Solar power has a bright future

Encouraged by the success of the solar water heating system in the dairy unit, a training workshop on solar hot water systems was held at Greenmount Campus recently which attracted a large attendance. During the workshop, a wide range of topics were covered, including the principles of solar hot water systems, their place on the farm and in the home, the payback time, the grant funding available and the impact of the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive.  

The workshop included a tour of the solar hot water system at the Greenmount dairy unit.  This system was installed in the autumn of 2009 to investigate the potential of solar power to reduce energy bills.   Before the solar system was installed it took 48 kWh of electricity a day to heat the water for the twice daily hot wash for the milking plant.  This reduced to a daily average of just 17 kWh, giving a financial saving of over £1,700 per year on electricity bills.

Solar systems of this type should last around 25 years and they have a low maintenance cost and low operating costs.  They are especially appropriate for the dairy farmer and have other applications in the agricultural and horticultural sectors, as well as in the home.  Two further workshops are planned, on 6 March in Armagh and 13 March in Omagh.

Solar hot water technology is just one of the renewable technologies that will be discussed at the “Practical On-farm Renewable Energy” event at Enniskillen Campus on Wednesday 22 February.  Other topics covered will include the wind power, anaerobic digestion, biomass production and utilisation, hydro power, solar PV and heat pumps.  There will also be a series of seminars dealing with some of the issues faced when considering a renewable energy installation on the farm.  The subjects covered include grid connection, obtaining planning permission, the upcoming Renewable Heat Incentive, Renewable Obligation Certificates, funding, finance and business planning.  

For further information contact David Trimble at david.trimble@dardni.gov.uk or at (028) 9442 6682.

David Trimble discussing the performance of solar vacuum tubes with Reggie and Ryan Jamieson from Trillick and Mark Kelly from Beragh.