Renewable energy: The pros and cons of its use for retrofit in domestic and commercial settings

Abstract

Renewable energy is one of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, held aloft as the panacea to take us out of the energy and carbon crisis and into a place of energy resilience. The ‘trilemma’ of ‘keeping the lights on’, being cost-effective, and reducing carbon emissions is met in part by this technology. Businesses and domestic customers alike are increasingly interested in what renewable energy has to offer, but are often confused by the available options, pitfalls and potential complications of becoming involved in renewable microgeneration. This article aims to address this issue with an overview of each of the technologies, their relative merits and the incentives available to help make renewable energy a worthwhile investment. Case studies are also included as examples of the use of the renewable energy and the investment opportunity that it holds.