Mid West Regional Authority

Greenhills hotel,Limerick

Energy Solutions for Sustainable Development

Renewables for Sports Facilities

Presentation Contents

• Energy Efficiency First

• Detailed load analysis

• Thermal renewables

• Electric Renewables

Energy Efficiency First

• It is essential to minimise energy needs before installing renewable technologies

• Energy audits identify the appropriate “target”

• Investment in energy efficiency is cost effective and will generally have short payback periods

Detailed load analysis

• Where renewable energy technology is used to meet on-site consumption

• Decide if it is feasible to meet all energy needs from renewables

• Understand both the Demand and Consumption profiles of energy use

Thermal Energy Renewables

• Solar thermal - Passive• Many buildings are not designed to utilise

passive solar gains

• All buildings can be adapted to maximise the benefit of passive solar gain.

• Solar gain can include light as well as heat

• Fabric is essential to harness solar gains particularly glazing & insulation

• Open floor plan is essential for heat distribution

Thermal Energy Renewables

• Solar thermal panels• Flat plate & vacuum tube• Typically only for hot water and in sports

facilities may not be capable of meeting total needs.

• Planning exemptions apply– Total aperture area < 50m2 or 50% of total roof area,

whichever is lesser– Grants may be available

• Costs will be €1,500 / kW• Size your buffer tank carefully

Thermal Energy Renewables

• Geothermal thermal• Planning exemptions possible

– Ground level alteration < 1m above or below adjoining ground– Total area of heat pumps < 15m2– 50cm from edge of wall or roof

• Capital Cost approx €700 / kW, grants available• Collector size and buffer tanks Very important • Understand both the Demand and Consumption profiles

of energy use• Usually more economic to size based on the main heat

demand with back up, or as back up to another renewable energy option

Thermal Energy Renewables

• Biomass thermal - indigenous• Wood chip• Miscanthus• Planning exemptions possible

– Gross floor space < 20 m2– Capacity of fuel storage tank above ground < 50,000 litres– Max height of boiler house or fuel tank < 3m– Up to 2 flues, max height 15m and max diameter 2m– 100m from nearest inhabited dwelling– 50m from nearest public road

• Capital cost are approx €350 - 450 / kW• Grants available for up to 40%• Supports local enterprise• Fuelstorage and hot water buffer tank, important

Thermal Energy Renewables

• Biomass thermal – processed pellet• These are generally a residue of the construction

industry but not particularly• Planning exemptions may apply

– Gross floor space < 20 m2– Capacity of fuel storage tank above ground < 50,000 litres– Max height of boiler house or fuel tank < 3m– Up to 2 flues, max height 15m and max diameter 2m– 100m from nearest inhabited dwelling– 50m from nearest public road

• Cost for equipment are approx €400 / kW, grants available

• Fuel & Bufffer storage size is important

Electric Energy Renewables

• Micro wind turbine• Exemption from planning

No exemption for building-mounted turbines• Max height < 20m• Rotor diameter < 8m• Ground clearance > 3m• Turbine height plus 1 m from nearest party boundary• 100m from nearest inhabited dwelling• 50m from nearest public road

• 6 kW turbines cost approx - €25,000• Standard of turbine and installation; important• REFIT values (68.7 c/kWh) make payback

typically > 15 years

Electric Energy Renewables

• Micro hydro turbine• Significant planning issues to overcome • Significant Habitats, Fisheries & Environment

issues to overcome• 3 kW turbines cost approx - €20,000• REFIT values (83.8 c / kWh) make payback > 10

years.• Does not generally suffer from the difficulty of

variability.• Potential and case studies available on the web

site www.lcea.ie

Electric Energy Renewables

• Photovoltaic panels• Exemption from planning possible

– Total aperture area < 50m2 or 50% of total roof area, whichever is lesser

• 1 kW turbines cost approx - €6,000• Panels can make a contribution to base

electricity load• Unlikely to be economic in sports facilities• REFIT payments make these uneconomic at

present.

Limerick Clare Energy AgencyFoundation BuildingUniversity of LimerickLimerick

Pat StephensManager

T: 061 234296E: info@lcea.ieW: www.lcea.ie

Thank You

Energy Solutions for Sustainable Development