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Fossil Fuels – The Real Cost
Would it surprise you to know that the price you pay for fossil fuels could be as little as 20% of their real cost? That's because they're often subsidised by the government. Cynics would say that this is to keep prices low and ensure that business keeps booming for the people who control the resources and, in many ways, history shows they're right.
Wind Turbine Installations
When your wind turbine, site location and tower are selected, installation planning comes in. Setting up a small wind turbine can be dangerous and taxing even for the most skilled mechanic or contractor.
Compelling Reasons for Renewable Energy
Many people who consider installing renewable energy systems in their homes are put off by the relatively high investment. Why would you choose a solar thermal system that could cost thousands of dollars when you can buy an electric water heater for a couple hundred?
Heat Load Analysis - Heating Degree Days
If you have a heat-load analysis performed on your property, the results are likely to come back in a very odd measurement: Btu per heating degree day per square foot. How can you use this to work out your solar thermal space heating requirements?
How do Batteries Work?
Why is a battery bank necessary? Because an off-grid system does not allow you to store electricity easily and economically. There are other ways to store electricity but they are more expensive.
How to Size PV Battery Backups
The more energy you consume, the bigger the storage facility you need. Buckets are measured in liters or gallons; battery capacity is measured in watt- or amp-hours. If the battery uses a higher voltage source for charging (like a full-strength PV array), you will enjoy a higher voltage recharge – a battery bank of 24V can record a 30V voltage when it goes through equalization charging.
What are Diversion Loads?
An electrical load is normally required all the time to work a wind or hydro turbine. The energy generated from these sources needs to be redirected elsewhere when the batteries are fully charged. This is where the diversion load steps in.
Equalizing Battery Charging
CAUTION!
Sealed or "maintenance-free" batteries need no equalization charging.
Equalizing these batteries can cause fire or explosion.
The equalization process can be visualized as batteries being buckets with electricity being the water filling the buckets. One bucket is one battery cell.
What is Inverter Capacity?
Inverter capacity is the amount of power which can be supplied continuously by the unit. The inverter rating must be at least 25% more than the total power required by all connected appliances operating simultaneously. Multiple inverters can be series-wired or parallel-wired for the required capacity.