When we think of renewable energy, we often think of enormous structures such as wind or solar farms. But it is important to know that some of these systems, such as installation of solar panelscan be implemented on a small scale and be the energy source of a home or small business.
This has several advantages. The first of these is of course economic. Because after its installation, which can be expensive but easily depreciated, the cost of producing electricity is virtually zero. And if you choose installation of solar panelsthe excess electricity generated can be sold to the electricity grid.
From an environmental point of view, renewable energy sources are much less polluting. During their combustion or transformation they emit little or no greenhouse gases (greenhouse gases). Therefore, the use of renewable energy, unlike fossil fuels (gas, oil, coal), is sustainable and ecological.
When looking for options we have several options. One of the most in-demand renewable energy sources for a home or small business is the implementation of a heat pump system installation of solar panels or the use of biomass.
heat pumps
The thermal heat pump uses geothermal energy and does this by using sensors buried at different depths in the ground that can capture calories, which are sent to the pump thanks to a heat transfer fluid (calorie transporter). This compresses the liquid and converts it into heat to warm or heat domestic water.
Air-to-air and air-to-water heat pumps use two units (one internal and one external) to capture external heat and heat rooms and/or to heat water for sanitary use. This system uses aerothermal energy.
Before installing a thermal or aerothermal heat pump, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the site conditions. If you are considering a thermal heat pump, you will need to know the geothermal gradient of the location, which should be measured by professionals.
In the case of the aerothermal heat pump, technicians will take into account factors such as the local climate (the warmer it is, the greater the energy efficiency of the system) and previous installations (underfloor heating, heating panels, etc.).
Advantages
- Produce heat continuously.
- It can heat the entire house and generate hot water for an entire family.
- Although the installation price is high, the heat pump quickly pays for itself.
- It is durable and uses very little electricity (essential for the condenser and fan).
Use of biomass
There are two options: heating with wood and a pellet stove. The first is old and well-known, but today, in addition to the typical wood stove that heats the environment, there are biomass boiler systems that conduct heat through pipes and allow the use of wood that is no longer necessary for this purpose. The pellet stove system is similar, but more compact and differs in the material used to produce heat and heat domestic water.
The biomass boiler can work with different types of combustion agents:
- solid biomass: wood fragments, stubble or sawdust.
- biomass from the agricultural world: liquid manure or straw.
- “fermentable” biomass: manure or sewage sludge.
The pellet stove requires a special type of biomass, which comes from waste from the wood industry, agriculture, etc.
Advantages
- It is ecological, because it works with renewable energy, unlike boilers that use fuel that generate enormous amounts of CO2.
- It’s economical.
- It offers good energy efficiency and pleasant warmth.
The disadvantage is that the wood boiler system is bulky and its installation must be carried out under certain conditions, as storage space for biomass will be required.
And for the wood boiler and pellet stove to function, raw materials must be purchased, so the energy is not free as with the installation of solar panels or the use of heat pumps.
The use of solar energy
The principle of solar energy is simple: we convert the energy or heat from the sun into electricity. And we are talking about renewable energy, free, inexhaustible and available everywhere in the world. To take advantage of this, you must have a installation of solar panelsof which there are two types.
Solar panels or photovoltaic panels heat using the sun’s energy. This is next to the installation of solar panels Professionals install an inverter and a meter on the roof or rooftop.
The inverter is an electronic device that converts the energy captured by the panels into alternating current that is compatible with the electricity grid. The meter will in turn measure the amount of power injected into the network. The electricity produced can be used for self-consumption or stored in batteries.
You can also choose the installation of solar panels thermal, which convert solar energy into heating and hot water, thanks to the presence of a heat transfer fluid. The heat, once in the liquid, passes through a heat exchanger to heat the water. The latter are then stored in a hot water tank and used for drinking water at home or for heating.
Solar energy, like other renewable energy sources, can meet all or part of the energy needs of a home or small business. Before the installation of solar panelsit is necessary for a professional to calculate the number of panels required to meet the energy generation expectations of each location.
Advantages
- The installation of solar panels It is a bit expensive, but pays for itself quickly and requires minimal maintenance.
- It is renewable, free and non-polluting energy.
- Despite being cyclic, it can be supplemented with batteries and achieve total energy independence.
Renewable energy is the solution
Although there are other options that also use renewable energy to produce electricity, such as mini wind turbines or combined systems, these are the options that are most in demand on the market because they are truly sustainable and ecological.
Every situation is different and in any case it is necessary to conduct preliminary research before investing in any system. But according to experts, the installation of solar panels It is the one that proves to be the most successful, because it is versatile, environmentally friendly and because, compared to the initial investment, it is the one with the greatest profitability.