OPEX meaning

Scope This Practice Note reviews the technical, environmental and economic aspects of biomass heating. For information on biomass combined heat and power, see Practice Note: Combined heat and power—technology. What is biomass heating? Biomass heating involves burning organic, non-fossil materials to produce heat. In principle, a range of fuels can be used, including: animal dung domestic and industrial waste biodiesel wood Biomass heating is viewed as very low carbon and forms a significant element of the UK’s plans to reduce carbon emissions. This note concentrates on technologies at commercial scale commonly adopted in the UK that use biomass as wood chips or pellets, although much of the detail is also relevant to domestic situations. Wood chips and pellets are two prevalent biomass fuels. Wood pellets are produced from sawdust, compressed into short cylinders, and offer greater uniformity than wood chips. Pellets are denser, more compact and simpler to manage. A further key advantage is their higher energy...

For additional practical guidance on solar projects, including perspectives from multiple jurisdictions, see the textbook Solar Power: A Practical Handbook. What is solar PV? Photovoltaic (PV) technology converts solar energy into electrical power. The term ‘photovoltaic’ is formed from: photo, taken from the Greek for light, and volt, the unit of electromotive force, linked to electricity pioneer Alessandro Volta PV materials transform light energy into electrical energy, as demonstrated in 1839 by French physicist Edmond Becquerel, who showed that sunlight could generate an electric current within a solid. It was more than a further century before scientists established that the photoelectric, or photovoltaic, effect enables certain materials to convert light into electricity at the atomic scale. PV technology components Cells and modules Typically, PV systems are made up of PV cells, usually comprising one or two layers of silicon or similar materials, connected in series to form modules. When sunlight strikes the cell, an electric field is created...

What is solar thermal? Solar thermal describes collectors that capture the sun’s energy to produce hot water. Collectors are most commonly fitted to roofs, but they can also be placed on the ground, mounted on walls, or integrated within building components, i.e. shading devices, canopies, and similar elements. The heat produced is primarily used for domestic hot water and can also contribute to heating or provide warm air for buildings. It may additionally heat or pre-heat water for industrial processes, supply warm water for swimming pools, and drive a particular type of chiller for air conditioning. In the UK, given the available solar radiation (with a maximum of about 1 kW/m2) and its seasonal variation, solar systems cannot meet a building’s entire hot water demand at a viable cost. Consequently, storage buffers or supplementary heating systems are often needed. Solar thermal systems are regarded as zero carbon, although a small amount of electricity is required to run pumps, fans and/or control systems...