Working With Renewable Energy - Certification & Careers

How do you fancy getting into a job in a growing and technologically advancing industry? If you get trained and qualified in green engineering you can do just that! In just a few short months from now, you could be helping people in the UK or abroad to reduce the amount of CO2 they consume, and cut their energy bills considerably.

The cost of fuel is soaring as supplies become more finite. Our homes cost too much to run and keep warm, and they give off too much CO2. Western leaders are keen to encourage citizens to strive for greener alternatives to the more traditional methods.

In Britain grants of up to 80 per cent are being made available (and in some instances 100 per cent) to cover the labour costs of certain energy efficient improvements. This is both beneficial for the environment, and for the appropriately qualified tradesmen and women who can carry out the work.

And so it makes a lot of sense to add some training on renewable energy to any regular electrical or plumbing course you do. And if you are currently working in a domestic trade, you can take additional green courses to increase your skill-set.

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How Do We Define Green Technology?

Naturally renewable resources are being converted into usable energy because of developments in 'green' technology. So we can use sunshine, rain, wind and the tides to generate more power for ourselves. We've used wind and water for many years, but it's the sun that provides energy for many newer replenishable systems. Consequently there's a growing demand for green engineering work.

Solar Energy Systems

Solar water heating collectors absorb energy from the sun and convert it into hot water. The technology has been around for over 30 years, and now many sophisticated systems are available.

Working alongside regular water heaters, these systems can supply the majority of hot water that will be needed by a family during the warmer months of the year. Over the year as a whole, they should provide for approximately half their hot water needs.

There are various configurations for solar hot water systems, with either flat panel or evacuated tube collection systems.

Both are easy to install and maintain, and ideally should be fitted to a south facing roof.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels capture energy from the sun and use it to generate electricity. As with solar collectors that heat water, these cells need to be exposed to the most light and sun possible, so a south-facing roof is ideal. They also need an inverter to convert the direct current electricity to alternating current. The 'green electricity' that is created is then connected to the consumer unit within the property. Users of solar electricity will not only reduce their carbon footprint, they'll also cut their electricity bills by over a third. Anyone with a system that produces more electricity than the household consumes can automatically sell their excess to the national grid. In the UK energy companies by law have to pay agreed rates to householders per kilowatt hour of electricity, but this can vary depending on the tariff they're on. Some European governments have fixed 'feed-in tariffs' for many years, which has led to an increase in the number of systems purchased, and a reduction in the amount they cost.

Geothermal Heat

Geo-thermal energy is heat from the sun that's naturally stored in the earth. In order to extract the heat, 40mm geothermal pipe is installed into the ground, and fed with a fluid solution. The circulating solution collects the natural heat and takes it to the heat pump. Homes with underfloor heating will notice the biggest benefits that heat pumps can bring. If consumers choose a ground source heat pump system to replace electric radiators, they'll find the new system much more efficient.

Constantly Evolving

Typical training will give you a greater understanding of renewable energy and the careers you can pursue. You'll be taken through the basics of electrical and plumbing skills in the domestic market, before moving on to specific green technologies. Most courses will also deal with what government assistance is available and how people apply for it. Most of the domestic interest in the renewables market is focused on solar thermal solutions and heat pumps. It makes commercial sense to concentrate on these.

Green engineering training courses are developing all the time, as this exciting technology progresses. Additional options on certain courses could cover biomass, or grey and rainwater harvesting.

Working With Future Trends...

The law now dictates that all homes sold in Britain must supply the new owners with an Energy Performance Certificate to illustrate energy usage and where efficiencies can be made. Many assessments show huge savings could be made over a period of time if improved systems were installed. And up to 80 per cent of the cost of installation work can often be claimed from the government if owners have 'green' systems fitted by qualified professionals.

And that's not all. The UK government is aiming for fifteen percent of the country's energy to come from renewable sources by 2020.

The time is quickly coming when everyone will be looking for alternative energy solutions for their homes. Demand for skilled installers is about to soar!