With dwindling sources of fossil fuels and the building momentum of bad press, there has never been a better time to turn to renewable energy sources. In fact, experts predict that the demand for clean and renewable energy shall rise by eight percent every year until 2030; this is excellent news for anyone thinking about breaking into the renewable energy market.
But what renewable energies are there?
The primary source of renewable energy that you may of heard of is solar power. By using the energy that is released by the sun, photovoltaic panels (otherwise known as PV) and solar thermal panels absorb this radiation and convert it into electricity or heat.
Photovoltaic panels are a great source of renewable energy, as they release absolutely no emissions whilst they are working. Although most people presume that the panels only work whilst it is sunny, the great news is that during cloudy periods, the panels still receive defused radiation from the sun meaning that they work in all types of weather. A typical 4kWp system can save the average household £980 a year on bills, meaning that over their lifetime they can pay for themselves over and over again which is a brilliantly unique selling point.
Solar thermal panels work in a similar way to PV panels but instead they convert energy from the sun and use it to heat water and heating systems in the house. With an average lifespan of around twenty years, they can save the average household around £50-£80 per year on bills and could save around 510kg of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere every year.
Also fighting on the front lines of renewable energy are heat pumps and wind turbines.
Heat pumps work by absorbing heat either through the air or the ground and taking that energy to the heating or hot water systems in a building. They are also excellent ways of saving money on bills. Wind turbines are also excellent sources of renewable energy as they convert the energy given off via the wind. A typical 10kW turbine could give up to 45,000 kWh of energy per year, that’s the equivalent revenue of up to £14,000!
Now that you know a little bit about all the different types of renewable energy it’s now time to find out how you can get involved.
Throughout the four corners of the United Kingdom, there are specialised training centres where you can train through practical courses on how to evaluate, install and maintain different types of renewable energy. Most centres even have City & Guilds approved qualifications that you can earn whilst you are there.
One of the leading centres for this is the Ploughcroft Centre of Excellence. Here you can partake in some of the leading Ploughcroft solar courses where you are given speciality training in solar power. With courses specialised for experienced plumbers, roofers and electricians, you’ll be working hand in hand with some of the leading experts in the renewable energy field.
Now more than ever, experienced roofers are looking to branch out into the renewable energy market and with training centres all across the United Kingdom, it has never been easier to achieve this. Ploughcroft has been in the roofing world for over fifteen years and the renewable energy market for over seven, yet despite this being a relatively short period of time, the company has grown into one of the countries leading renewable energy companies.
With $260 billion invested into renewable energy in the United States alone last year, and the demand for clean energy outstripping that of fossil fuels for the first time in history; the future is not only bright but its accessible to everyone. Take a look across what training centres are available today to make sure that you don’t miss out.
