86 Practical Alternative Energy Applications

86 Practical Alternative Energy Applications

I am often asked about the suitability of alternative energy,

photovoltaics in particular, in different applications.

The following is very biased towards pragmatic thinking and

reflects my empirical opinions.

They do not reflect environmental concerns nor do they

address reliability concerns.

example:

You have a barn or other outbuilding fifty feet from you home or office.

The main building has utility power.

Is it wise to install solar or wind power for lighting and or a small

inverter.

In most cases it would be much less costly to trench or make an

aerial run to bring utility power in from the main building.

example:

You have a barn or other outbuilding five-hundred feet, or is up a steep

slope, from you home or office.

The main building has utility power.

Is it wise to install solar or wind power for lighting and or a small

inverter.

In most cases it would be much less costly and less labor intensive

to install a solar or wind system to provide power.

example:

You purchased some land outside of town.

The local utility company wants twenty to fifty thousand dollars

to install a meter on your property line.

For that kind of money you can install an alternative energy system

and not contend with an electric bill each month.

The batteries can last, depending on the type used and how you

treat them, from two to twelve years.

Many people in this situation are choosing an alternative energy

system.

As a note.

With a utility based system you can use (i.e. waste) as much power

as you like each month and only have to deal with the shock when the

electric bill comes in.

In some cases your conscience may cause you to consider

that you are helping to degrade our environment.

Living with an alternative energy system adds some responsibility to

your life style.

Leaving all of the lights on, or having the television on when no one

is there to watch it, is not the way to do things when you have to

produce your own power.

Conventional electrical power sources are considered to be never-ending

by many people.

Whether or not you agree with this assumption, in an alternative energy

powered home the truth rears its ugly head.

You can not use more power than you are making.

We have many customers who have off-grid homes or cabins and use

solar or wind energy every day.

Whenever possible they only fire up the generator on Saturdays or Sundays.

You have to use the washing machine and power tools at least once a week.

In many instances an alternative energy system makes

perfect sense when the overall cost is compared to

conventional power installations.

In some areas where utility power reliability is questionable

an alternative energy system, be it a stand-alone or a utility

integrated (battery based), is the best way to go.

We are in a fairly densely populated area. One of the largest

utility sub-stations in California is at the back of our property.

Currently we have, at name plate rating, app. 2,500 watts of

photovoltaic generating capacity in operation.

A small portion is grid-intertie and the balance is in battery based

systems.

Other than having 100% continuity of power, we do it because

this is what we choose to do.

John

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