Our renewable energy courses
Renewable or green energy systems convert energy from natural resources like the sun, the air and the earth. This can then be used for electricity, heating, or hot water in people’s homes, offices, shops, etc.
Concerns about climate change and fuel prices mean renewable energy is a thriving business for those with the right skills. The government aims to achieve 15% of all the UK’s energy from renewable sources by 2020. In addition, homes and businesses are increasingly turning to green energy systems to reduce their CO2 emissions and soaring energy bills*.
To help you get the right training and increase your opportunities in a 'green future', OLCI brings you a range of courses that focus specifically on renewable energy. For more information or to enrol, simply call us on Freephone 0800 058 2848.
Course What you can do | |
| Heat Pump (Air and Ground Source) 1 | Install heat pumps, which provide heat and hot water by converting energy from the air and ground. |
| Solar Thermal 2 | Install, maintain and commission solar thermal systems, which use the sun’s rays to provide hot water. |
| Solar Photovoltaic 1 | Select, install and commission these environmentally friendly systems which convert sunlight into electricity. |
| Energy Efficiency 3 | Work in people’s home or small commercial units providing energy efficient plumbing and electrical solutions to your customers. |
| Rainwater Harvesting 1 | Select, install and maintain the different types of Rainwater Harvesting system commonly used in the UK. |
For more information or to enrol, call us on Freephone 0800 058 2848.
For information on our plumbing, electrical and gas courses please click on the links below:
Plumbing courses Electrical courses Gas courses
Heat Pump (Air and Ground Source)
Heat pumps absorb heat from the ground or air, which can then be used to warm water for radiators or underfloor heating systems, or to warm the air inside people’s homes. This offers several benefits, including4:
 | Lower fuel bills – ground source heat pumps run on electricity, so there's no need to pay for gas, oil or solid fuels to heat the home. |
| Reduced CO2 emissions – on average a ground source heat pump could save around 540kg of carbon dioxide every year when replacing an oil boiler. |
| Less wasted electricity – heating a home with a ground source heat pump is much more efficient than using electric radiators. |
| Space saving – an air source heat pump system is compact, and requires no storage space for fuel. |
Solar water heating systems use free heat from the sun to warm domestic hot water. A conventional boiler or immersion heater is then used to make the water hotter, or to provide hot water when solar energy is unavailable.
Solar panels, called collectors, are fitted to the roof, and these collect heat from the sun and use it to warm water which is stored in a hot water cylinder. Solar Thermal systems offer many benefits, including4:
| Hot water throughout the year – the system works all year round, although the water will require further heating with a boiler or immersion heater during the winter months. |
| Reduced bills – sunlight is free, so once the initial installation is paid for, hot water costs will be reduced. |
| Smaller carbon footprint – solar hot water is a green, renewable heating system and doesn't release any harmful carbon dioxide or other pollutants. |
Solar Electricity systems capture the sun's energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be used to run household appliances and lighting.
PV cells are panels which can be attached to a roof or wall. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers - the stronger the sunshine, the more electricity is produced. Benefits of these systems include4:
| Reduced carbon footprint – solar electricity is green, renewable energy and doesn't release any harmful carbon dioxide or other pollutants. |
| Reduced electricity bills – sunlight is free, so once the initial installation is paid for, electricity costs will be greatly reduced. A typical home PV system can produce around 40% of the electricity a household uses in a year. |
| Sell electricity back to the Grid – if the system is producing more electricity than is needed, or when you not in use, electricity can be sold back to the National Grid. |
| Store electricity for a cloudy day – if the home isn't connected to the national grid, excess electricity can be stored in batteries to be used when needed. |
Energy Efficiency Part L covers the conservation of fuel and power in buildings by5:
| Limiting heat gains and losses, both through thermal elements and other parts of the building fabric and from pipes, ducts and vessels used for space heating, space cooling and hot water services. |
| The provision and commissioning of energy efficient fixed building services with effective controls. |
| Providing to the owner sufficient information about the building, the fixed building services and their maintenance requirements so that the building can be operated in such a manner as to use no more fuel and power than is reasonable in the circumstances. |
Rainwater harvesting simply collects the water that rains onto roofs, then stores it in a tank until required for use. Rainwater is captured from the roof, and brought to a central point, via normal guttering and down-pipes, to enter a storage tank (frequently underground), where it is filtered on entry. A highly efficient and reliable submersible pump delivers the water to a service on demand. Benefits of such systems include6:
| Reduced overall water supply costs – rainwater harvesting displaces a large proportion of the water that would otherwise be provided by the mains supply for applications such as toilets and garden use. |
| Reduced risk of flooding – rainwater harvesting systems reduce storm-water runoff and control the flow-rate off site. |
