Renewable Energy Resources and Their Applications in the UK

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The renewable energy is filling the needs of
electrical industry. Renewable energy is
generated and distributed at domestic,
commercial and industrial level now. It has
exponentially growing potential and report
aims to develop such an awareness that
would help to adopt alternative resources of
energy
Renewable energy Systems
By: Student name

Contents
LO1 Explore potential renewable energy resources, including current storage and generation
technologies.....................................................................................................................................3
 Solar energy..........................................................................................................................3
 Wind energy..........................................................................................................................4
 Hydro energy........................................................................................................................5
 Tidal energy..........................................................................................................................6
 The adoption rate of Hydro energy.......................................................................................7
Recommendations....................................................................................................................8
 Adoption rate of tidal energy................................................................................................8
Recommendations....................................................................................................................9
LO2 Determine the optimum combination and efficiencies of renewable energy technologies for
a particular location.........................................................................................................................9
 Connection with Local bodies..............................................................................................9
Hydro power distribution with local bodies.............................................................................9
Tidal energy distribution with local bodies............................................................................10
 How renewable energy will work in Remote are and its benefit........................................11
 Location in UK and efficiencies of renewable energy resources.......................................12
 Designing a solar system for three bedrooms property......................................................13
 Contrast the installation and construction costs of all available renewable energy............14
 Conduct a cost–benefit critical analysis to determine the most viable option between all
available renewable and conventional energy sources..............................................................14
LO4 Explain socio-economic, legislative and environmental factors involved in the consideration
and selection of other approaches to renewable energy resources and technologies....................14
 Socio - economic................................................................................................................15
 Legislative factor................................................................................................................15
 PESTLE Analysis and possible sources of conflicts of interest.........................................15
 Effective environmental analysis of alternative approaches to the selection of renewable
energy resources.........................................................................................................................16
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................16
References......................................................................................................................................18

List of figures
Figure 1 Schematic diagram of solar system...................................................................................4
Figure 2 Schematic diagram of Wind energy system.....................................................................5
Figure 3 Schematic diagram of Hydro energy system.....................................................................6
Figure 4 Schematic diagram of Tidal energy system......................................................................7
Figure 5 Adoption rate of hydro energy system..............................................................................8
Figure 6 Hydro power distribution with local bodies....................................................................10
Figure 7 Tidal energy distribution with local bodies.....................................................................11

LO1 Explore potential renewable energy resources, including
current storage and generation technologies
 Solar energy
The given schematic diagram in the form of flow chart is showing the complete process of
solar renewable energy generation system. In this process, the solar energy is generated by the
Photovoltaic (PV) cells. Photovoltaic cells absorb the sun rays and generate voltage and current
in miner amount. PV cells are made of silicon and having circuit voltage up to 0.6 V. The
combination of silicon cells in excessive amount makes the suitable voltage range and current
accordingly. Practically, 330 watt panels have open circuit voltage near 38.3 V and their current
rating is near about 8.33 A. These panels are designed for the 24 volt system, so their open
circuit voltage is about 30V. After getting sun rays solar charge controller are used to regulate
these voltage up to usable value and that that usable value is according to the battery terminals.

Figure 1 Schematic diagram of solar system
 Wind energy
The primary source for execution of this this renewable technology is “air flow” and
primary components is turbine. This turbine is directly driven by a “driven train”; so this flow is
used to drive the train and two things are attached with this rotor too. One is stator and second
one is rotor that collectively form a electricity generator. They both rotate in a specific direction
and produce the magnetic flux. This flux is used to produce the electricity. This electricity is
distributed among the different grid stations, later, after turbine’s connection with local system.
In the grid station, the distribution process is done and heavy lines distributes the electrical
energy among the users. The schematic diagram is drawn in the form of a process layout, below,
to describe operation of this renewable technology (Tock, 2010).
Sun Sun spread light at panels
Combination
of Solar
panels
Mono crystalline panels
Solar
Charger
Pwm or MPPT solar charger
Grid Tie
Inverter
Connection with the grid
Utility or
Load.
Load capacity

Figure 2 Schematic diagram of Wind energy system
 Hydro energy
In the electricity generation process of hydro energy, the turbine rotates from the flow of
water. For this purpose, the dam is constructed or a reservoir is made artificially to store potential
energy in the form of water. The other parts of all this this technology or process are surge tank
and valve regulator. Surge tank is such a system which is used to store the water; will be used to
maintain water pressure on turbine blades. The surge tank is just like a big water tank in any
premises that stores water to be use in emergency scenario. After the surge tank, valves are used
to control the water. The penstock is used to maintain the pressure of water to rotate the turbine.
Through this turbine, the electricity is generated and then distributed to the end users.
Wind source
Drive train
Turbine for electricity
production
Grid station
Distribution process
Users

Figure 3 Schematic diagram of Hydro energy system
 Tidal energy
The tidal energy has same primary source as the hydro but the methodology of rotating
turbine is totally changed which make them unique. The generation process or energy conversion
process is clearly shown in the form of “schematic diagram” below, where each block of diagram
is showing individual component or process of system. Under the ocean or river water, near sea
bed, turbine blades are fixed and with the tidal flow (at the time of high tides due to moon
gravitational pull) these turbines rotate and generate electricity. This generated electricity, then,
is send to power grid substation to regulate it to transmit in main national grid or use locally.
Reservoir Surge Tank Valve
Pen stockTurbine
Electricity
generation

Figure 4 Schematic diagram of Tidal energy system
 The adoption rate of Hydro energy
According to research, Hydro energy system is the world’s largest source of
renewable energy that has been adopted so far. Moreover regarding future, prediction about its
growth is very high up till now. In simple words, prospect of growth is very charming. It is
producing the 16 percent of world electricity and the whole capacity which is installed, by now,
is about 1200 GW. This renewable energy is already adopted by the world in a large quantity.
The countries especially China and Brazil are developing the dams on very large scale; not only
this, micro hydro power plants are also trendy in these areas. The adoption rate and growth of the
hydro power capacity is given below. In this graph, it is revealed that how the energy capacity
will be used in future efficiently.
Drive Train
Generator
Power Grid Station
Distribution
Electricity user

Figure 5 Adoption rate of hydro energy system
Recommendations
According to my recommendation, for hilly stations hydro renewable energy is the best
option because the water is available in excessive amount there. And the flow of water will be
perfect to rotate the turbines. There is much more to support “the recommendations” like if the
dam would be constructed in hilly areas then many other associative industries like cement
industry would get benefits. Dams, indirectly, would help to improve economic conditions of any
nation and also would improve GDP ratio too.
 Adoption rate of tidal energy
This energy has been adopted by the many countries by now, but not at that scale at
which other energies are being adopted. The reason behind this steady adoption of tidal energy is
told, in literature, the complex construction mechanism of power plant. However, The first large-
scale tidal energy project was started in 1966 with name “ La Rance tidal power station” . This

location is located in the North West France. The installed capacity of this tidal plant is 240 MW
and the total turbines installed there are 24. Similarly, other countries are also developing their
interest in it, like South Korea. Their installed number of turbines are 10 and they are producing
204 MW. In addition, the development has occurred in UK, in this regard, and the first marine
energy test was established in Orkney to get start of tidal energy generation. Considering all
these aspects, it has been analyzed that by 2050 world would have been adopted tidal energy in
their top five energy sources. We are expecting an exponential rise, now, in this technology
adoption.
Recommendations
Tidal energy system is renewable energy system; basically, it is a type of hydro energy
system (as per different analysts) and this energy system is suitable for the area where sea
batches are easily as well as abundantly available. This selection of site or location, i.e. sea
beaches, would be very effective to create the ripples and vibration under the deep sea. In the
hilly stations this energy would also be very helpful for the people who are living there, because
rivers flow has tremendous vibration there. In contrast, in plan areas, rivers have smooth flow or
without might tides.
LO2 Determine the optimum combination and efficiencies of
renewable energy technologies for a particular location
 Connection with Local bodies
Hydro power distribution with local bodies
In this renewable energy system; firstly, the generation process completes and then from
the grid station, the distribution process starts. In the distribution process, the heavy transmission
lines are used to transfer the electricity from one region to another region. The local receivers of

this energy system are local businessmen, residential habitants, and offices etc. Government has
distributed the cost of energy units in a totally different way; for instance units for home users
have lower cost while the units for commercial users have high cost. Mostly hydro renewable
power generation plants distribute their electricity to the larger community and they are just
dedicated for those communities. These plants are not specifically recommendable for the home
or micro hydro system. In UK, large amount of hydro power plants are generating the capacity
and filling the necessary need of electricity. The total hydro power capacity is 4600 megawatts.
In this installed capacity, the electricity produced by the pump storages based systems is also
included (Twidell, 2015).
Figure 6 Hydro power distribution with local bodies
Tidal energy distribution with local bodies
In this renewable system the distribution process, after connection with grid lines, is
the same as was for the previous case. However, its connections and locations will be according
to the production and environment respectively. From the deep see or river, turbine is rotated by

its primary source which is tidal blades; these blades are set in a specific direction where it could
move easily with the flow of water. In the local bodies, then, this tidal energy is distributed to
property owners, local governments, developers and designers. This energy is distributed through
grid stations or sub stations that are made for this specific purpose which make the distribution
easy for the local communities. The load is distributed according to the load consumption
requirements of area. The electricity, stepped up using step-up transformers after tidal turbines, is
transferred using HVT or high voltage transmission lines and then transformers are used to step
it down.
Figure 7 Tidal energy distribution with local bodies
 How renewable energy will work in Remote are and its benefit
In remote areas, the renewable energy has very unique benefits like due to installation of
renewable energy systems the environment will become clean because all renewable energies are