Introduction to Domestic Renewable Low Carbon Technologies CQ11641/001 (Level 2)
WEBINAR – IN-PERSON COURSE
The UK government set out a target, enshrined in the Climate Change Act (2008), to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across the whole of the 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.
Anyone who requires an introduction to decarbonising energy use in the home through the installation of the main renewable technologies.
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.
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
The course will be broken down into four sections as follows:
Background and Biomass
- What is decarbonisation?
- Energy use in the home and emissions
- How to decarbonise 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
- 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
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
Solar Thermal Hot Water
- How it works
- Solar collectors
- Ideal setting
- Output
- Cost and maintenance
- Advantages and drawbacks
- Property/ householder checklist
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 course content will focus mainly on England and Wales. If you are based in Northern Ireland or Scotland and interested in this course, please contact trainingadmin@nea.org.uk before booking so we can discuss the main differences.
The standard course is delivered across two half-day webinars followed by an open book assessment which will be released to learners at the end of the course. The assessment usually takes around three hours to complete.
COURSE – generally delivered online via webinar but can also be delivered in-person upon request.
The information on this page relates to webinar delivery only.
If you are interested in an in-person course, please contact trainingadmin@nea.org.uk for further details.
ASSESSMENT – also delivered online as an open book assessment.
Find out more
Webinars are delivered live by our expert tutors and designed for small groups, ensuring a high level of interaction, engaging activities, and support throughout.
We typically use Zoom for our online sessions.
To join, learners will need a device with internet access and sound capability, along with a microphone and webcam to enable full participation.
Once booked, learners should receive a confirmation of booking e-mail. Joining instructions will be sent the week before the course.
We offer a programme of open access webinars for individuals to enrol onto.
Yes, in-house/ group webinars can be arranged upon request. Please contact us for further details.
In-house/ group courses can be delivered in person upon request. Please contact us for further details and fees.
After the session, learners will receive a handout booklet summarising and reinforcing the key topics covered during the course.
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, learners will require basic literacy and numeracy skills.
Upon successful completion of the course, learners will be invited to complete an assessment to achieve the Level 2 NCFE qualification – Introduction to Domestic Renewable Low Carbon Technologies (CQ11641/001).
There are no fixed assessment dates to attend. The assessment is completed in an open‑book, take‑home format that will be issued to learners at the end of the course.
Learners will have two weeks from the date of issue to complete and submit their assessment. As this is an open‑book assessment, learners are actively encouraged to refer to their course materials and handouts when completing the assessment.
The recommended study and assessment completion time is approximately 3 hours.
Funded places are available to non-commercial/ not for profit organisations based in England and Wales (such as local authorities, housing associations, advice agencies etc). Learners must also be frontline staff or volunteers that encounter and provide advice to those in or at risk of fuel poverty.
This applies to to online delivery only.
All courses and processes are assessed in line with BSI ISO 9001 quality management standards.
To maintain their effectiveness, courses are reviewed and updated on a regular basis. If you identify any gaps, inaccuracies, or areas for improvement, we encourage you to share your feedback with us.
If you have any questions, please contact us to discuss.
Fees and funded places
| Eligibility criteria for a funded place |
|---|
| FUNDED PLACES are available to non-commercial organisations based in England and Wales (such as local authorities, housing associations, advice agencies etc). Learners must also be frontline staff or volunteers that encounter and provide advice to those in or at risk of fuel poverty. Online delivery only. For those not eligible for a funded place, please select the relevant fee rate above for further details. |
| Not for profit organisation | Commercial organisation | |
|---|---|---|
| Open access webinar – per person | £245 plus VAT | £270 plus VAT |
| Group webinar – per course | Contact NEA for details | Contact NEA for details |
| In-person – per course | Contact NEA for details | Contact NEA for details |
| Not for profit organisation | Commercial organisation | |
|---|---|---|
| Open access webinar – per person | £270 plus VAT | £300 plus VAT |
| Group webinar – per course | Contact NEA for details | Contact NEA for details |
| In-person – per course | Contact NEA for details | Contact NEA for details |
access member prices
Join a national network working to end fuel poverty and access exclusive resources, expert insights, and discounted rates on NEA training courses.
