How to Set Up a Renewable Energy Project
The processes for setting up and developing your renewable energy project will depend on its location and the type of renewable energy technologies that you will employ as the key part of your project. In the UK, you may be eligible to claim a grant to help in setting up your green energy site.
In the following guide, Bunkabin outlines the key factors you will need to consider when setting up your renewable energy project and how you should go about doing it.
The first steps you should take
No matter what type of renewable energy project you are planning, each brings its own challenges and will determine the entire shape of your project.
You must consider what supplies you will need, where your project will be built or performed and what your costs will be. Depending on the nature of your project, you may face different challenges in this process. For example, a hydropower project will require lots of moving water and a large, cordoned-off space for it to work. Meanwhile, providing advice on energy efficiency can be done from an office or even from home. This will have a huge impact on the expenses and planning that you will have to do before you can begin operations.
The UK's community energy schemes
The UK government offers support for renewable energy projects. The local authority may be able to provide advice on setting up renewable energy technologies in the local area and will recommend government schemes to assist in doing so.
Feed-In Tariffs (FITs) scheme - can help organisations, communities and individuals to install small-scale renewable energy solutions that are eligible for the scheme
Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme - helps organisations to install renewable heat technologies by meeting the costs involved
Heat Networks Delivery Unit - for renewable heat technologies and services implemented by local authorities
Urban Community Energy Fund (UCEF) - a fund of £10m to help renewable energy projects get started in urban areas
Due to how the UK's electricity grid functions, any electricity that is generated by a source connected to it feeds into the entire system, with the goal of benefitting the overall country's energy generation. For this reason, the government aims to promote renewable energy projects and works with organisations and individuals to set them up.
How to manage the construction of a new renewable energy project
Firstly, you must be able to supply the necessary professionals who will undertake the construction work or installation. This may be done through hiring a contractor, or the company that you are purchasing the technology from may offer their own delivery and installation service.
You must also make sure you have the legal rights to use the area on which you plan to install the technology. You should communicate with your local authority to arrange this, and they may be able to offer you advice on other, better sites or the schemes listed above.
Your site must comply with the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) regulations. You should hire a professional to conduct a risk assessment of the project and the area to ensure it is safe for work and, depending on how you have arranged the construction or installation staff, you may be required to provide them with health and safety equipment and welfare facilities. In some cases, a contractor will arrange this and may include it in their cost to you.
However, if you are responsible for providing personal protection equipment (PPE) and amenities, you should ensure they comply with the HSE's requirements and that you have satisfied all of your legal responsibilities.
For longer projects, you should consider investing in temporary accommodation and welfare facilities for your site. These bring many benefits and are, in some cases, a necessary part of your construction site. For example, you must provide toilets, somewhere for workers to wash, rest and avoid the elements. This is especially relevant for sites located in rural areas, which may require workers to travel significant distances to find these welfare facilities elsewhere.
For workers who require lodgings, temporary sleeping cabins can help to reduce commuting times, costs of hotel stays and carbon emissions from vehicles used to travel to and from the site.
For more information on how Bunkabin can help you to meet HSE welfare requirements for construction and project sites, take a look at the Site Sleeper cabins we offer or browse our informative blog. Alternatively, contact us directly by calling 0345 456 7899 or arrange a time for us to call you back by filling out an online contact form. We can help you to meet your workers' needs and your legal requirements by providing cost-effective and high-quality portable accommodation solutions.
