New Era For Energy Consulting

The move from fossil fuels to new generation and renewable energy sources means that Energy Consultants face an immediate challenge with each new client: geography. Depending on where in the world the need lies for power, the availability is ultimately decided by the resources available. While solar power has enjoyed a healthy development in the commercial and domestic market, other forms of renewable energies have proved more difficult to utilise. As the technology develops, it is the role of the Energy Consulting industry to promote the options available.

Biomass: as a fuel, biomass is derived from organic waste from agriculture such as plant material and faecal matter. Crops can also be grown specifically to produce bio fuel, a term that has had a prominent place in the media of late. The positive aspect of using biomass as a fuel is that very little carbon is returned to the atmosphere as a by-product of energy production, unlike fossil fuels. The negative press regarding cultivating plants for their biomass potential has arisen out of concerns of famine due to a reduction in food crop production. Despite this, biomass remains a viable contender as one of the major new generation renewable energy sources for Britain.

Wave: wave power initially received negative feedback regarding its economic viability; it has transpired that the calculations made were wrong, and now there is a renewed interest for investment into this renewable energy source. There are several designs that harness the potential of energy from waves, and these should not be confused with tidal power. One of the most promising prototypes around at the moment has been dubbed the 'anaconda'. This is a rubberised tube that is squeezed as waves pass over the surface; the rippling which is then produced travels the length of tube and powers turbines at the end. This is touted to be the most energy efficient wave power technology to date, with the least amount of potential maintenance.

Wind: wind has been used as a source of power for centuries to directly grind grain and to pump water. Today's technology uses the wind to generate electricity through turbine movement which in turn power generators that produce electricity. Currently, wind power is responsible for about 1 per cent of energy production worldwide, but in Europe, it is a popular option for generating electricity. New plans that are being implemented in the UK propose the erection of 3000 turbines with the potential of supplying 30 per cent of the electricity.

Geothermal: geothermal energy is a source that is not easily harnessed in the UK but has great potential in many countries. Although the potential for its utilisation is worldwide, in some areas, the required heat source is locked away beneath kilometres of rock and therefore remains economically impractical. In areas where geothermal energy is readily available, the cost per watt can be half of that produced by natural gas plants. Iceland, Japan and the United States are areas where this type of technology could support a growing demand for energy consumption, with the increase in potential for the US alone estimated at a staggering 2000 per cent.

Increasing development and investigation into these alternative energy sources will provide an increase in demand from Energy Consultants to suggest bespoke systems for industry and the domestic market. With this in mind, the reduction in fossil fuel availability and use doesn't necessarily reflect in a reduction of energy supply. The role in Energy Consulting will be to promote the latest systems available to a client that will be gentle on both the budget and the environment.