FAQS

• Wind Energy FAQS
• Solar Energy FAQS
• Bio Mass Energy FAQS
• Wood Burning Energy FAQS
• Gasification Boilers FAQS
• Geothermal Energy FAQS 
• Under Floor Heating FAQS
• Bio Ethanol Fires FAQS
• Energy Saving Appliance FAQs
• Bio Fuel Supply FAQS
• Cleaning Products  FAQS

Wind Energy FAQS:

What is Wind Energy

 Wind energy is a method of harnessing the free energy all around us and converting it into usable energy through wind turbines.

Is my site windy enough?

Ireland is one of the windiest countries in Europe with great potential for producing wind energy. However there is no point placing a wind turbine in a highly populated area or an area of high wind turbulance. Contact us today to discuss your sites potential.

Do I need planning permission?

The department of the environment has made small scale generation from low-carbon sources exempt from planning permission. Hanley automation operates within the guideline of what is regarded as small scale generation.

What grants are available?

ESB Customer Supply is offering a new Micro-generation tariff of 9 cents per kWh for Residential Customers along with a further support payment of 10 cents per kWh. Meaning micro-generator operators recieve a combined total of 19 cents per kWh for the first 3,000 kWh exported annually. This payment will be made to the first 4,000 micro-generators connected in the next 3 years and will be paid over a 5 year period.

Grant assistance is also available for 40% of the cost of 50 trial units (of up to 50kW) countrywide. Applications are being accepted by Sustainable Energy Ireland.

How long does installation take?

The first step is to inform ESB Networks using the form NC6 (this can be downloaded from the ESB website).You must allow 20 working days for a reply with any concerns. If no response is recieved within 20 days you may proceed with installation. We aim to complete installation in one day.

What is the environmental and visual impact of the turbine?

Because there are no batteries used in the turbines operation there is no pollution. The turbines are not very large with a pole height of under 10 meters and a blade diameter of just over one meter they do not impose greatly on the landscape.

Is the turbine noisy?

The turbine produces noise at a maximum level of 60 dB when you are right beside the device. 60 dB is considered to be the volume of normal conversation

What happens in high winds?

The turbine is fitted with certain safety features which come into effect in high winds. When the wind exceeds 12.5 m/s the turbine tail tilts orientating the turbine almost diagonally to the wind and forcing the turbine to slow down. Once wind speeds reach 15 m/s a brake is applied to the system to prevent damage to the turbine.

What happens during a power cut?

For safety reasons the sytem shuts down and self starts when power resumes

Ferngreen Wind Turbines PDF >>>

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Solar Energy FAQS 

 In this section we will try and answer some of the common questions about solar panels and solar heating. Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions.

How much energy can solar water heaters supply?

A 6.0m2 flat plate solar water heater from Pure Energy Technology can provide up to 2,500 kilowatt-hours of energy annually. This is equivalent to having a 3KW hot water immersion heater switched on for almost 2 ½ hours EVERYDAY 365 days per year – a significant saving!  Ferngreen Solar can provide simulations using the Irish weather data to show the energy obtainable for any size of solar system.

Do solar water heaters work in Winter?

Yes, solar water heaters will heat water to a certain degree almost every day of the year. Even in December, a solar water installation can typically heat a 150-litre body of water from 8°C to approximately 20°C. Various factors can influence the amount of water a solar heater system can heat.

These are the ambient water temperature, the number of hours of light and the intensity of the light.

How much Hot Water can a solar water heater provide?

A solar water heating system can provide between 95 to 100% of all your hot water needs during the summer. In the Spring and Autumn, 60% -70% of the hot water usage can be provided and in winter this figure is 10-20%. The ideal installation will provide approximately 65% of the hot water needs on average annually. In addition, solar water heaters can heat water above 80°C. when the light is bright.

Does Ireland get enough solar energy to make solar water heaters viable?

Ireland has the solar energy equivalent to that of Paris. This energy is provided by both direct sunlight (40%) and indirect sunlight (60%).  This means that even when the sky is overcast, the sun's radiation (sunlight) is available at ground level and can be converted into useful heat by solar water heaters.

What are the running costs?

The running cost of solar water heaters is almost non-existent.  The only energy consumed by the whole system is a small circulation pump.  If the solar system was providing hot water to the hot water cylinder for 10 hours per day, every day of the week, then a typical circulation pump would cost approximately 20 cents per week to run.

SIZE AND PLACEMENT

What size solar water heating system should I install?

The number of occupants and their individual requirements determines the size of the solar water heating installation size.  A rule of thumb would be 1.5 m2 of flat plate collector per person or 0.8 m2 of CPC (Mirror reflector) vacuum tube per person.  Contact Ferngreen for assistance.

Where can I place solar water heaters?

Solar water heaters can be placed on a roof, on a wall, or on the Ground. The roof is the most common location used for solar since it is normally unused space and it keeps the panels away from used areas.  Wall mounting is often utilised if there is not enough suitable roof space.

What direction should solar water heaters face?

South-facing is best, but there is virtually no reduction in energy output from South-East to South-West. There can be as little as a 15% annual decrease if they face directly East or West when compared with South-facing installations.

Can they be fitted to an existing house?

Yes. In order to fit solar water heaters to an existing house some of the slates (or tiles) must be removed from the section of the roof where the panels will be situated.  Alternatively the panels can be mounted on a frame and placed at ground level outside the house, or on a suitable wall. The existing hot water cylinder can be used but it is often advisable to install a bigger one, with two heating coils.

HOT WATER CYLINDER

Is the type of hot water cylinder important?

Yes, in fact it is very important. It must be large, well insulated and must have two heating coils, one for solar and one for an alternative heating system.  Ferngreen Renewable Energy Center can supply suitable hot water cylinders.  The larger the cylinder, the more FREE hot water can be stored. The better the insulation, the longer the storage period.  Stainless steel cylinders are better than glass lined steel because stainless steel is maintenance free.

OPERATION

I have a Heat Pump.  Are solar water heaters of any use to me?

Yes, heat pumps and solar water heaters have different functions.  The primary function of a heat pump is to heat space but it can heat water cheaply, much cheaper than oil, but only to approximately 55°C.  Solar water heaters heat the water to full temperature virtually FREE and will do so for many decades with virtually no cost apart from the installation cost. Solar water heaters can heat water to 80°C and above.

Can I supplement my heating system using solar water heaters?

Yes, it is possible. However we don’t recommend this at least on the initial installation. Solar radiation reaches its maximum level in the Summer months when heating demand is at a minimum. The supply of solar energy falls to its minimum level in the Winter when heating demand is at a maximum.

Ferngreen believes that payback may be somewhat longer than with a system that is installed for domestic hot water purposes only. Supplementing a heating system with solar water heaters, in addition to providing domestic hot water means that the solar water installation will need to be significantly bigger. This increases the cost but, as is the case with providing domestic hot water, energy taken from the solar water system will essentially be at zero cost.

Is planning permission needed?

Planning permission is no longer required for solar installations on domestic buildings provided that the installation is 12m2 or less.  Further information can be found on the Department of the Environment website here.

What is the life span and warranty?

Solar water heaters have a long life span due to the lack of moving parts. The outer casing of the panels is made of aluminium, which does not degrade over time. The only moving part (i.e. more likely to wear and break) is the circulation pump that should last typically 10-15 years and is a common, low cost item that is easily replaced by any plumber or handyman. All Ferngreen Solar Panels have a 5 Year warrantee covering functionality.

Does the solar heating system require maintenance and do you provide maintenance contracts?

There is no need for maintenance contracts.  Solar systems are very reliable, fully automated and with few moving parts.  If a customer would like a maintenance contract, it can be arranged.

How much space do solar panels need?

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Bio Mass Energy FAQS 

Q. What are the environmental benefits of installing a biomass system?
A. The "net" carbon dioxide is emitted during biomass combustion is zero since amount of carbon dioxide emitted is equal to the amount absorbed from the atmosphere during the biomass growth phase.

Q. How much does it cost to install a biomass system?
A. The cost for boilers varies depending on the system choice and the size of the building. Wood pellet boilers tend to be more expensive than a manual log feed system of the same size.

Q. How much can I save on my energy bill?
A. Biomass energy systems can save you up to 50% on your heating bills, thus saving you money and improving your energy rating.

Q. Under what conditions should wood pellets be stored in?
A. It is important essential that the wood pellet must remain dry for the entire storage cycle as pellets tend to loose their effectivnesss and crumble and thus become unusable if they are exposed to moisture or damp surfaces.

Q. Do I need much space to store my wood pellets?
A. Because the wood pellet is far cheaper when bough loose in bulk, it is better to have a large storage unit. This can be built inside or outside the house. It is important to protect against rodents in your storage unit.

Q. Is there much cost in running a biomass system after it has been installed?
A. Unlike other forms of renewable energy, biomass systems require you to pay for the fuel. Fuel costs generally depend on the distance from your supplier and whether you can buy in large quantities. Due to the higher cost of biomass pellets compared with other traditional heating fuels, and the relatively low efficiency of the stove compared to a central heating system it may cost more to run.

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Wood Burning Energy

Gasification Boilers FAQS 

http://www.atmos.cz/english/instalace-kotlu-006-dalsi-doporuce-zapojeni

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Geothermal Energy FAQS 
 

Under Floor Heating FAQS

 

Endless possibilities with CLIMATECK

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Bio Ethanol Fires FAQS

Bio

 

 

Fuel Supply - The Facts

1 / What must I never do?

Do not spill any fuel when filling the fuel box. IF this does happen, remove the fuel meticulously. The decorative fireplace may not be lit as long as the spilt fuel has not completely dried. Never top up the fuel box of a burning decorative fireplace. If the fuel box has to be topped up, make sure that the flames are properly extinguished. Our Metropol decorative fireplaces have a unique design and are very easy to hang up. Hang it up, light it and enjoy!

 

2 / What does a decorative fireplace that runs on bioalcohol cost?

An hour of fire in our decorative fireplace costs less than one euro in fuel, depending on the size of the flames and the amount of fuel purchased. A decorative fireplaces with a full fuel box will burn for about 3 to 4 hours.

 

3 / Are there any legal regulations I have to follow?

In principle there are no DIN or other regulations from the fire brigade for mobile decorative fireplaces that run on alcohol. The TÜV recommends the following criteria: per burning hour not more than 0.5 litres of fuel should be consumed. All the metal parts must be made of stainless steel.

 

4 / How does a decorative fireplace function?

Our Metropol decorative fireplaces burn after a few minutes. You fill the fuel box with bioalcohol up to about 0.5 cm under the edge. Use the funnel provided with the fireplace or possibly a measuring jug. Be careful not to spill any.  For the first 5 to 10 minutes the typical blue alcohol flame will appear, which will change into a beautiful yellow-red colour when the desired combustion temperature is reached. The flame can be compared to a flame that comes from a wood fire. Before the fireplace is lit, the fuel box must always be filled to 5 cm under the edge. You can extinguish the fireplace at any time. You simply youse the firekiller or move the over the slit of the fuel box so that the fire goes out by itself.

 

5 / Will a room be heated by a decorative fireplace?

Physically it comes down to the following: if a litre of alcohol burns in one hour, about 7.1 kWh of ´heat value´ are achieved. If you burn a litre of alcohol in two hours, you still have about 3.5 kWh of ´heat value´.
Nevertheless, our Metropol decorative fireplace is not heating but a very decorative piece of furniture. When you use the decorative fireplace, you will enjoy a delightful, pleasant warmth. At the same time, the fire will function as a slight dampener because water is released when fuels that contain alcohol are combusted. This CO2 ´emission´ is neutral because the CO2 released is absorbed by plants. And the heat released is not removed via a chimney.

 

6 / How much oxygen is needed?

Every fireplace needs oxygen. We recommend, for example, for a room volume of 70m3, an oxygen supply of about 2m3 per hour. The oxygen supply is achieved by opening a window for about 5 to 10 minutes.

 

7 / What is the emission ?

Almost completely of water vapour and CO2 (carbon dioxide). The amount of CO2 emission is comparable to that of two medium-sized candles. The other components emitted are so small in quantity, that the limit value is easily remained under since the combustion temperature is so low. The other hazardous substances of a combustion such as monoxide, stockoxide and aldehyde are not released until a combustion temperature of 700°C; the temperature of the decorative fireplace is under 400°C.

 

8 / How does a decorative fireplace work without a flue?

The Metropol decorative fireplaces run on bioalcohol; an alcohol specially designed for our fireplaces that has been repeatedly cleaned and filtered, consisting of various raw materials such as potatoes, maize and molasses. The combustion of this biological alcohol in the stainless steel fuel box is so clean that extraction does not have to occur via a chimney.
What exactly is bioalcohol? Bioalcohol is made up of pure ethyl alcohol that is denaturalised. This means that the alcohol is made unusable for consumption. Natural substances are added to the alcohol so that the flames have a natural, warm, yellow-red colour.

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Energy Saving Appliance FAQs

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Bio Fuel Supply FAQS

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Cleaning Products  FAQS

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