Over the years, Northern Ireland has arguably been the leader of renewable energy technology adoption on this island.
From wind, to biomass, to anaerobic digestion, former Northern Irish executives were rarely shy to put the necessary supports in place to encourage investments in renewable energy technology.
However, the public spotlight was drawn on the North’s renewable energy sector for all of the wrong reasons recently due to the botched renewable heat incentive.
With a small number of renewable energy stands at this year’s Balmoral Show, this appeared to be part of the reason why so few renewable companies were in attendance. In addition to this, many of Northern Ireland’s renewable energy schemes are now closed for entry. Nevertheless, the handful of companies that were in attendance at this year’s Balmoral Show had a variety of services and products on display.
Damian McNulty was on hand to explain the service offered by Wind Energy Partnership (WEP) to wind turbine owners in Northern Ireland. WEP offers the opportunity for wind turbine owners to sell their turbines and renewable obligations cost (ROCs) contract for an agreed lump sum.
As with any piece of equipment, wind turbines depreciate in value over time and maintenance and repairs costs often increase. WEP offers a market in which turbine owners can sell this asset while still benefitting from an ongoing land leasing agreement.
The value of the turbine depends on a number of aspects including the condition of the turbine and the value of the site in terms of energy generation capacity. While this service will not appeal to all, it is still of value to turbine owners to know that this option is available to them.
Atlas World had its solar water heating unit centre stage on its stand, which attracted a lot of interest over the four days of the show. The domestic unit on display was capable of heating a typical hot water tank up to 60°C and retails for around £3,000.
The principle is simple; pass water through a roof-mounted solar thermal collector to convert sunlight into heat for water heating.
The domestic solar unit is capable of heating water to as high as 60°C.
The additional heating requirements are met through the traditional gas, electricity or oil system.
The company also has a larger version for farm use which, according to the technicians on the stand, was the subject of particular interest from visitors from the Republic of Ireland.
Genesis Distribution had a FAN separator on display which separates manure, slurry, sewage and digestate into its solid and liquid components.
The FAN separator separates slurry into its liquid and solid state.
The system is installed on anaerobic digestion plants across NI and offers advantages such as odour reduction, volume reduction, separation of solids for bedding and composting and separation of liquids for flushing and further treatment. Depending on the size and spec of the model, prices range from £12,000 to £80,000.
Dragons’ Den star Niall Greenan had his award-winning smart bunker on display which provides a clean, rodent-, rain-, and wind-proof secure lock-up for wood pellets.
The Smart Bunker provides a secure storage facility for wood pellets.
The storage unit allows for easy unloading of small quantities of pellets for domestic and small-scale wood pellet burners. The smart bunker can also be used to store meal, coal, grit and much more.
Read more
NI electricity prices driven by wind
Smart Farming Improving farm returns enhancing the environment
Over the years, Northern Ireland has arguably been the leader of renewable energy technology adoption on this island.
From wind, to biomass, to anaerobic digestion, former Northern Irish executives were rarely shy to put the necessary supports in place to encourage investments in renewable energy technology.
However, the public spotlight was drawn on the North’s renewable energy sector for all of the wrong reasons recently due to the botched renewable heat incentive.
With a small number of renewable energy stands at this year’s Balmoral Show, this appeared to be part of the reason why so few renewable companies were in attendance. In addition to this, many of Northern Ireland’s renewable energy schemes are now closed for entry. Nevertheless, the handful of companies that were in attendance at this year’s Balmoral Show had a variety of services and products on display.
Damian McNulty was on hand to explain the service offered by Wind Energy Partnership (WEP) to wind turbine owners in Northern Ireland. WEP offers the opportunity for wind turbine owners to sell their turbines and renewable obligations cost (ROCs) contract for an agreed lump sum.
As with any piece of equipment, wind turbines depreciate in value over time and maintenance and repairs costs often increase. WEP offers a market in which turbine owners can sell this asset while still benefitting from an ongoing land leasing agreement.
The value of the turbine depends on a number of aspects including the condition of the turbine and the value of the site in terms of energy generation capacity. While this service will not appeal to all, it is still of value to turbine owners to know that this option is available to them.
Atlas World had its solar water heating unit centre stage on its stand, which attracted a lot of interest over the four days of the show. The domestic unit on display was capable of heating a typical hot water tank up to 60°C and retails for around £3,000.
The principle is simple; pass water through a roof-mounted solar thermal collector to convert sunlight into heat for water heating.
The domestic solar unit is capable of heating water to as high as 60°C.
The additional heating requirements are met through the traditional gas, electricity or oil system.
The company also has a larger version for farm use which, according to the technicians on the stand, was the subject of particular interest from visitors from the Republic of Ireland.
Genesis Distribution had a FAN separator on display which separates manure, slurry, sewage and digestate into its solid and liquid components.
The FAN separator separates slurry into its liquid and solid state.
The system is installed on anaerobic digestion plants across NI and offers advantages such as odour reduction, volume reduction, separation of solids for bedding and composting and separation of liquids for flushing and further treatment. Depending on the size and spec of the model, prices range from £12,000 to £80,000.
Dragons’ Den star Niall Greenan had his award-winning smart bunker on display which provides a clean, rodent-, rain-, and wind-proof secure lock-up for wood pellets.
The Smart Bunker provides a secure storage facility for wood pellets.
The storage unit allows for easy unloading of small quantities of pellets for domestic and small-scale wood pellet burners. The smart bunker can also be used to store meal, coal, grit and much more.
Read more
NI electricity prices driven by wind
Smart Farming Improving farm returns enhancing the environment
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