RENEWABLE ENERGY
Renewable power deployment needs to increase from 29 % in 2020 to more than 60 % in 2030 for the world to be on target for net zero emissions by 2050 .
SOURCE : INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY ( IEA )
And a row of Victorian terrace houses could be thought of as one whole dwelling rather than individual dwellings , so external walls can be insulated : “ It ’ s about appropriate technology for different housing and helping occupants understand what the most appropriate solutions are for their situation ,” he says .
Professor Gaterell also adds a dollop of reality to his expectations in that while simulation software provides valuable insights , a building ’ s energy performance ultimately comes down to people ’ s behaviour within it .
Building user behaviour can be contradictory , for example , leaving the radiator on while having the window open to let some fresh air in .
Real-world solar
At the University of Portsmouth campus , an old caretaker ’ s cottage has been transformed into a living laboratory to provide insights to researchers and the public about how solar energy works in the real world . Adapted to look like a typical British home using an average amount of energy for its size , it has shown that with solar panels teamed with a smart battery , it draws almost no electricity from the grid in spring and summer .
Nearby , the five-storey
Future Technology Centre is using its own windows and rooftop photovoltaic panels to generate electricity . When coupled with a bank of three Tesla batteries , the system produces enough energy on sunny days for the batteries to power the building into the evening .
These facilities are part of the SOLARISE project – a consortium of universities , local governments and industry that aims to encourage the wider use of solar energy , particularly for low-income families in the 2 Seas * region , including southern England , northern France , Belgium and the Netherlands .
Demonstrating technology in a realworld context gives people confidence in renewables says Professor Becerra , the University ’ s Principal Investigator on the SOLARISE project . Open days at the facilities allow visitors to see the technology in action and obtain information on the benefits of solar power .
Financial analysis shows that with the recent rise in electricity prices , solar panels would pay for themselves within seven years , he says . “ So , you can have a system that significantly reduces your electricity bills and carbon footprint , plus you can recover the investment in a relatively short period .”
In the face of rising power prices , Professor Gaterell says people ’ s increased awareness about how they use energy and the savings that renewables can bring is a positive step . “ There are lots of people who are going to be hugely impacted by increased cost , but if price rises focus our attention on the nature of our consumption , that ’ s helpful in the long run .”
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