Evaluate
The site information has shown that solar hot water,PV or a wind turbine could be integrated into an energy system for the house, the next evaluation required is research into each possible system or combination.
Solar hot water
There were 2 options for solar hot water a D I Y build or a commercial route I have friends who have gone down the D I Y route and are happy with there system where I gained valuable experience in both the construction and installation stage, costing £385 using second hand and recycled equipment. I have relatives who have a commercial systems when they moved to a property with an evacuated tube single collector system and extra large storage tank, they meet all they needs for 9 months per year using immersion heater for the rest of the year a similar system would cost between £3250-£6000 installed. There is a third option to buy a commercial system and self install £1400 plus the cost of scaffolding £700. These systems are connected to existing hot water systems. I have a combi gas boiler which instantaneously heats water for the heating and hot water system and does not have a hot water storage tank. This factor would have to be included as the cost of a storage tank and change over system range between £500- £1000. This system does have the benefit of built in redundancy with the ability to use gas, solar electricity or mains power.
Wind turbine
The choices for wind turbines for domestic use are typically1KVA or less designed for a battery charging system which is equivalent to 4 x 250 watt solar panels, larger turbines need greater foundations and planning regulations.The larger blade width
and potential noise factor make them less desirable. The cost range between £400 -£1000 for turbine plus £200 £300 per battery and £150 for controllers.
Solar PV
A solar PV systems have a 2 main design formats the first is commercial installed feeding the national grid with a feed in tariff of 43pence per KWH however the government has changed this amount to 21 pence making this type of system less viable with a break even point of 10-15 years based on current energy prices. The maximum size for home systems is 4KW which equates to 16 panels per system. This system has maintenance via the contract company included for a number of years, the power generated is guaranteed by the feed in tariff even if you have used all the power you have generated.
The other type of system is a battery system that charges a battery bank typically charging via a charge controller to 12/24 or 36 volt systems.Then using an inverter to change the voltage to 230 volts for connection to the domestic system.
This system has advantages as a 12 volt system can be used in a low volt system, many appliances can use12 volt also in the event of mains power disruption can be used via an inverter for domestic uses. The system requires a battery bank and regular maintenance.
Embodied energy
The embodied energy is the power taken in the production of the components of any given system including the transport and installation. This could be a problem on a small system as installation costs which include scaffolding are the same for larger projects extending the break even point past the viable life span of the system. The energy produced by any given system must produce significant energy return for the project to be energy and cost viable.
System choice
The design I will be using is a solar battery combination followed by a wind turbine in stage 2 the reason are as follows,
Solar hot water
There were 2 options for solar hot water a D I Y build or a commercial route I have friends who have gone down the D I Y route and are happy with there system where I gained valuable experience in both the construction and installation stage, costing £385 using second hand and recycled equipment. I have relatives who have a commercial systems when they moved to a property with an evacuated tube single collector system and extra large storage tank, they meet all they needs for 9 months per year using immersion heater for the rest of the year a similar system would cost between £3250-£6000 installed. There is a third option to buy a commercial system and self install £1400 plus the cost of scaffolding £700. These systems are connected to existing hot water systems. I have a combi gas boiler which instantaneously heats water for the heating and hot water system and does not have a hot water storage tank. This factor would have to be included as the cost of a storage tank and change over system range between £500- £1000. This system does have the benefit of built in redundancy with the ability to use gas, solar electricity or mains power.
Wind turbine
The choices for wind turbines for domestic use are typically1KVA or less designed for a battery charging system which is equivalent to 4 x 250 watt solar panels, larger turbines need greater foundations and planning regulations.The larger blade width
and potential noise factor make them less desirable. The cost range between £400 -£1000 for turbine plus £200 £300 per battery and £150 for controllers.
Solar PV
A solar PV systems have a 2 main design formats the first is commercial installed feeding the national grid with a feed in tariff of 43pence per KWH however the government has changed this amount to 21 pence making this type of system less viable with a break even point of 10-15 years based on current energy prices. The maximum size for home systems is 4KW which equates to 16 panels per system. This system has maintenance via the contract company included for a number of years, the power generated is guaranteed by the feed in tariff even if you have used all the power you have generated.
The other type of system is a battery system that charges a battery bank typically charging via a charge controller to 12/24 or 36 volt systems.Then using an inverter to change the voltage to 230 volts for connection to the domestic system.
This system has advantages as a 12 volt system can be used in a low volt system, many appliances can use12 volt also in the event of mains power disruption can be used via an inverter for domestic uses. The system requires a battery bank and regular maintenance.
Embodied energy
The embodied energy is the power taken in the production of the components of any given system including the transport and installation. This could be a problem on a small system as installation costs which include scaffolding are the same for larger projects extending the break even point past the viable life span of the system. The energy produced by any given system must produce significant energy return for the project to be energy and cost viable.
System choice
The design I will be using is a solar battery combination followed by a wind turbine in stage 2 the reason are as follows,
- The contract company used google earth to look at the site when I first called for a quote they informed me that the roof area has the capacity for 6 x 250w panels which would only yield 1.5kw and was the minimum they could install to be cost effective. The break even point would take longer as the installation cost were similar to a 4kw system this seamed like a poor investment £700 for scaffolding equates to 2 or 3 extra solar panels if placed on the lower workshop roof.
- Learning to use power in different way would be an experiment and may need access to panels.
- Building and installing a battery system is more complicated however if the long term goal is to be off grid this seams the better approach.
- Access to the garage and workshop roof is much easier than the house roof enabling development of any system.
- Starting small and developing the solar system with the wind in the second phase should yield more combined power with higher wind and lower light levels in winter.
- The cost for any commercial system seamed extortionate which has been corroborated by the fact that as feed in tariffs have fallen and the break even point has extended, many companies have reduced there pricing policy.
- I can invest in the system of a longer period of time as funds become available by starting with a modest system.
- I can use recycled equipment to reduce costs, learning solar systems and sharing knowledge within permaculture would be great idea.