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In news that will interest those looking to take solar pv electrical courses, the Court of Appeal has today ruled that the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) acted unlawfully over planned cuts to the feed-in tariff (FIT).
The Green Deal’s set to create a £6.5 billion-a-year market in green technology and retro-fitting. And the sector skills council for the construction industry has advised small to medium sized businesses, as well as individual tradesmen, to get training now so they can bid for and win their share of lucrative Green Deal contracts.
The establishment of AbleSkills Renewable Energy Centre is specifically aimed to provide candidates of all levels of background and experience the opportunity to train and qualify at the highest standards on approved and accredited City & Guilds, BPEC, NICEIC renewable energy courses. These include essential solar PV courses and solar courses, verified up to the level of City & Guilds 2372 Level 3 Certificate in Installing and Testing Photovoltaic (PV) Systems.
Commitment to training a key renewables workforce competent to transform the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels to sustainable energy systems is now vital to meet EU emission reduction targets in the next 20 years. All construction trade personnel also now need to add to their knowledge and key skills to be able to correctly specify and install renewable technology such as photovoltaic systems, ground source heat pumps, underfloor heating, or biomass heating.
At the commencement of the training process, a short certificated renewable energy awareness course is an obligatory introduction for all students to begin their subject knowledge learning.
Approved training qualifications are a mandatory requirement to become eligible to register as a genuine, competent and approved MSC installer of MSC approved solar PV systems. This is irrespective of the fact that still there is a shortfall of renewable technology systems installers, according to SummetSkills, the sector skills council for the building services engineering (BSE) sector.
Concerned that there is “ …a worrying lack of appropriate environmental technology training to meet future demand…”, SummetSkills report that they found, “ … a ‘significant minority’ of training providers surveyed who were unaware of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), despite the recent Green Deal announcements by the government”.
Undoubtedly, this means that a number of ‘renewables’ students are now training on courses which will not enable them to apply to be MCS registered as required under the Green Deal funding scheme for householders set up by the government. From 2012, the Green Deal can make available up to £10,000, in advance, to UK residents towards helping to pay for energy efficiency work to be carried out in their homes.
It is also designed to prevent rogue traders and dangerous, substandard workmanship by untrained, unqualified personnel. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service has been formally appointed to ensure that installers and assessors will adhere to the necessary robust standards at all stages of work being carried out.
MCS installer certification involves assessing the supply, design, installation, set-to-work and commissioning of renewable microgeneration technologies and the process and standards differ for each product and installer certification. All accredited Certification Bodies will have been accredited by UKAS under EN45011.
Electrical engineers and renewable contractors could soon be in high demand, as a proposed £110 billion investment to reform Britain’s energy infrastructure is set to supercharge job opportunities for skilled tradesmen.
What’s more, experts have called on the government to incentivise training for renewable professionals as the marine and wind energy industries are expected to create 115,000 new jobs over the next ten years too.
Much of the interest in photovoltaic systems tends to be naturally focused on the generation of electricity to provide light and power to a private household or public building. And indeed, at AbleSkills Renewable Energy Centre, solar PV courses, foremost amongst all the City & Guilds / BPEC / NICIEC renewable energy courses offered, have quickly established themselves as a popular choice with entry level candidates and experienced electricians who want to add solar panel installation to their service knowledge and skills.
It’s not surprising, of course, as the FeedInTariffs Scheme (FiTs) continues to be a major incentive, successfully driving domestic solar installation and consequently, demand for trained and qualified solar PV electrical fitters is on a dramatic rise as the UK industry grows month by month.
However, with the launching of the Renewable Heat Incentive(RHI), the spotlight is on the other key important requirement – water heating. A recently published report indicates that there could be as much as a 700 per cent increase in renewable heat capacity in the south west of England, alone, over the next ten years! And this means – significant business and employment opportunities for those who have completed their training and qualified on solar courses.
According to the research, there are some 4,000 renewable heat installations currently in the south west, but it’s forecast that by 2020 there could be more than 140,000 projects, of which, 136,000 would be in domestic premises. Under the UK’s renewable energy target of 15 per cent set by the EU, the DECC expects renewable heat to contribute around 11-12 per cent while electricity to produce 30 plus per cent by the end of the decade.
It’s important to know there is a difference between solar panels that convert sunlight to electric power and other types of solar panel, which have the capability to convert solar thermal energy to heat household water.
All solar energy water heating systems perform the same basic functions of gathering heat in a solar collector, transferring the heat to the water supply and then storing the heated water until ready to be used. In addition to heating the water, solar space heating can use solar thermal energy to heat the space inside a building. Active solar space heating systems are predominantly liquid systems but air systems can also be used to capture and convert the sun’s thermal energy.
The solar collectors used are the same for both liquid space heating systems and domestic solar water heating. The most common type of solar collector used is a flat-plate collector, but evacuated tube and concentrating collectors can also be installed. The basic principle is for a heat-transfer fluid, such as water or antifreeze, to be circulated through the solar collector by a circulating pump. As the fluid flows through the collector and heated by the Sun, increase of the heat transfer fluid’s temperature is controlled to operate the pump.
The solar heat captured in the heat-transfer fluid is then stored in water tanks and a heat-exchanger is used to transfer the heat from the heat-transfer fluid to the water in the tank.
An obligatory renewable energy awareness course provided by AbleSkills introduces all candidates at any level of previous knowledge or experience to the key technologies, including heat pumps, underfloor heating, biomass and rainwater harvesting.
The future looks bright for solar as a new scheme’s set to create 3,000 new jobs in Britain for skilled tradesmen who can install and maintain solar panels.
What’s more, expert calls backing insulation and ground floor heating systems could further boost job opportunities in the renewable and construction sectors too.
Sometimes all it takes to open a door and step into a new world is by simply reading a few intriguing words or seeing something that fires the imagination. Sci fi sounding phrases like solar courses and photovoltaic systems can act as triggers to want to discover more. A new publication from the UK Copper Board, which introduces the different types of solar collectors (flat-plate and vacuum tube) and the layout of solar thermal systems may be just such a catalyst!
The subject of renewable energy is of course, of great global concern as the debate over climate change, reducing carbon emission and sustainable energy sources is now centre stage in how we provide and use heat and light in our homes and workplaces.
Many experienced electricians and plumbers will also now be looking to find out more and expand their skillsets, as well as entry level candidates to the growing energy installation and sustainability industry. Daily, new build developments and retrofit projects highlight the importance of incorporating key renewable energy systems and the corresponding demand for trained and qualified installers to carry out the vital task.
At AbleSkills, an invaluable renewable energy awareness course can provide great examples of interest catalysts! The range of key topics covered acts as a fascinating introduction to renewable energy courses available from solar PV courses and ground source heat pump courses, to biomass courses and rainwater harvesting courses.
The new Copper Board publication, available in print and online, is yet another example which can also make for useful first reading about solar thermal systems for those candidates interested in finding out about the kind of knowledge you will need to learn on solar courses.
As with candidates taking City & Guilds Plumbing Courses, where the copper tube used is the same specification for many other pipework applications, solar course students first learn that copper is the ideal pipework material for solar thermal systems as it is perfectly capable of withstanding the high operating fluid temperatures, which often exceed 2000C. Consequently, jointing has to be carried out by capillary brazing or by using flame-free solar press fittings, specifically designed for high temperature operations.
17th November 2010 saw the official opening of Able Skills newest training centre, one that is completely dedicated to delivering training in various aspects of Renewable Technology:
With biomass, micro wind turbine, heat recovery and air conditioning installation courses planned for early 2011
The event was supported by a number of Companies who have provided support and guidance whilst we have been building the Centre and we would like to thank Polypipe, Mitsubishi, Riomay, Domus, Newey & Eyre, Ecoplay, HPS and Veissman for their support at the official opening.
Other visitors for the day came from Princes Trust, Quest, Direct News, Bexley Resources, NICEIC, NAPIT, Lambeth College, PureBlue Web Design, Edwardes Bros, CKR Accountancy and Wolseley.
The event was attended by the Mayor of Dartford and was covered by Kent on Sunday, YouTube and Natwest press office with support from Natwest Business Manager Tony Knowles.
The day went very well, complete with the traditional cutting of ribbon by the Mayor, accompanied by Gary Measures (Director) and Jed Smith (Renewables Training Manager). Everyone had the opportunity to take a stroll around the Centre with trained staff in attendance to give technical information or provide equipment demonstration. With training available over 2 floors there was a lot to see and a lot of questions being fired around and the day was broken up by a buffet lunch for everyone giving people the opportunity to mingle and network.
Everyone in attendance was stunned by the sheer volume of training equipment we have available and by the wide variety of courses on offer. The layout of the Centre promotes a healthy training environment, completely open plan with all of the technologies in full view for everyone to see.
The day has really put Able Skills on the map as a training provider of choice for anyone looking to diversify into the world of Renewable Technology. We have built great relationships with the likes of Polypipe, Mitsubishi etc and moving forward, have secured routes to market and support networks for installers of green technology.
We would like to thank everyone who attended the day, particularly the Mayor of Dartford who came at very short notice and who has a fantastic understanding of Renewable Technologies and a great interest in the subject.
Lots of plans were made, courses for the future discussed and development of more partnerships are in the making so the future is bright for Able Skills and all of those who are linked with us in one way or another.
It may be a little known fact that The United Nations has declared 2005-2015, the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, which is setting a world agenda to focus increased attention on water-related issues. Consequently, The World Health Organization and the World Plumbing Council have together developed and published “Health Aspects of Plumbing”.
A full and comprehensive examination of the design, installation and maintenance of effective plumbing systems to ensure the highest health benefits from the use of sound plumbing training and practices, it covers key issues ranging from basic principles of safe drinking water supply and the training and registration of plumbers to standards for materials used in the design of plumbing systems and waste water use.
The publication highlights the importance of raising awareness of the plumbing industry’s role in protecting the environment by providing safe, fresh water and sanitation through proper management, care, reuse and conservation of natural resources. In addition, an emphasis is placed on today’s newly trained and qualified plumbers who will play a major role in the installation of renewable energy technologies designed to address the urgency of meeting reduced harmful emission targets in the coming decades.
Serious candidates starting out on their plumbing career begin on the industry standard approved and accredited City & Guilds NVQ Plumbing 6129 level 2 certificate course. An absolute foundation for introducing all the key and common plumbing units of required knowledge in both theory and practical skill learning, the course also seems to coincide with many of the “Health Aspects of Plumbing” subject areas of concern and best practice requirements.
The joint publication also focuses on the new green technologies where manufacturers are developing water heaters and appliances that not only use less water, but also require less power to operate them and are thus, designed for reduced energy efficiency and preservation. These include solar heating which collects, stores and delivers hot water as a more environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional electrical and gas powered systems and ground source heat pumps, a system that uses the earth as a heat source (in the winter) or a heat sink (in the summer), boosting efficiency and reducing operational costs.
The plumbing industry is also urgently concerned with new types of water reuse from rainwater harvesting, the capture and storage of rainwater that would otherwise return to the water table through natural means to grey water systems, which can range from something as simple as redirecting sink drain water to a toilet tank to large city systems used to water greenbelt areas.
At AbleSkills, the first step towards gaining insight into the subject of sustainable and renewable energy is easily acquired on a 2 day BPEC Renewable Energy Awareness Course, a nationally recognised qualification, which also can be undertaken in the workplace, anywhere in the UK.