@Collins since you're in a farm have you thought or already implemented biogas. I am thinking if you have a generator that can run on biogas isn't that a cheaper option as compared to solar? With domestic biogas usage, you don't have to incur the cost of compressing it. On Mon, Jun 9, 2014 at 9:54 PM, Collins Areba | Tel +254 707 750 788 | twitter @brainiacKE <arebacollins@gmail.com> wrote:
@Wilson, (FYI I intend to go fully renewable here at the farm: animals and plants farm, not server farm)
Here is the logic I use. 1: The Primary ways I use power the most is Heating, and Cooling. That covers almost 70% of my energy costs. (refridgeration, cold rooms, chillers, etc etc). Space heating, AC2s , etc.
2: The second highest is in heating: Water heating.
3: The Other really heavy usage of energy is in Pumping (stationary prime mover pumping for about six or seven hours.
4: For me lighting, computers and entertainment (TV, radio etc) fall under "misc" and are less than 5% of the house.
Primary production will be solar (For purposes of this Ill use Solar because thats practical in a lot of cases.) The challenge is how to produce, and store enough energy to do what one needs to do throughout. This is where costs suddenly skyrocket.
My Theory: If I can find alternative ways of storing "Heat", and "Cold" that are cheap, easy to bulk and affordable, I can easily triple Production of power from my budget.
So far ways Im thinking of doing this are:
a) Find ways of using something like Nitrogen as a heat exchanger, storing "cold" for use when needed. This would take the form of freezing nitrogen, then releasing it to some heat exchange medium to release coolness. If I get a Nitrogen powered freezer, the better. Obviously other materials may apply better than Nitrogen.
b) Find ways of storing heat, Off the cuff Im thinking replicating a big thermos flask. Obviously sizing it up and going large. Find ways of pre-heating food , or a liquid heat exchanger system for doing even things like cooking...
c) Efficient design: Looking at structures at the farm in view of conservaton.... etc etc etc..
Thats the plan.. Whether this works enough to make it fully independent however is another story... will keep updates coming.
On Fri, Jun 6, 2014 at 8:32 PM, Thuo Wilson <lixton@gmail.com> wrote:
Kind Regards, Wilson./
On 3 June 2014 23:30, Aiizo Aiizo <aaiizo@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi Wilson ..
kindly clarify the statement .. Finally i realised, Solar power isn't cheap at all and this is in comparison to which part of the grid power .. installation + recurring running cost or just recurring running costs
To answer that, answer me the following;
1. What would it cost and wattage to light up and power all home accessories(fridge, hifi and media players, tv, heaters etc ) (say a-massionette or a bungalow) with security lights. 2.
The lifetime of the solar unit and its power banks and their costs. 3. What is maintenance cost of the solar power system and the "throughput" (of the same).
In my calculations, with the cheapest kit + dry-batteries i would do 10-20 years to cover the ksh.200, 000 (-batteries) unit that would barely light 3-5bulbs + 1tv, 1hifi (no fridge or heaters)....
its a business/environmental case but doesn't make economical sense - again just a hype.
Installation cost is nothing, 10-20k depending on where and work to be done.
I stand to be corrected if there are cheaper solar systems out there....
On Thursday, May 29, 2014 1:26 PM, Thuo Wilson <lixton@gmail.com> wrote:
On 28 May 2014 17:25, Job Muriuki <muriukin@gmail.com> wrote:
Proper Sizing of the required battery bank has to be done to prevent unwanted wastage. The number of solar panels is dictated by the size of the battery bank which further depends on the requirement.
You don't what a situation where the batteries are undercharged as this destroys them. Consider the right inverter size for your load as over-sizing results to overall system inefficiency if the load is way lower than the inverter output power.
===========================================================================
Lastly solar power is expensive both installing and running as the cost per kwh is higher as compared to mains power for the same task. Unless there is no mains electricity or you what backup go for solar.
At last someone reasons like me on the last bit. Was tempted to install last year but "called myself for a special economic forum meeting". Finally i realised, Solar power isn't cheap at all BUT only environmental friendly. If you breakdown the cost + maintenance + lifetime of the same, its not worth it. Just a hype. I have done my maths and can attest to this.
Kind Regards, Wilson./
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