Ecotricity (green energy with no abattoir waste)
Ecotricity is presently the only greener supplier that does not animal waste from abattoirs or factory farms (which obviously make money from selling it). Businesses with solar panels can sell excess energy back to them, for passive income. Founder Dale Vince owns EcoTalk, a phone company powered by this energy, that uses profits to fund rewilding projects.
Is it Worth Installing Solar Panels?
The sun is a large nuclear reactor that can release photons (pockets of energy) to create energy when photons hit solar panels (made from silicone dioxide – refined sand). Inverters change direct current (like from an AA battery) to alternating current (like from the grid).
Solar energy does have wildlife issues (abroad, some creatures have been incinerated), though some solar farms are creating wildlife corridors and alternative fencing methods to try to keep wildlife away, and using repurposed mine land. Others leave surrounding areas to ‘rewild’ and avoiding mowing lawns during breeding seasons.
England obviously gets less sun. Oxford University’s Physics Department has recently created solar power, without silicon panels. Their light-absorbing material is for coating onto mobile phones, rucksacks and even vehicles.
Solar panels are now installed on 1 in 20 buildings in England, with quick payback times for schools, hospitals, prisons and large offices, that can sell excess energy back to the grid.
Modern systems have attached batteries, so can be installed on flat or sloping roofs to face any direction, and ‘store energy’ while you’re out, to use at night (watching TV, cooking, baths etc).
Any installation under 50 kilowatts should be conducted by an installer registered with MSC (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) the standards body for small-scale sustainable energy systems. This ensures installations are safe.
