Feed in Tariffs, abbreviated FITs, make it profitable for homes, businesses and communities to invest in the micro generation of electricity. Every unit of electricity produced is paid for as well as an extra payment is made for power which is exported to the grid. This makes a triple saving, as households can generate their own free electricity, for their own use while getting paid for it, and then any surplus can be sold to an electric company. The government hopes the scheme will help to reduce carbon emissions and make the United Kingdom less dependent on fossil and nuclear fuels.
FITs will encourage the installation of wind turbines and solar panels, for the production of electricity by households or communities. Payments for electricity are guaranteed under the scheme if the electricity has been produced using a renewable means. On the 1st of April 2010 these tariffs were first made available from the big six suppliers of electricity in the UK, excluding Northern Ireland.
Smart building design combined with micro power generation
A lot of energy is wasted through poor insulation in buildings. Drafty windows and doors can increase energy bills. Investing financially in a home or businesses insulation and renewable energy generation can give a return of between five to eight percent on the capital invested. 41.3 pence is paid for every unit of renewable energy generated and 3 pence for power exported to the grid. This can be better than money in the bank and a sounder investment than putting savings into some insecure financial institutions.
Building materials, such as stone, can be utilized in the house to absorb heat which can then be released when it is needed during the cooler times of the day or the evening. Windows can be installed in a direction to face the sun's warm rays to increase the amount of heat that is absorbed by the building naturally. Low energy bulbs and appliances can be used to reduce the power consumption.
These measures when combined with a ground source heat pump to supply the buildings heating and hot water needs, as well as photo voltaic cells to produce electricity can create a saving of almost sixty percent of the energy cost of the average household. This is a substantial saving of money, carbon output and nuclear fuel.
Why the government is committed to feed in Tariffs
The government is legally bound to increase renewable energy in the UK by fifteen percent of the total energy produced by the year 2020. This is up thirteen percent of the two percent that was required in 2009. Encouraging citizens to become micro electricity generators of renewable energy is a key to reaching this target.
A lot of power is lost through transmission over large distances through the grid. This is a waste of environmentally unfriendly resources such as fossil and nuclear fuels which are used to produce this electricity. A large number of micro generators will create a network of "green electricity" which is delivered more efficiently. This system will use the electricity where it is generated eliminating the need for it to be transmitted over large distances.
Who is eligible for these tariffs?
All renewable generators which produce no more than five megawatts of electricity and are approved under the Micro Certification Scheme (MCS) are eligible to receive the tariffs. This makes homes, schools, farms, hospitals, nursing homes, churches, offices, businesses and many others all able to claim these savings in England, Scotland and Wales.
The Micro Certification Scheme is linked with the feed in Tariffs and they work together hand in hand. The Micro Certification Scheme covers technologies which use wind energy, small scale hydro, biomass and solar photovoltaic to generate electricity. A company which is MCS certified will be able to install these generators making the electricity produced immediately eligible for tariff payments.
Household wind turbines can be installed where weather conditions supply a steady wind all year round. These turbines generate a DC current which is converted into an AC current by an inverter so it can be used by existing household lights and appliances. A wind turbine can be connected to the national electricity grid or a battery.
A small micro hydroelectric system can be installed where there is a constant flow of water from a nearby stream or river. These systems usually produce enough electricity to supply power to the average house.
Solar voltaic cells produce a direct current from the sun's rays which is converted by an inverter into an alternating current for the home and the grid. The technology of these cells has improved over recent years making them more efficient even in cloudy weather and reducing their cost.
The benefits
Energy bills are predicted to rise by up to sixty percent by the energy regulator. Producers are guaranteed an income through the government's payback period for the next twenty five years. Installing a micro generator will safe guard against future increases in energy bills as well as providing a continuous flow of electricity in time of emergency.
Instability in oil producing countries can stop the flow of oil at any time. Natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis can damage power plants leaving a whole country in a nuclear crisis and without enough power. Producing your own heat and power will insure you have some electricity during times of emergency as well as creating extra power for others on the grid. The network of micro electricity generators will reduce the United Kingdom's dependency on fossil and nuclear fuel.
The carbon foot print of the UK will be reduced, decreasing the possibility of global warming. This could avert extreme weather conditions and save many lives. Green electricity will insure a cleaner healthier environment providing a better quality of life for everyone.
The feed in Tariffs is a positive scheme initiated by the government which could have long-lasting benefits for the United kingdom. The participation of household and businesses is essential to its success. This scheme promises to insure a better life for all mankind.
For feed in tariff rates and information please visit http://www.feedintariffsratesuk.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment