Renewable energy system feasibility studies

An energy feasibility assessment should result in options for improving the sustainability of energy use and cost savings. An analysis of the site energy data, energy systems, energy use, site characteristics and business priorities is required to arrive at the outcome of the assessment.

The work required to do this will depend on the complexity of the site and in general there is a correlation between the complexity and the size of the energy bills.

A minimum amount of time has to be spent on client communications, data gathering, site surveying, analysis and reporting. Taking all this into account a Wattcraft feasibility assessment for a single site could cost anything between £2,000 and £50,000. We generally propose that a larger assessment would be broken down into stages, with a review at each stage to ensure that subsequent stages are focused on high priority areas with the greatest opportunity for improvement.

By connecting different buildings to a district heating network, the diversity of heat load gives a smoother overall demand profile than for a single building. This allows greater utilisation of the heat generation asset, resulting in potentially better economics and more efficient operation. Having centralised generation plant, as is the case with district heating networks, allows greater ease of access, operation and maintenance.

The investment in district heating infrastructure is only worthwhile if there is a high density of energy demand, which will result in a level of energy sale that will recoup the investment. This is typically the case in dense urban environments.

Renewable energy is already cheaper than fossil fuel energy in many cases. For example in the UK, onshore wind energy and large scale solar power give lower cost electricity than fossil fuel generation.

There are hidden costs and benefits associated with the use of fossil fuels that are not always taking into account when comparing with renewable energy.

Benefits include upstream subsidies and hidden costs include those of mitigating or repairing the damage caused by fossil fuels (external costs). When these external costs are taken into account, renewable energy can be even more attractive.

It is expected that with time and the pressures of climate impact, these external costs will be internalised and a view might be taken on this when investing in renewables.