Investigating Energy Transfers
- Before installing energy-saving devices in homes, it is important to be able to interpret and analyse data to help make an informed decision
- For photovoltaic cells (solar panels), the energy output depends on
- Construction i.e. the efficiency of the panels
- Location i.e. the average number of hours of sunshine
- For wind turbines, the energy output depends on
- Construction i.e. the efficiency of the turbines
- Location i.e. the average wind speed
Advantages of small-scale energy generation
- The advantages of small-scale energy generation are:
- No carbon dioxide is produced, so there is no contribution towards global warming
- Fuel costs are reduced, as less electricity needs to be bought from the National Grid
- Some electricity can be sold back to the National Grid
- The advantages of roof-top photovoltaics (solar panels) are:
- It is a source of ‘free’ electricity during daylight hours
- In the UK, peak power outputs of 3 kW of electricity can be generated
- The advantages of domestic wind turbines are:
- It is a source of ‘free’ electricity when the wind is blowing
- In the UK, peak power outputs of 6 kW of electricity can be generated
Disadvantages of small-scale energy generation
- The disadvantages of small-scale energy generation are:
- It can often provide an unreliable and unpredictable energy supply due to weather conditions
- Some electricity needs to be bought from the National Grid when generation is low
- Payback times can be long (>20 years)
- The disadvantages of roof-top photovoltaics (solar panels) are:
- Some people object to the visual impact of solar panels on roof-tops
- A large rooftop area or several panels are required to generate large amounts of electricity
- The disadvantages of domestic wind turbines are:
- Some people object to the visual and noise impacts of wind turbines
- Most locations are not consistently windy enough to generate large amounts of electricity
