Introduction to Domestic Renewable Low Carbon Technologies (Level 2 Award – CQ11641/001)

This course provides an introduction to renewable technologies including: biomass, heat pumps, solar thermal hot water and solar PV.

In 2019, the UK government set out a target, enshrined in the Climate Change Act (2008), to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across the whole UK by 2050. Decarbonising homes is central to achieving that target and there is an urgent need to address the carbon emissions produced in heating and powering domestic properties. While the electricity powering lighting and appliances is decarbonising fast, the majority of homes still rely on burning fossil fuels for heating, hot water and cooking.

This course will provide an introduction to the role domestic scale renewable technologies can play in reducing carbon emissions. It will provide a non-technical explanation of how the technologies work, the factors to consider when installing these technologies, costings, potential carbon savings and their advantages and drawbacks.

Course audience

Anyone who requires an introduction to the decarbonising energy use in the home through the installation of the main renewable technologies.

Pre-requisite

The course requires no prior knowledge of biomass, heat pumps (air and ground source), solar thermal hot water and solar photovoltaics.

As this is a level 2 qualification delegates will require basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Course aim

The overall aim of the course is to explain the role the key domestic renewable technologies – biomass heaters and boilers, heat pumps, solar thermal hot water and solar photovoltaics – can play in decarbonising energy use in the home.

Course objectives

Explain:

  • decarbonisation
  • the main renewable heat technologies – biomass, heat pumps and solar thermal hot water
  • renewable electricity – solar photovoltaics
  • the factors to consider before installing domestic renewable technologies
  • advantages and drawbacks of the main technologies
Course content

The course will be broken down into four sections as follows:

Session 1 – Background and Biomass

  • What is decarbonization?
  • Energy use in the home and emissions
  • How to decarbonize domestic energy use
  • Financial support – ECO, Boiler Upgrade Scheme, Local Authority Deliver (England only), Home Upgrade Scheme (England only) and Nest (Wales only)
  • Role of biomass:
    • biomass fuels
    • technologies – stoves and pellet boilers
    • emissions and regulations
    • storage and delivery
    • advantages and drawbacks of biomass
    • property/ householder checklist – what the householder should be considering when installing this technology in terms of property characteristics and their circumstances

Session 2 – Heat Pumps

  • How they work
  • Types of heat pump
  • Focus on air source and ground source
  • Heat distribution systems
  • Cost and maintenance
  • Advantages and drawbacks
  • Property/ householder checklist

Session 3 – Solar Thermal Hot Water

  • How it works
  • Solar collectors
  • Ideal setting
  • Output
  • Cost and maintenance
  • Advantages and drawbacks
  • Property/ householder checklist

Session 4 – Solar PV

  • Electricity use in the home
  • How solar PV works
  • Output
  • Ideal setting
  • Grid-tied battery storage
  • Cost and maintenance
  • Advantages and drawbacks
  • Property/ householder check

Please note that the content of this course focuses on England and Wales. If you are based in Northern Ireland or Scotland, please contact NEA to discuss the main differences in content.

Delivery method

Webinar / open book assessment

How will the WEBINAR work?

Webinars are delivered live by our expert tutors.

We keep group sizes small to ensure a good level of interaction and support for learners.

We generally use Zoom (video conferencing facilities). To join the webinar, learners will require a suitable electronic device with sound and internet access and preferably a video camera and microphone.

Following the webinar learners will also receive a handout booklet covering the course topics.

How will the ASSESSMENT work?

The assessment consists of one open book exam which will take around 3 hours to complete.

There are no set assessment dates to attend, upon completion of the course, learners will be sent a link to access the exam online to complete and submit within two weeks. The open book format also means that learners are able to refer to their course handouts to complete the exam.

This qualification has been accredited as a Customised Qualification and we have benchmarked the qualification’s learning outcomes and assessment criteria at Level 2 to allow you to demonstrate the difficulty and depth of study.

NCFE is an awarding organisation recognised by the qualification regulators for England (Ofqual), Wales (Qualifications Wales) and Northern Ireland (CCEA Regulation). This is an unregulated qualification and is not a nationally recognised qualification

Duration

Course – two x half-day webinars followed by an open book assessment, there are no set timescales for the assessment but it is expected to take around 3 hours.

Fees

Places are available free of charge to non-commercial organisations such as Age UK. Learners must also be frontline workers (staff or volunteers) that encounter those in or at risk of fuel poverty.

Webinar dates / bookings

The following dates have been scheduled for Age UK. Please select the relevant date to book a place:

07-08 November 2023 (9:15am registration for a 9:30am start – 12:00pm) – CLICK HERE TO BOOK

For further details please contact:

lynsey.thompson@nea.org.uk

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