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Author Topic: Efficiency of Solar and Wind Energy?  (Read 301 times)
Sissy
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« on: June 22, 2011, 07:13:24 AM »

We've bought some property in West Texas and it is completely off-grid.  Exploring the options for water was easy...but power is very confusing.  We are not really building a house.  We have a 30x10 travel trailer and we're going to build a 30x10 cinder block room/building...all covered with a nice sturdy roof.  As far as power usage...I like electronics...but keep in mind they wouldn't all be used at once!  LOL
There are 2 of us...so, 2 lcd tvs (26in and 32in), various game consoles (ps3, wii), 2 computers (1 desktop, 1 laptop), 2 of those small fridges, 1 small deep freeze and 2 or 3 window unit air conditioners and I would PREFER an electric stove (or hot plate), and while my water will be heated with electric, it's one of those that heats the water as you use it.  Also could possibly be a well pump.  And you know...other electrical things you find around all houses...lights, fans, microwave,  etc.  We were thinking we would put solar panels on the roof and maybe install a turbine, so that we would generate power 24 hours a day.  The question is...how many panels would we likely need? Would just 1 turbine be useful? And most importantly...ABOUT how much would we be looking at?  I just mean like a ballpark figure..20-30K...50-60K....what?  I know the area gets on average 330 days a year of at least 12 hours of sun...and being it's a valley, the winds run almost constantly at 6-8 mph in the day and up to 15 or so at night.
Also, would we need batteries?  And if so, how many and how much would that add?
I would REALLY appreciate some help!  And I don't mind if you're a salesman...I tend to remember those who help me!  :-)
Sorry I rambled a bit...but just adding things as I think of them.
If there's any other information that would help you to help me...PLEASE ask!  :-)
Thanks for reading!
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Abhishek_Sin
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« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2011, 02:02:24 AM »

IT CAN BE RENEWED ALSO AFTER ITS USE.
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J_
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Posts: 11


« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2011, 01:42:30 PM »

For your situation as you want it, you would need batteries, a lot of them.  PV panels are about 17% efficient at conversion.  You can use solar to preheat water and use for heat as well.

A trailer has poor insulation so you need to figure out how to block it from the wind, and improve the window seals.  To keep the hot out and the cold out as well.  

If you have decent wind, and steady- a windmill or two would be of more use to you than you know.  If you really are wanting to be off grid, and minimal impact- use a couple solar water panels and a wood fired water heater.  http://www.lindsaybks.com has a small publication on making one for a hot tub- this will work for domestic hot water too.  Consider this instead of the electric point of use water heaters which use 5 to 30 Kilowatts in use.  A propane fired unit would make more sense for you.  Propane for cooking as well.  One small burner of an electric stove is 220 volts- and 1000 to 1500 Watts   The inverters for 220 are not cheap nor is the heavy wire that would be required.  You can get idea of prices http://www.northerntool  pick either alternative energy or just inverters.  

The reason for batteries is to able to store power generated by panels or wind turbines at periods of time you are not using electricity.  Turbines will work all day as long as the wind is blowing above 15 MPH, you can get some useful info at http://www.awea.org  download their small wind guide.  Northerntool also has wind turbines and solar panels.

If you were to attempt all solar panels, you would need in excess of 5KW for reliable power on the lower use side.  Plus about 10 forklift batteries for the way you "want."  Expect to pay in the range of 50,000 dollars for the system less installation costs.    

With wind you can dump the excess power into heating elements in a water tank or into resistors indoors, or even into baseboard heat units if wired correctly- without the need for an inverter.

What really works against you is the aluminum wiring in the trailer.  It is just not up to the current required at low voltages.  100 watts at 120 VAC for example is less than an ampere.  100 Watts at 12 volts is almost 9 Amps- the practical limit for the gauge of aluminum wire in use in most trailers.  

So a practical setup with you changing to propane heat, cooking and hot water would be about 2 to 3 kilowatts of generation, either from panels or turbines or combination of both.  One forklift battery might be enough, two would be better.  This could be done for less than 30,000 dollars.

It might make a good deal of sense for you to spend a lot of time on this site: http://www.builditsolar.com

The best solution is to also put up a well insulated structure to live in addition to the power generation.  Building codes are amenable to alternative building methods such as straw bale, rammed earth, cordwood, and other nonconventional materials and methods.  You might need to locate the online information and references to get some approvals as a homestead- a requirement if any loans or insurance is involved.
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salt_sun_and_time_
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Posts: 1


« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2011, 08:30:15 AM »

you can use hydrogen stored..in ammonia.

also you need an ammonia cracker and hydrogen fuel cells !!
ask for informations.  

attention
ammonia is dangerous, a solution is to put its tank under water.
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Reta_Strange
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Posts: 1


« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2011, 06:23:14 AM »

ITS AMAZINGTry this link :)http://cidai.info/116795/electric--stove
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Felts_Welch
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Posts: 1


« Reply #5 on: June 29, 2011, 06:57:08 AM »

It's AMAZING Good luck to you. http://keensearch.info/164538/house-light
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