FAQ

What is solar thermal?

Solar thermal is a clean and highly efficient means of using energy from the sun to heat the water used in the home. Normally the solar collectors are roof mounted and connected to a heat exchange coil at the bottom of your domestic hot water cylinder using a sealed plumbing circuit which contains antifreeze. There is a pump in the circuit which transfers the heat produced by the collector to the coil at the bottom of the cylinder, thus heating the entire cylinder.

How does solar on the farm work?

Heating water for milking parlours can be very expensive. Clean Energy Ireland supply and install solar panels and preheat solar cylinders for individual dairy washing requirements. Solar thermal is the cleanest form of renewable energy; it is also economic, contributing up to 80% of the milking parlour’s Bulk tank and milking machine hot water requirement during the milking season. Depending on your hot water demands and your current primary energy source a solar package has a payback period of approx 6 years. While this may seem a long time the useful life of the package should exceed 30 years.

What are planning exemptions for solar panels?

Exemptions for Solar Panels and other Micro Renewable Technology 02/03/07 “Another step on the road to a Green Energy Revolution” – Dick Roche

“The generation of renewable energy provides opportunities to address climate change, ensure security of supply and promote sustainable development. Through the new planning exemptions which I have made recently, this Government has taken another step on the road to a Green Energy Revolution.” So said Dick Roche, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government today (2nd March 2007) on signing regulations which will provide exemptions from planning permission for solar panels, heat pumps, wind turbines and wood pellet burners, subject to certain conditions.

“This Government has already taken wide-ranging measures to promote renewable energy usage and reduce energy-related emissions,” said Minister Roche. “For example, we have put in place a renewable electricity support tariff to subsidise the connection of renewable-sourced electricity to the national grid. The Commercial Bioheat Scheme and the Greener Homes Scheme have been extremely popular and were enhanced in Budget 2007. New agricultural supports have been introduced for the production of Biomass. What I am doing today is ensuring that the planning system complements these initiatives in supporting the widest possible usage of renewable energy. This initiative is another example of the joined-up Government response to Climate Change.

Every sector, every organisation, and every individual must take responsibility for the impacts their activities and their lifestyle have on our planet. As a Government, one of our key tasks is to encourage people to look after their end of the bargain so that everyone can make a contribution to the climate change challenge.”

In concluding today’s announcement, Minister Roche stated; “these draft regulations are the first set of proposed exemptions designed specifically to enable the planning system to help expand the use of renewable energy. I am taking the opportunity today to announce a further examination of the planning implications of renewable technologies in other sectors, such as industrial and retail sites, with a view to encouraging their uptake.”

“In so far as has been possible every effort has been made to future-proof the regulations with one eye on what developments in the sector might bring. However, it would be unreasonable to assume that these exemptions somehow represent the last word on how renewable energy is dealt with under the planning code. I am happy to keep these provisions under review to ensure their effectiveness.”