Renewable Energy Options for Business & Industry

• Building design. In commercial buildings, passive cooling, ventilation and daylighting techniques are as important as designing for maximum heat gains (which is the emphasis of passive solar design in the home). Buildings designed to create a comfortable working environment with the minimum of artificial heating, cooling and lighting have lower energy costs and environmental impacts.
  
  
• Heat pumps. Ground source heat pumps are an ideal solution for heating and cooling in commercial buildings. These systems can collect or dispel heat energy through pipes buried just below the ground. Installation costs are similar to those of conventional heating systems; running costs are much lower.
  
  
• Solar panels. Solar collectors can be particularly economical for space or water heating in larger buildings. Solar panels can provide around 60 percent of the hot water requirements for homes and buildings. Active solar heating systems can provide economical hot water and space heating.
  
  
  
• Waste to energy. Many businesses produce substantial volumes of waste (e.g. wood waste in joineries and workshops) that could be harnessed to generate cheap heat or electricity or both. Benefits of waste to energy include energy cost savings and solutions to waste management and environmental problems. Dry wastes can be combusted or gasified to produce heat and/or power; wet wastes can be processed to biogas by anaerobic digestion.
  
  
• Biomass CHP (Combined Heat and Power) is a very common energy efficient technology used increasingly in industry worldwide. Biomass CHP uses renewable fuels derived from four main sources: forest residues, agricultural residues, waste and processing residues, and crop processing. Benefits include reduced energy costs, security against energy price fluctuations, a secure supply of energy, compliance with environmental legislation and improved profit margin. Suitable businesses will have access to wood or waste bi-products and high energy costs with simultaneous demand for heat and electricity on site.
  
  
• Electricity market liberalisation. The opening of the market for electricity generated from renewables from February 2000 presents a number of opportunities for businesses. Businesses will be able to generate electricity for their own use or for sale to other customers. Also, businesses will be able to choose to buy electricity from a renewable energy supplier at unregulated prices.
  
  
• Wind turbines. Businesses should invest in a wind turbine to contribute to their electricity supply.
  
  
• Biofuels. Biofuels fuels, derived from a variety of crops and wastes, can be blended with conventional vehicle fuels to produce a greener alternative. Using biofuels reduces CO2 emissions and the use of finite fossil fuels. Businesses involved in transport can significantly reduce their environmental impact by opting for blended fuels which are available in Ireland.