1.
How much electricity does a standard domestic house use?
An average house is considered to be 150m2 /1,614sq ft and uses approximately 3,300 kWh of electricity per annum. An energy efficient house uses approximately 1,960kWh per annum. A 1kWp system generates 1,100kWh of electricity per annum (statistics from CareyGlass Solar's existing installations in Ireland).
Solar Thermal FAQ
- How are hot water requirements calculated and how is the solar water heater sized?
- What is the average size of a solar panel?
- What percentage of the hot water requirements will be covered by the solar panel?
- Is the location of the solar panels (orientation, tilt, visual aspect) appropriate?
- Is there any disruption of the building structure required to install the system?
- How is back up heating provided?
- Can the solar collector heat water to a high enough temperature? What happens when there is negligible solar power available?
How are hot water requirements calculated and how is the solar water heater sized?
The hot water requirements are calculated by taking into account the number of people living in the house and the size of the hot water cylinder. Each person living in the home is calculated at 50 litres per day. The solar panel is then sized to heat the size of the cylinder, taking into account the average climate conditions and the orientation of the roof; south, south east or south west.
What is the average size of a solar panel?
In general the size of a solar panel in based on the number of people in the household.
What percentage of the hot water requirements will be covered by the solar panel?
Up to 70% of the annual hot water requirements will be delivered free of charge and 100% in summer time.
Is the location of the solar panels (orientation, tilt, visual aspect) appropriate?
Yes. The panel should be mounted at 40% (typical roof tilt) and be south, south east or south west facing. If the house has a flat roof a special mounting kit is provided to ensure the correct tilt. The panel is surface mounted.
Is there any disruption of the building structure required to install the system
Minimal disruption is caused on the roof as the unit is fitted on the surface. A Dual coil cylinder is sited in the house unless the existing cylinder is used. This will require some pipe work. The entire installation takes approximately one day.
How is back up heating provided?
Back up heating is provided by any other means such as gas or oil boiler, heat pump or wood pellet stove. The cylinder is fitted with an immersion heater for use when the boiler is not required.
Can the solar collector heat water to a high enough temperature? What happens when there is negligible solar power available?
Yes, the solar collector can heat the water to a high enough temperature. In good weather it can even bring water to a boiling point. Generally this is not necessary and so the system should be designed to provide a daily temperature rise of around 25-30oC (45-54oF) in the summer. Sizing a domestic system that can bring the cold water up to 60oC / 141oF in a single day is not logical, because if hot water is not used for one day, the following day the system will be boiling and dumping hot water via the temperature relief valve. This is both a waste of energy and water! If the external conditions are overcast the water in the cylinder will be automatically heated by the alternative heat source to the required temperature.
NewScientist’s January 28 issue is likely to unsettle clean energy advocates — but it is worth the read.
The cover article, “Power paradox: Clean might not be green forever,” posits that even renewable energy can warm the planet, and eventually change climate, if we continue to ratchet up power production to serve our ever
It's easy to think about modules as singular units of power output, but the reality is that they are a collection of diverse components, each with influence over the end system's total cost and performance. For DuPont, its focus is of course on the materials side, from metallization pastes used to form contacts on the solar cell, to backsheet materials that protect the panels themselves.
The Obama Administration's $60 billion Loan Guarantee Program (LGP) for renewable energy is considered a failure because of Solyndra, Beacon Power, and potential 2012 bankruptcies. What is not well known is that 75 percent of the program's deployed funds went to relatively low risk power plants that will catapult the U.S. to a leadership role in the utility-scale solar sector. This is hardly the hallmark of a "failed program." The program is akin to Shakespeare's King Henry V, who said as a delinquent Prince: "I'll so offend as to make offense a skill, redeeming time when men think least I will."
In a series of deals the investor-owned utility says is good for consumers' wallets, American Electric Power subsidiary Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) recently signed long-term power purchase agreements for a total of 358.65 MW of capacity from wind projects in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
Miasolé says it has created a 17.3 percent "champion" thin-film copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) solar photovoltaic device, results obtained in its own labs and not (yet) independently verified.
Today the Obama administration moved forward with plans to develop the enormous offshore wind energy resources along the Mid-Atlantic coast, using a "Smart for the Start" approach designed to expedite the siting process while incorporating strong environmental protections.
By late February the renewable energy industry should have direction from the Ontario government on some of the major changes ahead for the province’s landmark feed-in tariff program. “I am hoping we will have an announcement then with the megawatt (MW) targets and pricing, then new rules and contracts in March, and application processi
You may have heard it before, but it is worth mentioning again: In residential communities, solar is contagious. But a recent study, "Peer Effects in the Diffusion of Solar Photovoltaic Panels," conducted by Bryan Bollinger of the NYU Stern School of Business and Kenneth Gillingham of the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, published in December sheds some new light on the phenomenon.
Renewable energy in the United States is at a crossroads. With several federal tax grants set to expire by the end of 2012, utilities are trying to decide if the falling prices of solar and wind technology makes renewable energy competitive enough to invest in despite vanishing federal aid.
Wind energy is becoming one of the most widely used sources of renewable energy. In fact, according to the American Wind Energy Association, the wind energy industry has added more than 35 percent of all the new power generating capacity since 2007. As the industry grows in popularity, new developers continue to enter the market, and existing developers may likely expand their investments in wind farms.
Two reports out in the past week examine Europe's solar PV market in 2011, indicating slowing growth in the flagship countries and promise in some smaller regions for 2012 and beyond. Note that the data that follows is preliminary; final 2011 numbers won't be known until later in the first quarter, including some likely revisions thanks to a stronger-than-expected fourth quarter in several key regions (more on that below).
A recent report has generated lots of buzz by finding that as many as 50,000 jobs could be lost over the next three years if a 100 percent tariff is placed on Chinese solar panels. Yet from where I'm sitting, I see a far different number from the same report: The industry could add 15,000 jobs by 2014.
Twenty years ago, international leaders descended on Brazil to lay the groundwork for what would eventually become the Kyoto Protocol. This summer, a 20-member United Nations panel will once again head to Rio de Janeiro with an even more ambitious agenda.
Due to growing urbanization and resulting environmental threats, China has invested nearly US$50 billion annually into its renewable energy sector since 2009. China's five-year investment in environmental protection is on track to reach 3.1 trillion yuan (US$454 billion). By 2015, its environmental protection industry is expected to top 2 trillion yuan (US$317 billion).
Nine years from now, in early 2022, the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard will have reached its intended target, 36 billion gallons of biofuel blended into the U.S. domestic auto and truck fuel supply.
Concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) is an upcoming renewable market that promises to provide cost-effective power generation at high levels of efficiency. The performance of a CPV system is dependant on the direct normal irradiance (DNI). Because of this major performance parameter, the number of regions ideal for CPV system installations is limited. According to Prof. Humayun Mughal, the potential market destinations based on DNI for the CPV technology are Southwest US, Mexico, Chile, Southern Peru, Southwest Bolivia, Northwest Argentina, and Mediterranean countries, Australia, North Africa, Middle East, Western India and Western China.
With developers having made their final end-of-year push through the last day of December, the January ritual of announcements concerning new projects entering commercial operation and new PPAs kicking in continued this week.
Earlier this month, I attended EUCI’s Utilizing Clean Power Development Conference in Philadelphia. The conference attracted a variety of large institutions (hospitals, municipalities, universities, etc.), developers, and financers to discuss the opportunity and challenges surrounding deployment of on-site renewable energy. Instit
North America is at an inflection point in managing organic materials. Just as paper, metal and plastics were the darlings of the recycling industry a couple decades ago, our society is defining a new relationship with organic materials: one that harnesses the full carbon, energy and nutrient potential of organics. In order to help shape that new relationship, industry leaders are cultivating North America's awareness and understanding of anaerobic digestion's features, benefits and potential role in society.