4 popular renewable energy sources for private homes
On-site energy production allows property owners to be independent from the rising electricity prices and helps avoid both energy transfer fees and taxes. In addition to these direct savings in operating expenses, it can also enhance the building’s market value and/or cash flow parameters (e.g. rents, rental growth rate, occupancy ratio, depreciation and yield) of the property. On-site energy production would allow allow people to live in remote areas if they wish to do so.
Solar power
Solar power has been used for different purposes for thousands of years. People have used sunlight to light fires with glass materials and used sun as the main determinant in architecture to harness the warmth of sunlight. The harness of energy from the sun with solar panels via silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells could be said officially happened in 1954. Therefore, it is one of the newest ways of renewable energy production.
Solar power now the most popular choice for home owners. The industry for solar power is developing quickly, competition is increasing, prices are decreasing and technologies are constantly becoming more efficient. Solar energy in Europe is expected to represent at least 36% of the total electricity production by 2050, which is a major increase from the 5% in 2021.
- Life-span of solar panels: 20-30 years
- Pay-off period: approx. 10 years (longer pay-off period with energy storage)
- Main benefits: Easy to install
- Main disadvantages: Contingency, initial cost
Biomass
Biomass is the oldest source of energy on earth and is still an important source of energy due its availability. It is anything that is plant based that could be burnt.
Biomass at private homes usually includes wood and wood residues or products from residues, such as wood pellets. It is theoretically (if managed responsively and sustainably) carbon neutral since it is a natural part of photosynthesis and it releases the same amount of carbon into the atmosphere as was absorbed by plants in the course of their life cycle.
Biomass has a great benefit of offering complete independence if it is available. Unlike the sun, wind or water, people can control its use at all times. It is and will be an important source of energy.
- Life-span of a fireplace: can be 100+ years
- Life-span of a furnace (local central heating system): 20+ years
- Pay-off period: Difficult to calculate, depends on the quality and type of choice (fireplace or furnace). 1-5 years estimate.
- Main benefits: Easy to install (into a new house), availability of biomass
- Main disadvantage: Comfort
Wind power
Wind power has been used since people discovered that putting sail into the wind can take their boats from A to B much quicker. Besides that, wind has been the primary source of energy for machines that have ground grain and pumped water to feed and grow the human population.
With the development of electricity, wind found a new application to power remote, off-grid households. It is still in use for private homes, but when comparing wind power to other renewable sources, certain things need to be considered:
- Average wind speed should at least 4 meters per second on average for wind turbines to make sense 2.
- It should be considered if turbines bother others (people with noise and birds with their lifestyle). This might also determine if a building licence is given for the wind turbine.
- At the moment, installing turbines which would produce between 1,5kW to 15 kW of wind power per year, can cost from €10,000 – €50,000. Wind turbines also require maintenance that should be added to the cost.
- Life-span of wind turbines: 20-30 years
- Pay-off period: starting from 15 year
- Main benefit: Could be a good option for hybrid systems (see below)
- Main disadvantages: Sound and contingency
Hydropower
Hydropowr uses the natural flow of moving water to generate electricity or historically, was used to power machines. Similarly to wind power, water has also played an important role in powering mills that have produced food and other materials (sawmills, textile mills etc). Today, hydropower is the largest renewable energy source that generates about 15% of global electricity.
Hydropower could be a valid option for a some owner if there is running water available (especially if it runs fast). There are some things that should be taken into account:
- Environmental impact checks and fees
- Initial investment (can start from €10,000 for a micro-hydropower plant installed)
- Life-span: approximately 30 years
- Pay-off period: 5 – 10 years. This can go up and down based on the size and location of the plant
- Main benefit: Could be a good option for hybrid systems (see below)
- Main disadvantage (if water is available): Complexity of installation, flow of water, initial cost
Hybrid systems
Solar-biomass hybrid system: The energy need in the summer is typically fulfilled by solar power, whereas solar contingency problems during the winter could be balanced via biomass usage.
Wind-solar hybrid system: wind speeds are lower in the summer whereas it is stronger in the winter when less sunlight is available. Because the peak operating times for wind and solar systems occur at different times of the day and year, wind-solar hybrid systems could provide the necessary energy supply at all times. This applies especially for off-grid homes.
Solar – hydro hybrid system: Due to lower water levels during the summer, hydropower is less available during the summer. Frozen rivers during the winter might also be a problem, whereas the autumn and spring months can produce more hydro energy.
Solar-hydro-wind-biomass: A combination of 3 or even 4 energy sources can also be an option and can offer a reliable system of energy production. Whether it makes sense or not should be calcultated in detail.