Renewable Energy
Introduction
With the increase in energy costs over recent years, the pool faces a common problem in
wanting to decarbonise our operations to help reduce our carbon footprint while benefitting
from reduced energy costs. Doing so aids the key goal within the Scottish government strategy
to cut greenhouse gas emissions to achieve net zero emissions by 2045.
Air Source Heat Pumps
The working principle of an Air Source heat pump is that a thermodynamic cycle based on the compression
and expansion of circulating fluids and uses electricity to extract heat from an ambient heat
source (external air) and transfer this to a heat sink at a higher temperature. Heat pumps offer
very high efficiencies, referred to as a Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP). For example,
a SCOP of 3 would mean that for every 1kW of electricity input to a heat pump, there would be
3kW of heat output. Therefore, they offer significant fuel savings compared with other electric
heating options. The carbon footprint of a heat pump is therefore proportionate to the carbon
intensity of the electricity input. Heat pumps are therefore viewed as a low carbon alternative
to fossil fuels for heating and, if the electricity is sourced wholly from renewable generation,
then heat pumps offer a zero-carbon option.
After a fesibility study Air Source was determind to be the best choice for our pool. These were installed this year and so far are proving to be more efficent than the gas system both in energy costs and comfort for all our bathers.
Solar Panels
Solar PV has the advantage over wind technology in that it is less contestable from a planning
perspective due to it not being as visible from a far distance and does not have the same
restrictions regarding proximity to residential property or other buildings. Design, construction,
installation and commissioning of solar plants is considerably less complex than wind energy
projects. Timescales for construction are therefore much shorter, though relies on achieving a
grid connection.
Following a feasibilty study we have 200 solar panels on the south side of our roof. Access to the grid was a challenge, however now these panels provide most of our electricity during the day depending on the weather. Our aim now is to install battery back up so we can run day and night on the electricity we have generated.
We are really excited about seeing their full potential over the next year as we collect the data.
