RENEWABLE ENERGY
Cost crunch
Dr Jovana Radulovic , Head of the University ’ s School of Mechanical and Design Engineering , says an increasing number of people are struggling to keep up with the cost of running their homes .
With gas price hikes , it is estimated that one in eight households can ’ t afford heating costs , but Professor Gaterell says it ’ s not just heating that ’ s an issue . As the climate changes , he says cooling homes will be just as crucial for people ’ s health .
“ Energy poverty is a real thing ,” says Dr Radulovic who is taking a dual approach to alleviating the pressure . On one hand , she is investigating engineering solutions , and on the other , she is working with local municipalities to demonstrate the economic case for renewables .
The ubiquitous gas boiler has traditionally been cheap to run but , as prices spiral and the UK strives to meet its net zero energy targets , alternatives are needed .
As part of the SOLARISE project , and in collaboration with local councils , Dr Radulovic is advocating for the installation of photovoltaic panels on council housing , allowing residents to generate their own power and reduce reliance on the grid .
“ The councils we are working with can see their constituents are struggling . To avoid energy poverty , they are looking at different ways to help them ,” she says . “ Installing solar panels is a no-brainer because they are a cost-effective solution .”
Dr Radulovic says part of the project is to assess the cost-benefit of replacing gas boilers with either heat pumps or electric boilers , depending on the size of the dwelling . To further reduce the environmental impact of heat pumps , she is working with industry to design new compressor systems and components suitable for new ‘ green fluids ’ that have been developed to replace environmentally damaging refrigerants that are being phased out around the world .
Collaborating with industry and local government ensures her research helps create change on the ground : “ Unless my research penetrates into the real , commercial world , then it is knowledge for knowledge ’ s sake . We want to see impact .”
Storage solutions
Among her wide research interests , Dr Radulovic is looking at storage options for renewable energy for the home – and this means going beyond the current thinking around batteries . She worries that as demand grows , a proliferation of batteries will create its own recycling challenge . She points out that while batteries support renewable energy , their components are finite . “ We simply won ’ t have enough raw materials to support all uses .”
To illustrate alternatives , she is developing a domestic thermal storage system for solar-generated power using wax . She explains that as the wax warms , it melts , absorbing and storing the heat . It can then be cooled on demand and , as it solidifies , the heat , or energy , is released . “ This low-grade heat can be used in industrial processes , but it could be used to heat homes or provide hot water ,” she says .
The hydrogen-based technologies that Dr Roy is working on also offer an alternative to batteries by storing renewably generated energy in the form of hydrogen gas .
He describes hydrogen as a “ freedom fuel ”, transforming free power from the sun and rainfall into energy use for the home .
Dr Roy envisages a time when hydrogen will be produced through a self-contained system in homes – solar energy feeding into an electrolyser that separates hydrogen ( and an oxygen by-product )
Fast fact :
Hydrogen has very high energy content by weight . It exists in enormous quantities in water , hydrocarbons , and other organic matter . Hydrogen can be produced from fossil fuels , biomass and water electrolysis using wind , solar or grid electricity . The environmental impact and energy efficiency of hydrogen depends on how it is produced .
50 ISSUE 04 / 2022