AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO… RENEWABLE ENERGY Newcastle University 29th February 2012 L M Brown BSc CEng MIET

Discussion today

A bit about narec

A little bit about me

A bit about UK Renewable Potential

A bit of advice

National Renewable Energy Centre (narec) Narec is a national centre for the UK dedicated to advancing the deployment and grid integration of renewable energy and low carbon generation technologies, through R&D, testing and specialist consultancy

Narec Blyth

Head Office Wind, Marine, Sub-Sea & PV Campus Blyth, Northumberland

Narec Overview

Major commercial clients in Europe, Asia Pacific and the US R&D collaborations in more than 20 countries Recognised in the energy industry as one of the lead centres of excellence worldwide for renewable technology development

By end of 2012, Narec will have the largest onshore physical wind and marine test asset base in the world constructed at a cost of more than £100m Advanced Silicon Solar cell production and module assembly capabilities (now spun out) Electrical Network testing centre Consultancy service provider for Corporate and Governmental agencies

Existing World Leading facilities

World Leading facilities … and growing

As wind turbines increase in size so do their blades Where do you test new blade designs wont fall apart ? Where do you test a 3MW turbine? Narec is building a facility for this

Image source http://electrical-engineering-portal.com/ready-for-wind-power-its-time

World Leading facilities … and growing

A Highly Skilled Workforce

Electrical

Mechanical

Instrumentation

Chemical

Physics

Electronics

Marketing

Business Development

Project Management

Asset Management

Health & Safety

Human Resources

IT

Materials

Material Forensics

Accountancy

Operations Management

Assembly

Approximate split of employees

Approximate Job Type Profile at Narec

Skills Recycled – Distributed Energies

Senior Consultants/Engineers mainly from either Building or Electronics Industries

Project co-ordinators from Product Design, Environmental Engineering backgrounds

Graduates from diverse fields but mainly engineering fields (one Astrophysists)

Some have retrained in Renewable Energy through academic study or just through job experience

Renewable Energy Job type by Physical Size

Training History / Job Role

For the Solar cells the Engineers are mainly Physical Science and Electronics background

For the Distributed Energy team the engineers are mainly Electrical and/or building industry

For the large wind blade and turbine testing the engineers are mainly Mechanical engineers

Project and Programme managers from every academic field

Personal Career to Date

1995 1995 to 2001 2001 to 2008 2008 to date

Graduated BSc Physical Science for Microelectronics Entered Graduate Program at Motorola SPS (Scotland) Specialist Process Engineer in Photolithography – imaging patterns for volume electronics manufacturing Joined Atmel NTS and progressed to Senior Principal Process Engineer Join Institute of Engineering Technology with IEng status Study Part-time (with support of Atmel) for MSc in Advanced Silicon Processing & Manufacturing Technologies Latterly working in Technology development team looking at state of the art Lithography solutions for nano-scale electronics Joined Narec as Process Technologist within the Photovoltaics Technology Centre supporting R&D and Manufacturing of Silicon solar cells Currently working within the Distributed Energy group providing consultancy and project management for Renewable Energy deployment throughout the North East. Specialising in domestic and small commercial schemes. Study Part-time (with support of Narec) for MSc in Renewable Energies at Newcastle University Achieved Chartered Engineering status 2010

Why Solar Energy in the UK ?

Renewable Very Low Maintenance Long lifetimes Easy to integrate

Roof installations Solar Farms

Proven Technologies Produces energy at the location of use

PV produces electricity

Feed-In Tariff financial incentives

Solar Thermal for heating and hot water

RHI financial incentive

If Germany can do it why can’t we?

Germany as of 2011 has 25TWp of installed

PV capacity

UK had only 75MWp PV capacity in 2010

This had increased to 750MWp by 2011

after introduction of Generation Tariff (FIT)

We have a similar Sun resource to the

North of Germany so could exploit PV and

Solar Thermal to help in the bid to be more

Energy self sufficient – and Green!

Offshore Wind – Round 3 in the building

Skills Needed for Offshore

Rig building

Drilling

Electrical

Mechanical

Power systems

Grid Systems

Offshore/Marine skills

Suggestions to candidates wanting to work in Renewables

Understand the Field it is vast no one renewable technology is going to provide what we need all viable options will need to play their part

Be Flexible and Be Informed Renewables expansion and therefore jobs are very dependant upon Government Policy !!!

Next big thing (s) ….

Renewable Heat Incentives

As 50% of energy used in UK is for heating makes sense to promote renewable heat options

Grants currently available

Tariffs in development

Green Deal

Avoiding energy use in the first place is the best way to reduce CO2 emissions and reliance on fossil fuels

UK Government keen to promote energy efficiency

Green Deal is program of low interest loans to allow householders and businesses adopt energy efficiency measures

Still waiting on final Government plans

Current Vacancies at Narec

http://www.narec.co.uk/corporate/vacancies/

‐ Work alongside the Project Manager to engage north east Small to Medium Enterprises with the potential to diversify into the low carbon market onto the project’s SME engagement programme

‐ The role will involve building new links and developing relationships with eligible companies, arranging and attending meetings and following up on agreed actions

‐ The successful candidate will be responsible for contributing to the overall targets for the project in terms of SME engagement.

‐ Due to the strict evidence requirements of the funding provider, a conscientious approach and excellent attention to detail are crucial. Previous experience of working on funded projects would be desirable, in particular ERDF.

‐ This is an exciting role with good development potential for a graduate or someone with equivalent experience

SME Engagement Co-ordinator

Thank you for your attention