Solar panels do also generate electricity in cloudy weather although there output is diminished, and can be down to as much as 10% of what is achieved during normal full sun intensity. This would need to be considered with the location of the ranger’s house, as information gained from the ‘Met Office’ shows that Wales has the greatest rainfall in the United Kingdom and due to the mountainous landscapes also has a very high percentage of cloud cover. To compensate for the drop in output additional solar panels could be introduced but once again the amount required would need to be considered as to the aesthetics of the location.
Wind Power – This is created from the natural supply of wind, which then turns a wind turbine not too dissimilar to that of a windmill. But its sole purpose is to create electricity, as every complete revolution creates a certain amount of electrical energy, which in turn supplies a generator ready for use.
Wind power is on the increase within Great Britain with wind farms being introduced as the main power supply to counties and villages depending on the size and quantities. The power generated from these is sometimes above what is required for their purpose, hence unused power is then transferred to the national grid to be utilised elsewhere. One problem with wind-powered turbines is the noise that can be generated from the movement of the blades, but new turbines on the market have introduced a new working mechanism, which completely reduces the noise pollution.
The park ranger’s house would only require one small turbine, as we would not be looking to supply any power back to the national grid. Although some wind generators can be erected right on top of a home or building, they require anti-vibration mounts to avoid any structural damage. Hence we would then locate this remotely from the house, taking into account the close proximity of the local coniferous woods and the general mountainous landscape. This is due to maintaining that the wind turbine’s effectiveness does not diminish if not sited correctly in the initial planning stages. The inclusion of storage batteries will also provide suitable power when the turbine is not working.
Due to the location of Wales and the close proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, the wind levels are always high compared to other locations within England. The mountainous area also creates high wind speeds through the valley areas, such as the location of the park ranger’s house in the Brecon Beacons.
Hybrid Energy Systems – These combine the use of two or more alternative power sources such as solar and wind and are sometimes connected to a generator. This can be useful to supply the system with an extra measure of protection for short periods. But obviously the use of such generators will still require some use of fuel.
The advantage of this system is when one power source is at low levels the other source is usually at higher levels. For example on a cloudy day when a solar system source has diminished then the wind turbine may produce a lot of energy, and vice a versa. Balancing the systems with the selection of equipment will need to be carefully examined with the location and past weather conditions, as installing to large a system will initially be a waste in costs and also a waste to the power generated. Obviously with installing two small a system then the power consumption required may never be achieved.
Water Power – There are a number of water related power sources, such as Hydroelectric and ocean electric. The more appropriate source for the park ranger’s house would be to utilise the hydroelectric dam system that are high-tech but simple machines. These systems have been around for a long time, as far back as the Greeks and Romans. Since their introduction hydroelectric power production has risen to 2,0044 billion kilowatt-hours worldwide.
A dam holds back water, creating a reservoir of potential power. On the upper side of the dam, a water gate is opened to let the water surge through a tunnel leading to turbine. The water turns the turbines in the same way the wind operates as above, which in turn spins the generators to generate electricity. The electricity is then carried through the cables to the source.
Conclusion
The main consideration for the relative power source would have to take into account the weather conditions for the exact location. These findings would have to be based not just on present conditions but also over the past thirty years to completely evaluate the best source. The inclusion of the hydroelectric dam would be suitable but would take the most work initially to install in the adjacent stream. This may also affect the local region by slowing the speed of the water to possible farmers fields hence although sufficient power was supplied to the house, additional energy constraints may be applied to the community.
Hence the most suitable system would be a hybrid system of solar panels and wind turbine, as this would not create large initial energy consumption as would be required in creating the dam. Also the restricted access routes would make it more difficult for the plant and equipment required in the construction. This combined system would be sufficient to maintain the requirements for the Park Rangers house, but the locality of the suppliers for such equipment would also need to be considered.
The main energy requirement for the system would be to create additional lighting levels, mains power supply, and hot water. The design of the house would not require an additional supply for heating, as heat generated within the premises from other sources would be secured within. Due to this, the size of the Hybrid system would not have an adverse effect on the aesthetics of the area. The batteries for back up to this system would be stored below the premises.
Obviously if we were to have the hybrid system delivered from another country then the energy consumption created in delivering this, would need to be assessed carefully. Ideally the opportunity to find a local supplier would be beneficial with this, especially as there is a company based within Cardiff called ‘National Wind Power which is responsible for the construction of the local wind farms at Carno – Powys.
