Severn Wye Energy Agency
Renewable Energy
Context
Renewable energy is derived from sources that are inexhaustible in human timescales. These sources include solar, wind, wave, biomass, tidal and geothermal. Interestingly, all 'deep green' renewable sources except tidal and deep geothermal are, in fact, derivatives of solar energy - the sun is the earth's primary energy source, ultimately driving all biological and meteorological processes. There are also several 'pale green' anthropogenic renewable sources, such as energy from waste and landfill gas.
Renewable energy encompasses a lot more than just electricity: space and water heating as well as transport and fuels are all part of the mix. The UK is committed to meeting up to 15% of its total energy needs through renewables (our share of the EU's overall 20% target by 2020), but presently, we remain a long way behind most other European nations.
Renewable energy exists at the large scale: examples include hydro dams, offshore wind farms, biomass power stations, concentrating solar power and tidal barrages. But it can also be deployed at very small scales - including at the domestic level - and several of SWEA's current projects involve assessing the suitability of renewable energy technologies at the community level.
Factsheets
SWEA has produced a number of simple factsheets illustrating the use of renewable energy at small scales. The documents linked below are all downloadable and printable PDFs:
Pellet Stove heating factsheet
Case Studies
The following provide illustrations of successful local projects, showing how small-scale renewable energy has benefited homes and communities in Gloucestershire and the region:
Multifuel biomass farm boiler - case study
Solar photovoltaics at Church Farm - case study
Domestic automated pellet boiler at Cleeve Hill - case study