As I think about what I’ll look for in my first electric car, one of my primary concerns is range. I didn’t invent the term “Range Anxiety”, but that is precisely what I am feeling. I think about the driving I’ll do, and how I’ll be limited by lack of range. When I want to visit my daughter, 95 miles away, I realize that the round-trip will not be possible with most electric cars in my price range. I know that charging stations will be popping up everywhere, but will I find one when I need one? When I get to one, will I have to wait in line? My “Range Anxiety” is likely to be replaced by “Charging Station Anxiety”, once I actually own an electric car.
It seems that GM considered “Range Anxiety” when they decided to put a gas-engine in their Volt. If it delivers as promised, it will be an excellent choice. On the other hand Nisson just doesn’t seem to get it. Their Leif car not only doesn’t have a gas-engine, it also requires a special charger, and that charger is not portable. Trips to visit my daughter in a Leaf are out. I won’t be able to recharge for the trip back home. The Leif would be great for my daily work commute, but I would have to own a second car for longer trips.
The Plug-in Prius, expected to be available in 2012, will be a wise choice for some. For those who drive less than 13 miles per day, as many commuters do, it will do that without using a drop of gas. After the initial 13 miles, it becomes an efficient gas-powered car, getting up to 50 miles per gallon. Like the Volt, there will be no range anxiety with a Plug-in Prius. And with it's smaller battery pack, the Plug-in Prius should cost less than the Volt. The Plug-in Prius can be charged in 3 hours or less, using a standard 110 volt outlet. For those who can charge while at work, electric-only round-trip (work commute) range will be 26 miles.
It’s not hard to predict how we’ll drive in the future. The Volt and the Plug-in Prius will be excellent cross-over cars, until technology catches up and solves the range problem with the early electric-only cars. It’s bound to happen. With tens of thousands of batteries in production, prices will drop and performance will improve. This is precisely what has happened with televisions, computers, and just about everything else in mass-production. And keep in mind that the total cost of ownership includes more than just the purchase price. Televisions, for example, once had tubes in them. Those TV’s quickly disappeared when they became too expensive to maintain. And like televisions, VCR’s were once large and expensive. Now we get the same results with a smaller and much less expensive device. Electric cars will be much less expensive to fuel, repair and maintain.
Nisson is not the only car company that “doesn’t get it”. Many manufacturers think we’ll settle for “Clown Cars”. (That’s what they look like to me). Not only do I not want to be seen in such a car, I wouldn’t dare drive it on an expressway. I would be better off with a golf cart for neighborhood-only driving.
Making safe electric cars will be a big challenge. A lighter car will deliver greater range per charge, but will probably be less safe in an accident than a heavier car. On the other hand, I can’t imagine anything more dangerous than sitting a few feet from 15 gallons of gasoline and a hot engine. Battery-powered cars will have devices designed to cut power in the event of a crash.
How much will it cost to drive a Plug-in Prius?
According to the Plug-in Prius webpage, it will take 1000 watts for 3 hours (3kwh) to charge the Plug-in Prius, and you’ll be able to drive 13 miles on a full charge.
If electricity costs 10 cents per kwh, 13 miles of driving in a Plug-in Prius will cost 30 cents in electricity.
If gasoline costs $3.00 per gallon, and you drive a car that gets 26 miles per gallon, it will cost $1.50 in gas to drive 13 miles.
In some locations, electric rates vary, depending on the time of day. In fact, I pay less than 3 cents per kwh late at night. At that rate, my cost to drive a Plug-in Prius, for the first 13 miles, will be less than 9 cents. Now 13 miles doesn’t sound like a lot, but my work commute (before I moved to GTMO) was about 13 miles. With the Plug-in Prius, I will trade $30.00 in gasoline for $1.80 in electricity each month. After the first 13 miles, Plug-in Prius gas range is expected to be about 50mpg, or about twice as good as the car I currently drive.
Someday soon, owning a gas-powered car will be like owning a television from the 60’s. Unless it’s a “Show Car”, it just won’t make sense. It might be fun to keep one around to tinker with, but it will not be practical as a source of transportation. Some will have trouble leaving the memories behind, like the sound of a well-tuned V8 engine, but I can live without it. I can live without the grease, pollution, and noise. If I have to have high-performance, I’ll save up for a Tesla Roadster.
Range anxiety is likely to be a household term soon, but we’ll quickly forget about that, just as we’ve forgotten about all of those VCR’s that constantly flashed 12:00. The Volt and the Plug-in Prius will soon be thought of as a sensible forms of transportation, but years from now we’ll think of them as quaint.
John
Showing posts with label Electric Vehicles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Electric Vehicles. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
The Smart Grid and You
If you’re reading this you’re probably someone who takes responsibility for your own future, instead of waiting for the government or someone else to do things for you. Perhaps you’ve already installed solar panels, instead of waiting for substantial rebates or subsidies. You don’t get excited when you hear about a breakthrough, and you’re not waiting for a dramatic price reduction of solar panels. You may not be able to justify the high cost based on the electricity your system produces, but you have no regrets. You have a system that provides an emergency source of electricity to serve when the grid fails, and you have some protection from the inevitable rate increases. And, should you experience a total melt-down of society, you’re better equipped to live a self-sufficient lifestyle than those who don’t have these systems.
As content as you might be with your own efforts, it’s good to see environmentally-beneficial government-supported projects when they do occur. The Smart Grid is a project that recently received significant funding from the Obama Administration, and those of us who already have solar- or wind-power systems will benefit to a greater extent than those who don’t.
The Smart Grid, when implemented, will be a modernization of the current electrical generation and distribution system. The Smart Grid will be an automated network, with a two-way flow of electricity and information. Extensive monitoring will result in a much more efficient system, benefiting electricity providers, as well as consumers. Providers will be better equipped to reduce generation and transmission costs, and consumers will be better prepared to make decisions affecting their use of electricity and control cost. The Smart Grid will have a positive environmental benefit as well.
Monitoring and control will extend beyond the generation and transmission infrastructure. In-home monitoring and control is another characteristic of the Smart Grid. Consumers will have real-time cost information, helping them to manage electricity use in order to save money. Additionally, smart appliances in the home will use this information to automatically reduce energy usage. Use of the cost-saving features built into smart appliances will be voluntary, not mandatory. Users will have the ability to override these cost-saving features if they so desire.
Other characteristics of the Smart Grid are its ability to accept power from solar and wind systems, and to utilize energy storage devices. This should be particularly interesting to those who have solar or wind systems, and to those who plan to purchase an electric vehicle. You may be an electricity provider someday, and you’ll be paid for it.
While some will simply ignore the available information concerning the cost of electricity, others will minimize their use when the cost is high. Doing laundry, running the dishwasher, and vacuuming are all chores that can be done when rates are low. If you have a solar electric system or a wind turbine, you have an additional option; use energy from your system when grid-supplied electricity is expensive, and use grid-supplied electricity when the cost is low. That, of course, is intuitive and many are already doing that. However, there are other strategies that may result in additional savings. For example; consider charging batteries when electric rates are low, and use the stored energy when rates are high. The battery charger could be controlled by a timer, set to be powered-up when rates are low, and to switch off when rates are high. Better yet, the battery charger could be switched on and off via a “Smart Controller”. A Smart Controller would be a device that can switch power to an outlet on and off based on preset electricity rate thresholds. I’m not aware that such a device exists, but it soon will. You’ll need a battery charger, (like the one described here), that will not overcharge your batteries.
Those who’ll benefit most from the Smart Grid will be, no doubt, those who drive Plug-in-Electric-Vehicles (PHEV’s). Most will be charged at night, when electric rates are low. Consider for a moment that you’ll pay about twenty cents per kwh for electricity during periods of peak demand, and less than two cents per kwh when demand is low. (These figures are based on my actual cost for electricity as a participant in a program offered by my provider). While your cost to top off the battery during the day might be as much as 3 dollars, the cost at night could be less than 30 cents. Replacing gasoline with electricity for transportation could result in a savings of $1000.00 each year. At 3 dollars per gallon, cutting gasoline use by one gallon a day would accomplish that. Those who need to charge their PHEV’s during the day, night-shift workers for example, would benefit by installing a PV system.
Some PHEV’s will be connected to the grid during the day, returning excess power to the grid during periods of peak demand. This concept, known as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, is another example of an innovation made possible by a Smart Grid implementation that will benefit providers and users of electricity. Theoretically, you could earn money by connecting a PHEV to the grid. If you recharge at night when rates are low, and return power to the grid when rates are high, you might find that the power company owes you money at the end of the month. You’ll not only eliminate your use of gasoline, you could fuel your car at no cost at all. Your actual results will depend on the number of miles you drive each day.
“Ask not what the grid
can do for you. Ask what you can do for the grid – and
prepare to get paid for it!”
Your contribution to the grid, as small as it might be, will be an important part of the Smart Grid. Solar, wind, and V2G systems will increase the number of electricity providers dramatically. The result will be a broad distribution system that is less vulnerable to natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Utilities will have better control of resources, reducing the need to add power plants simply to meet peak demands.
Whether you’re an electricity provider, consumer, or both, you need to be able to measure the flow of electricity to be able to control it. The Smart Grid will provide that capability, and pave the way for the development of tools to better manage electricity. Pilot projects have already shown that Smart Grid technology not only enhances electric grid reliability and reduces outages, but also creates smaller electricity bills for consumers and could alleviate the need for additional infrastructure. The Smart Grid connects consumers to the grid in a way that is beneficial to both. This is the dawn of some pretty interesting innovations.
John
As content as you might be with your own efforts, it’s good to see environmentally-beneficial government-supported projects when they do occur. The Smart Grid is a project that recently received significant funding from the Obama Administration, and those of us who already have solar- or wind-power systems will benefit to a greater extent than those who don’t.
The Smart Grid, when implemented, will be a modernization of the current electrical generation and distribution system. The Smart Grid will be an automated network, with a two-way flow of electricity and information. Extensive monitoring will result in a much more efficient system, benefiting electricity providers, as well as consumers. Providers will be better equipped to reduce generation and transmission costs, and consumers will be better prepared to make decisions affecting their use of electricity and control cost. The Smart Grid will have a positive environmental benefit as well.
Monitoring and control will extend beyond the generation and transmission infrastructure. In-home monitoring and control is another characteristic of the Smart Grid. Consumers will have real-time cost information, helping them to manage electricity use in order to save money. Additionally, smart appliances in the home will use this information to automatically reduce energy usage. Use of the cost-saving features built into smart appliances will be voluntary, not mandatory. Users will have the ability to override these cost-saving features if they so desire.
Other characteristics of the Smart Grid are its ability to accept power from solar and wind systems, and to utilize energy storage devices. This should be particularly interesting to those who have solar or wind systems, and to those who plan to purchase an electric vehicle. You may be an electricity provider someday, and you’ll be paid for it.
While some will simply ignore the available information concerning the cost of electricity, others will minimize their use when the cost is high. Doing laundry, running the dishwasher, and vacuuming are all chores that can be done when rates are low. If you have a solar electric system or a wind turbine, you have an additional option; use energy from your system when grid-supplied electricity is expensive, and use grid-supplied electricity when the cost is low. That, of course, is intuitive and many are already doing that. However, there are other strategies that may result in additional savings. For example; consider charging batteries when electric rates are low, and use the stored energy when rates are high. The battery charger could be controlled by a timer, set to be powered-up when rates are low, and to switch off when rates are high. Better yet, the battery charger could be switched on and off via a “Smart Controller”. A Smart Controller would be a device that can switch power to an outlet on and off based on preset electricity rate thresholds. I’m not aware that such a device exists, but it soon will. You’ll need a battery charger, (like the one described here), that will not overcharge your batteries.
Those who’ll benefit most from the Smart Grid will be, no doubt, those who drive Plug-in-Electric-Vehicles (PHEV’s). Most will be charged at night, when electric rates are low. Consider for a moment that you’ll pay about twenty cents per kwh for electricity during periods of peak demand, and less than two cents per kwh when demand is low. (These figures are based on my actual cost for electricity as a participant in a program offered by my provider). While your cost to top off the battery during the day might be as much as 3 dollars, the cost at night could be less than 30 cents. Replacing gasoline with electricity for transportation could result in a savings of $1000.00 each year. At 3 dollars per gallon, cutting gasoline use by one gallon a day would accomplish that. Those who need to charge their PHEV’s during the day, night-shift workers for example, would benefit by installing a PV system.
Some PHEV’s will be connected to the grid during the day, returning excess power to the grid during periods of peak demand. This concept, known as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, is another example of an innovation made possible by a Smart Grid implementation that will benefit providers and users of electricity. Theoretically, you could earn money by connecting a PHEV to the grid. If you recharge at night when rates are low, and return power to the grid when rates are high, you might find that the power company owes you money at the end of the month. You’ll not only eliminate your use of gasoline, you could fuel your car at no cost at all. Your actual results will depend on the number of miles you drive each day.
“Ask not what the grid
can do for you. Ask what you can do for the grid – and
prepare to get paid for it!”
Your contribution to the grid, as small as it might be, will be an important part of the Smart Grid. Solar, wind, and V2G systems will increase the number of electricity providers dramatically. The result will be a broad distribution system that is less vulnerable to natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Utilities will have better control of resources, reducing the need to add power plants simply to meet peak demands.
Whether you’re an electricity provider, consumer, or both, you need to be able to measure the flow of electricity to be able to control it. The Smart Grid will provide that capability, and pave the way for the development of tools to better manage electricity. Pilot projects have already shown that Smart Grid technology not only enhances electric grid reliability and reduces outages, but also creates smaller electricity bills for consumers and could alleviate the need for additional infrastructure. The Smart Grid connects consumers to the grid in a way that is beneficial to both. This is the dawn of some pretty interesting innovations.
John
Saturday, May 30, 2009
My Off-Grid Photovoltaic System and This Blog
You might have noticed a decline in the number of posts to this blog since the first of this year. The decline is primarily due to the fact that my off-grid system hasn’t changed much over the past 6 months. I’ve slowed down because I now pretty much have what I want; a system that can meet my basic needs for electricity during a grid power failure, and one that provides enough energy to significantly lower my electric bill. I’ve also added automation to my system, providing additional protection for my batteries while optimizing power output.
I’ll probably never have enough PV-provided electricity to meet all of my needs, but I can get by pretty comfortably most of the time with the system I now have. It’s important to mention that my need for electricity during a grid-power failure varies with each season. Lengthy periods of cold weather provide the greatest challenge. In addition to the electricity needed for lighting, refrigeration, cooking, and communications, I’ll need electricity to keep my home warm. I can easily use up all of my stored energy during extended periods of cloud cover. With that in mind, I plan to add another PV panel this year, and one or more next year. Other than that, I have no other significant upgrade plans. I’ll maintain this slow but steady progress unless I see a dramatic increase in the cost of grid-supplied electricity, or a dramatic decrease in the cost of solar panels. I hope to drive an electric car within the next two years, and I would love to power it with solar. This is not practical now, with PV panels costing $5.00 per watt.
Here is an overview of my system:
Type: Off-grid
PV: 7 X 85, or 595 watts
Batteries: GC2’s wired for 12 volts, 900ah.
Spare Battery Bank: Marine Deep Cycle, 420ah.
Controller: TriStar 60 with meter and remote temperature probe
Inverter: Exeltec 12-volt, 1100-watt pure sine wave
Automation: Morningstar Relay Driver programmed to enable/disable the inverter and an Iota Transfer Switch
When I started installing solar PV, my primary goal was to become more self-sufficient, especially in the event of a major disaster. From time to time I need to remind myself that water and food are much more important than electric lights in the event of such a disaster. That’s why you’ll find so many articles about growing and preserving food in this blogs archives. You’ll also find articles concerning alternative heating, another necessity for surviving in the event of a loss of natural gas and grid-supplied electricity.
I hope that you’ll browse my archives now and then for ideas, and comment. Let’s learn from each other.
John
I’ll probably never have enough PV-provided electricity to meet all of my needs, but I can get by pretty comfortably most of the time with the system I now have. It’s important to mention that my need for electricity during a grid-power failure varies with each season. Lengthy periods of cold weather provide the greatest challenge. In addition to the electricity needed for lighting, refrigeration, cooking, and communications, I’ll need electricity to keep my home warm. I can easily use up all of my stored energy during extended periods of cloud cover. With that in mind, I plan to add another PV panel this year, and one or more next year. Other than that, I have no other significant upgrade plans. I’ll maintain this slow but steady progress unless I see a dramatic increase in the cost of grid-supplied electricity, or a dramatic decrease in the cost of solar panels. I hope to drive an electric car within the next two years, and I would love to power it with solar. This is not practical now, with PV panels costing $5.00 per watt.
Here is an overview of my system:
Type: Off-grid
PV: 7 X 85, or 595 watts
Batteries: GC2’s wired for 12 volts, 900ah.
Spare Battery Bank: Marine Deep Cycle, 420ah.
Controller: TriStar 60 with meter and remote temperature probe
Inverter: Exeltec 12-volt, 1100-watt pure sine wave
Automation: Morningstar Relay Driver programmed to enable/disable the inverter and an Iota Transfer Switch
When I started installing solar PV, my primary goal was to become more self-sufficient, especially in the event of a major disaster. From time to time I need to remind myself that water and food are much more important than electric lights in the event of such a disaster. That’s why you’ll find so many articles about growing and preserving food in this blogs archives. You’ll also find articles concerning alternative heating, another necessity for surviving in the event of a loss of natural gas and grid-supplied electricity.
I hope that you’ll browse my archives now and then for ideas, and comment. Let’s learn from each other.
John
Monday, December 08, 2008
Smart Appliances and the ZigBee Alliance
Imagine a vending machine that dispenses candy at a low price in the morning, but charges more for the same product in the afternoon. You would tend to make purchases in the morning, wouldn’t you? For those of us who pay for electricity based on demand, the grid is like that vending machine. We take advantage of the price differences by doing laundry, running the dishwasher, and using other appliances during those hours when electric rates are low. We ease up on heating and cooling when electric rates are high.
Although we make an effort to use electricity as efficiently as possible, our appliances don’t always cooperate. My refrigerator, for example, tends to go through its “defrost” cycle when electric rates are high. The energy consumption of my refrigerator while in defrost cycle is three times as high as when the refrigerator is running normally. Short of rewiring my refrigerator for manual defrost, there doesn’t seem to be much I can do about it, but that may soon change. Soon we’ll be able to buy “Smart” appliances. My refrigerator, for example, will no longer switch to “defrost” mode when electricity is expensive. Additionally, temperature settings could be adjusted upward slightly when electric rates are high, and lowered when rates go down. Because these changes will be small, you’ll save money without jeopardizing the contents of your fridge. Signals from the utility company will trigger the setting changes.
Smart appliances do more than cut your electric bill, they also benefit electricity providers. They reduce the peak demand, resulting in less strain on the power grid. With widespread use of smart appliances, slight adjustments to each one would result in a significant demand reduction system wide without a noticeable change at your home.
Most people, I suspect, won’t rush out to buy new appliances just to take advantage of this technology. You’ll probably wait to replace your refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, air-conditioner, and other appliances until a product failure creates a need. The first smart product you might buy, and perhaps the most useful of all, is an “In-Home Display”. This device receives real-time rate and consumption data from your electric meter. Not only will you know the exact cost of electricity at any time of the day, a quick glance at the color-coded display tells you if rates are low, medium, or high. With this device, you’ll know the best time to run the dishwasher and other appliances. You’ll know when it’s advantageous to cut back on the air conditioning a bit.
As useful as the “In-Home Display” shown here is, it lacks one important feature. It doesn’t have the ability to control other devices. If it included that feature you might use the device to perform one or more of the following functions:
Enable a battery charger when electric rates are low.
Enable supplemental heating when electric rates are low.
Pump water when electric rates are low.
Disable non-critical electrical devices when electric rates are high.
Charging batteries while rates are low would provide you with stored energy that could be used when rates are high. Supplemental heating could lower overall heating costs by limiting the amount of time the primary heater runs when rates are high. Water pumping could be enabled when rates are low, minimizing the need to pump water when rates are high.
Smart products, like the ones described here, are built around “ZigBee” technology. ZigBee is a wireless control technology that offers product manufacturers and developers the ability to build reliable, cost effective, low-power wireless control products. The ZigBee Smart Energy Profile was completed in January of 2008. A product achieves ZigBee Certified Product status after successfully passing certification testing. In addition to display units, ZigBee Smart Energy Thermostats are available at the time of this writing, and smart appliances should be available sometime next year. It is important to note that for Smart Energy products to work, you must also have a “smart” electric meter. My meter was installed when I enrolled in Ameren’s Power Smart Pricing program.
This technology will not be limited to communications and appliance control. V2G is another application of ZigBee technology that will someday benefit the consumer as well as the utility provider.
John
About Power Smart Pricing: http://www.powersmartpricing.org/
About the InHomeDisplay: http://www.comverge.com/products/ihd.cfm
Another Display Product: http://www.lsr.com/smartenergy/
A list of ZigBee Smart Energy products currently available: http://electronics.ihs.com/news/2008/zigbee-certifies-smart-energy.htm
About the ZigBee Smart Energy Profile: http://www.industrial-embedded.com/news/db/?10035
Although we make an effort to use electricity as efficiently as possible, our appliances don’t always cooperate. My refrigerator, for example, tends to go through its “defrost” cycle when electric rates are high. The energy consumption of my refrigerator while in defrost cycle is three times as high as when the refrigerator is running normally. Short of rewiring my refrigerator for manual defrost, there doesn’t seem to be much I can do about it, but that may soon change. Soon we’ll be able to buy “Smart” appliances. My refrigerator, for example, will no longer switch to “defrost” mode when electricity is expensive. Additionally, temperature settings could be adjusted upward slightly when electric rates are high, and lowered when rates go down. Because these changes will be small, you’ll save money without jeopardizing the contents of your fridge. Signals from the utility company will trigger the setting changes.
Smart appliances do more than cut your electric bill, they also benefit electricity providers. They reduce the peak demand, resulting in less strain on the power grid. With widespread use of smart appliances, slight adjustments to each one would result in a significant demand reduction system wide without a noticeable change at your home.
Most people, I suspect, won’t rush out to buy new appliances just to take advantage of this technology. You’ll probably wait to replace your refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, air-conditioner, and other appliances until a product failure creates a need. The first smart product you might buy, and perhaps the most useful of all, is an “In-Home Display”. This device receives real-time rate and consumption data from your electric meter. Not only will you know the exact cost of electricity at any time of the day, a quick glance at the color-coded display tells you if rates are low, medium, or high. With this device, you’ll know the best time to run the dishwasher and other appliances. You’ll know when it’s advantageous to cut back on the air conditioning a bit.
As useful as the “In-Home Display” shown here is, it lacks one important feature. It doesn’t have the ability to control other devices. If it included that feature you might use the device to perform one or more of the following functions:
Enable a battery charger when electric rates are low.
Enable supplemental heating when electric rates are low.
Pump water when electric rates are low.
Disable non-critical electrical devices when electric rates are high.
Charging batteries while rates are low would provide you with stored energy that could be used when rates are high. Supplemental heating could lower overall heating costs by limiting the amount of time the primary heater runs when rates are high. Water pumping could be enabled when rates are low, minimizing the need to pump water when rates are high.
Smart products, like the ones described here, are built around “ZigBee” technology. ZigBee is a wireless control technology that offers product manufacturers and developers the ability to build reliable, cost effective, low-power wireless control products. The ZigBee Smart Energy Profile was completed in January of 2008. A product achieves ZigBee Certified Product status after successfully passing certification testing. In addition to display units, ZigBee Smart Energy Thermostats are available at the time of this writing, and smart appliances should be available sometime next year. It is important to note that for Smart Energy products to work, you must also have a “smart” electric meter. My meter was installed when I enrolled in Ameren’s Power Smart Pricing program.
This technology will not be limited to communications and appliance control. V2G is another application of ZigBee technology that will someday benefit the consumer as well as the utility provider.
John
About Power Smart Pricing: http://www.powersmartpricing.org/
About the InHomeDisplay: http://www.comverge.com/products/ihd.cfm
Another Display Product: http://www.lsr.com/smartenergy/
A list of ZigBee Smart Energy products currently available: http://electronics.ihs.com/news/2008/zigbee-certifies-smart-energy.htm
About the ZigBee Smart Energy Profile: http://www.industrial-embedded.com/news/db/?10035
Thursday, November 20, 2008
A Note to the President Elect
Since off-grid solar systems and bio-fuel home heating are not exactly mainstream, I often use on-line forums as an opportunity to learn from others. I contribute to those forums when I think that others can benefit from my experiences. On one such forum I noted that I’ve reduced my fossil fuel use by nearly 50% over the past three years, and I mentioned that if everyone would do that the impact would be tremendous. Someone followed my comments with the comment “You should tell the president about that.” I believe the follow-up comment was meant to be sarcastic, but then again it sounded like a good idea. Here is my message to Barak Obama, via his website, change.gov
Dear Mr. President Elect;
Under your leadership I’m confident that our nation is about to experience a period of unprecedented technological growth, and that we will finally begin to address the energy crisis and the climate crisis. The purpose of this message is to suggest ideas that if implemented, will lead to success. First of all, let me tell you about my own work:
My goal is to stop using fossil fuels and to help others do the same. I’ll not use fossil fuel for transportation or home heating, and I’ll stop using electricity generated by coal-fired power plants. I’ll generate my own electricity, and grow my own bio-fuel using farming techniques that do not rely on fossil fuel. I’ll drive electric vehicles. I’ll do all of these things without sacrificing comfort or my quality of life.
I’ve been working toward this goal for nearly three years, and I’ve already cut my fossil fuel use by almost 50%. I share what I learn with others, via my blog: http://solarjohn.blogspot.com My accomplishments have been due to conservation, energy-efficiency improvements, the implementation of solar photovoltaics, and home heating via bio-fuel. If everyone would do what I’ve already done, the impact on the economy and the environment would be staggering. I’ve done these things on a modest budget, and without financial help of any kind. That brings me to my suggestions.
Although grants are available in some states for putting solar panels on public buildings, and organizations like the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) in Colorado receive federal funds, I have been unable to find any source of financial assistance for the important work I am doing. While putting solar panels on a few buildings may result in a good photo opportunity, it does little to help reduce our dependence on foreign oil. State and Federal Government spend too little on renewable energy projects, and money is not spent wisely. Please make money available to people like me who are working on worthwhile projects. I’ve accomplished a lot, but just imagine how much more I could do with funding.
Secondly, I respectfully ask that you put engineers and scientists in charge once again. Engineers and scientists gave us an industrial revolution and put a man on the moon, but things are much different today, now that lobbyists and money managers are in charge. We now have a financial crisis on top of other problems. It’s time for new leadership in important government positions.
And finally, make it easier to buy electric cars and make solar panels and other alternative energy products more affordable. With your help, ordinary people like me will show the skeptics that alternative energy can eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. For many of us this is an effort to build a better future for our grandchildren. We are dedicated, and with your help we will succeed. With your help, eliminating oil imports during your administration is possible.
John
Dear Mr. President Elect;
Under your leadership I’m confident that our nation is about to experience a period of unprecedented technological growth, and that we will finally begin to address the energy crisis and the climate crisis. The purpose of this message is to suggest ideas that if implemented, will lead to success. First of all, let me tell you about my own work:
My goal is to stop using fossil fuels and to help others do the same. I’ll not use fossil fuel for transportation or home heating, and I’ll stop using electricity generated by coal-fired power plants. I’ll generate my own electricity, and grow my own bio-fuel using farming techniques that do not rely on fossil fuel. I’ll drive electric vehicles. I’ll do all of these things without sacrificing comfort or my quality of life.
I’ve been working toward this goal for nearly three years, and I’ve already cut my fossil fuel use by almost 50%. I share what I learn with others, via my blog: http://solarjohn.blogspot.com My accomplishments have been due to conservation, energy-efficiency improvements, the implementation of solar photovoltaics, and home heating via bio-fuel. If everyone would do what I’ve already done, the impact on the economy and the environment would be staggering. I’ve done these things on a modest budget, and without financial help of any kind. That brings me to my suggestions.
Although grants are available in some states for putting solar panels on public buildings, and organizations like the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) in Colorado receive federal funds, I have been unable to find any source of financial assistance for the important work I am doing. While putting solar panels on a few buildings may result in a good photo opportunity, it does little to help reduce our dependence on foreign oil. State and Federal Government spend too little on renewable energy projects, and money is not spent wisely. Please make money available to people like me who are working on worthwhile projects. I’ve accomplished a lot, but just imagine how much more I could do with funding.
Secondly, I respectfully ask that you put engineers and scientists in charge once again. Engineers and scientists gave us an industrial revolution and put a man on the moon, but things are much different today, now that lobbyists and money managers are in charge. We now have a financial crisis on top of other problems. It’s time for new leadership in important government positions.
And finally, make it easier to buy electric cars and make solar panels and other alternative energy products more affordable. With your help, ordinary people like me will show the skeptics that alternative energy can eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. For many of us this is an effort to build a better future for our grandchildren. We are dedicated, and with your help we will succeed. With your help, eliminating oil imports during your administration is possible.
John
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Smart Transportation
Finding a car that is gentle on the environment, and fuel-efficient may be easy in Southern California, but choices are limited here in Southern Illinois. Ask about an electric car here, and dealers are likely to point to the golf-cart they use to transport customers around the lot. The 2005 Smart-ForTwo shown here seems to be way over priced at a local dealership.
They tell me there's a waiting list for these cars. I think I'll wait instead for a plug-in-electric. GM, Ford, and Toyota plan to offer plug-in-hybrid cars by 2010.
Can't wait for an electric car? You could buy a Prius now, and spend another $10,000 to have it converted to plug-in, but that seems a bit pricey to me. No, I think I'll wait instead to choose from the available 2010 models.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Are Electric Cars More Harmful to the Environment than Gasoline-Powered Cars?
Because we’re likely to see a massive shift to personal electric transportation in the next few years, this is an important question. Ideally we should reduce our carbon footprint in the transition, not increase it, but here are the facts:
• Burning a gallon of gasoline releases 19.6 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere.
• A gallon of gasoline has as much energy as 33kwh of electricity.
• For every kwh of electricity that a coal-fired power plant produces, 2.2 pounds of CO2 is released into the atmosphere.
These statistics seem to indicate that it is better to burn a gallon of gasoline and release 19.6 pounds of CO2 than to use an equivalent amount of electricity and release 72.6 pounds (33kwh X 2.2 pounds), into the atmosphere. It seems that driving an electric car will be much more harmful to the environment than driving a gasoline-powered car. Could this be true?
These statistics suggest that an electric car, starting with a fully charged 33kwh battery pack, would travel as far as a similarly-sized gasoline powered car could go on a single gallon of gasoline. However, the Chevy Volt is expected to be able to travel 40 miles on a fully-charged 16kwh battery pack. What gives? The discrepancy is due primarily to the fact that electric motors are 90 to 95% efficient, while gasoline engines are only 20 to 30% efficient. In reality, driving an electric car will produce about the same amount of pollution as driving a gasoline-powered car, it just moves the source of the pollution from the tailpipe to the power plant.
The net result, it seems, is that we accomplish nothing by switching to electric cars, but that’s not entirely true either. It’s easier to stop pollution at a few power plants, than it is to stop it at the tailpipes of millions of cars. Electric cars also give us the opportunity to use electricity from clean sources, such as solar PV panels or hydro-electric plants. So instead of releasing millions of tons of pollution each year, we’ll soon have an opportunity to drive our personal automobiles without releasing any CO2 into the atmosphere. That’s something we’ll never be able to do with gasoline-powered cars.
The millions of electric cars we’ll see on the road within a few years will all need to be recharged each night. It’s clear that our priority as a nation should be to clean-up or eliminate coal-fired power plants. Expensive schemes, such as carbon sequestration, are not the best use of federal funds. Promoting solar-, wind-, and hydro-power would be better. Energy from a modestly-sized solar-electric (PV) array on a single residential rooftop can offset 2000 pounds of CO2 each day, so just imagine how beneficial a million solar roofs would be. That’s 2 billion pounds of CO2 each day!
Concerned about electric car performance? Don’t be. Electric cars can be built to be both highly efficient and very quick. Tesla Motors has already proven that. Increasing the size of an electric motor improves both horsepower and efficiency. On the other hand, a big motor is needed to make a gasoline-powered car quick, but gas mileage suffers as a result.
Driving a personal automobile doesn’t have to be an environmental disaster. The switch to electric transportation can have a positive effect on the environment. All that we need now is intelligent leadership and an aggressive plan. Maybe if we can get our politicians to stop taking money from coal and oil interests, we might just get legislation that is good for the environment for a change.
John
Sources:
Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center:
http://cdiac.ornl.gov/pns/faq.html
Chevy Volt Site:
http://gm-volt.com/
Tesla Paper:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/greendorm/participate/cee124/TeslaReading.pdf
• Burning a gallon of gasoline releases 19.6 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere.
• A gallon of gasoline has as much energy as 33kwh of electricity.
• For every kwh of electricity that a coal-fired power plant produces, 2.2 pounds of CO2 is released into the atmosphere.
These statistics seem to indicate that it is better to burn a gallon of gasoline and release 19.6 pounds of CO2 than to use an equivalent amount of electricity and release 72.6 pounds (33kwh X 2.2 pounds), into the atmosphere. It seems that driving an electric car will be much more harmful to the environment than driving a gasoline-powered car. Could this be true?
These statistics suggest that an electric car, starting with a fully charged 33kwh battery pack, would travel as far as a similarly-sized gasoline powered car could go on a single gallon of gasoline. However, the Chevy Volt is expected to be able to travel 40 miles on a fully-charged 16kwh battery pack. What gives? The discrepancy is due primarily to the fact that electric motors are 90 to 95% efficient, while gasoline engines are only 20 to 30% efficient. In reality, driving an electric car will produce about the same amount of pollution as driving a gasoline-powered car, it just moves the source of the pollution from the tailpipe to the power plant.
The net result, it seems, is that we accomplish nothing by switching to electric cars, but that’s not entirely true either. It’s easier to stop pollution at a few power plants, than it is to stop it at the tailpipes of millions of cars. Electric cars also give us the opportunity to use electricity from clean sources, such as solar PV panels or hydro-electric plants. So instead of releasing millions of tons of pollution each year, we’ll soon have an opportunity to drive our personal automobiles without releasing any CO2 into the atmosphere. That’s something we’ll never be able to do with gasoline-powered cars.
The millions of electric cars we’ll see on the road within a few years will all need to be recharged each night. It’s clear that our priority as a nation should be to clean-up or eliminate coal-fired power plants. Expensive schemes, such as carbon sequestration, are not the best use of federal funds. Promoting solar-, wind-, and hydro-power would be better. Energy from a modestly-sized solar-electric (PV) array on a single residential rooftop can offset 2000 pounds of CO2 each day, so just imagine how beneficial a million solar roofs would be. That’s 2 billion pounds of CO2 each day!
Concerned about electric car performance? Don’t be. Electric cars can be built to be both highly efficient and very quick. Tesla Motors has already proven that. Increasing the size of an electric motor improves both horsepower and efficiency. On the other hand, a big motor is needed to make a gasoline-powered car quick, but gas mileage suffers as a result.
Driving a personal automobile doesn’t have to be an environmental disaster. The switch to electric transportation can have a positive effect on the environment. All that we need now is intelligent leadership and an aggressive plan. Maybe if we can get our politicians to stop taking money from coal and oil interests, we might just get legislation that is good for the environment for a change.
John
Sources:
Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center:
http://cdiac.ornl.gov/pns/faq.html
Chevy Volt Site:
http://gm-volt.com/
Tesla Paper:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/greendorm/participate/cee124/TeslaReading.pdf
Friday, August 15, 2008
Sizing Your Off-Grid Solar Electric System
The average US home consumes about 940kwh of electricity each month. For many, electricity use could be cut in half with a serious conservation effort. But if you had to rely on a small photovoltaic (PV) system could you get by on 120kwh per month?
To get by on less you’ll first need to make sure you’re using electricity as efficiently as possible. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent (CFL’s) is a good start. You’ll also benefit by eliminating phantom loads and replacing inefficient appliances. I’ve listed many more things you can do in previous posts, so I won’t repeat them here. Check this blog’s archives for that information.
Living (comfortably) off-grid on less than 120kwh of electricity per month (about 4kwh per day) may sound impossible, but you just might be able to do it. Here’s how:
Of the 20 or so 13 watt CFL lights in your home, you might use each (on the average) 1 hour per day. So, 13 times 20 times 1 = 260 watt/hours. Shown below is the total for lights, and a list of other ways you might use this limited supply of electricity.
Lights: 13 watts X 20 hours = 260 watt/hours
Refrigerator: 50 watts (average) X 24 hours = 1200 watt/hours
TV and Cable box: 125 watts X 3 hours = 375 watt/hours
Radio: 5 watts X 6 hours = 30 watt/hours
Fans: 35 watts X 16 hours = 560 watt/hours
Computer and monitor: 120 watts X 2 hours = 240 watt/hours
Microwave oven: 1000 watts X 0.5 hours = 500 watt/hours
Toaster: 900 watts X 0.1 hours = 90 watt/hours
Vacuum Cleaner: 750 watts X .2 hours = 150 watt/hours
Cell Phone Battery Charger: 25 watts X 2 hours = 50 watt/hours
Washing Machine: 500 watts X .25 hours = 125 watt/hours
Iron: 1000 watts X .25 hours = 250 watt/hours
Total: 3930 watt/hours per day
How you use the available electricity will not exactly match my list of course. This is simply an example to show how you might get by on much less electricity than you’re currently using. Off-grid doesn’t have to mean living like a caveman. A small PV system can meet most of your electrical needs, including a limited amount of cooking and climate control. As long as you have other systems in place for heating, cooling, and other high-energy devices, you could live quite comfortably on much less than you currently use.
Why is this important?
Most of us purchase electricity from our local utility company for less than 2% of our household income. Because grid-supplied electricity is inexpensive and convenient, few people have any interest in alternatives at this time. But just as gasoline prices have skyrocketed in the last two years, we’ll soon see the cost of electricity increase dramatically. Most consumers will deal with this by cutting back, but some will choose to disconnect from the grid. A PV system large enough to meet your current electricity requirements may cost 25 to 35 thousand dollars. For most, reducing usage and installing a smaller PV system will be easier and less costly than installing a system big enough to meet current demands for electricity.
What would this smaller PV system cost?
First of all it’s important to understand that a system capable of providing 4kwh of electricity a day will not provide 4kwh on a cloudy/rainy day. Typically, a lack of sunshine prompts the user to either cut back on electricity use that day, or to use another source of electricity during those times, typically a generator. It is also important to understand that we’re discussing an off-grid system, not a grid-tied system. An off-grid system includes the extra expense of batteries, and is not as efficient as a grid-tied system. Your system design might include a battery bank large enough to compensate for a day or two of cloudy conditions.
PV panels produce electricity when the sun strikes them, but are most productive during hours of peak-sunlight, or stated another way, when the sun is almost directly overhead. We’ll do our calculations based on an average of 4 hours of sunlight each day. A 100 watt solar panel can produce 400 watts/hours (100 watts times 4 hours) of power each day. It follows then that to get 4000 watt/hours (4kwh)from the panels each day, you’ll need 1000 watts of PV panels. To make up for system inefficiencies, you should shoot for at least 1200 watts of PV. That would be 12 one hundred watt panels for example. If you shop around, you’ll find solar panels for less than $4.50 per watt, so you’ll spend about $5400.00 for PV panels alone. You’ll also need a charge controller, batteries, an inverter, panel mounting hardware, wire, and safety components. These items can be bought for $2600.00 if you shop around. If you’re not able to do the installation yourself, you might spend another $3000.00 for that, making your total cost about $11,000.00. If this sounds expensive, don’t forget that it eliminates your electric bill. The system could pay for itself in 5 years, or less as electricity prices increase. And since solar panels can be expected to last in excess of 20 years, you’ll be getting many years of low-cost electricity after that.
Using your system:
Your small system may not always keep up with your needs, but you’ll learn techniques to maximize efficiency. Using energy from the sun as it’s generated (instead of storing it in batteries for later use), increases system efficiency greatly. By using the vacuum cleaner, washing machine, and other appliances during peak-sunlight hours you eliminate losses associated with converting, storing, and retrieving energy. Your goal should be to use electricity wisely, ensuring a surplus. That surplus will come in handy when it’s cloudy.
Conclusion:
Having your own power plant means that you’ll not be affected by outages and brown-outs that grid-connected customers often experience. News reports about rate increases will no longer concern you. You’ll feel good knowing that by disconnecting from the grid you’re not contributing to the environmental problems associated with mining and burning coal to produce electricity. By installing your own PV system you’ll be taking an important step toward personal electric transportation, or as a politician might say eliminating your “addiction to oil”. Declining oil supplies will soon usher in the age of electric cars, and it’s not unreasonable to think that someday you’ll be able to drive on free energy from the sun. That’s something to get excited about!
John
To get by on less you’ll first need to make sure you’re using electricity as efficiently as possible. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent (CFL’s) is a good start. You’ll also benefit by eliminating phantom loads and replacing inefficient appliances. I’ve listed many more things you can do in previous posts, so I won’t repeat them here. Check this blog’s archives for that information.
Living (comfortably) off-grid on less than 120kwh of electricity per month (about 4kwh per day) may sound impossible, but you just might be able to do it. Here’s how:
Of the 20 or so 13 watt CFL lights in your home, you might use each (on the average) 1 hour per day. So, 13 times 20 times 1 = 260 watt/hours. Shown below is the total for lights, and a list of other ways you might use this limited supply of electricity.
Lights: 13 watts X 20 hours = 260 watt/hours
Refrigerator: 50 watts (average) X 24 hours = 1200 watt/hours
TV and Cable box: 125 watts X 3 hours = 375 watt/hours
Radio: 5 watts X 6 hours = 30 watt/hours
Fans: 35 watts X 16 hours = 560 watt/hours
Computer and monitor: 120 watts X 2 hours = 240 watt/hours
Microwave oven: 1000 watts X 0.5 hours = 500 watt/hours
Toaster: 900 watts X 0.1 hours = 90 watt/hours
Vacuum Cleaner: 750 watts X .2 hours = 150 watt/hours
Cell Phone Battery Charger: 25 watts X 2 hours = 50 watt/hours
Washing Machine: 500 watts X .25 hours = 125 watt/hours
Iron: 1000 watts X .25 hours = 250 watt/hours
Total: 3930 watt/hours per day
How you use the available electricity will not exactly match my list of course. This is simply an example to show how you might get by on much less electricity than you’re currently using. Off-grid doesn’t have to mean living like a caveman. A small PV system can meet most of your electrical needs, including a limited amount of cooking and climate control. As long as you have other systems in place for heating, cooling, and other high-energy devices, you could live quite comfortably on much less than you currently use.
Why is this important?
Most of us purchase electricity from our local utility company for less than 2% of our household income. Because grid-supplied electricity is inexpensive and convenient, few people have any interest in alternatives at this time. But just as gasoline prices have skyrocketed in the last two years, we’ll soon see the cost of electricity increase dramatically. Most consumers will deal with this by cutting back, but some will choose to disconnect from the grid. A PV system large enough to meet your current electricity requirements may cost 25 to 35 thousand dollars. For most, reducing usage and installing a smaller PV system will be easier and less costly than installing a system big enough to meet current demands for electricity.
What would this smaller PV system cost?
First of all it’s important to understand that a system capable of providing 4kwh of electricity a day will not provide 4kwh on a cloudy/rainy day. Typically, a lack of sunshine prompts the user to either cut back on electricity use that day, or to use another source of electricity during those times, typically a generator. It is also important to understand that we’re discussing an off-grid system, not a grid-tied system. An off-grid system includes the extra expense of batteries, and is not as efficient as a grid-tied system. Your system design might include a battery bank large enough to compensate for a day or two of cloudy conditions.
PV panels produce electricity when the sun strikes them, but are most productive during hours of peak-sunlight, or stated another way, when the sun is almost directly overhead. We’ll do our calculations based on an average of 4 hours of sunlight each day. A 100 watt solar panel can produce 400 watts/hours (100 watts times 4 hours) of power each day. It follows then that to get 4000 watt/hours (4kwh)from the panels each day, you’ll need 1000 watts of PV panels. To make up for system inefficiencies, you should shoot for at least 1200 watts of PV. That would be 12 one hundred watt panels for example. If you shop around, you’ll find solar panels for less than $4.50 per watt, so you’ll spend about $5400.00 for PV panels alone. You’ll also need a charge controller, batteries, an inverter, panel mounting hardware, wire, and safety components. These items can be bought for $2600.00 if you shop around. If you’re not able to do the installation yourself, you might spend another $3000.00 for that, making your total cost about $11,000.00. If this sounds expensive, don’t forget that it eliminates your electric bill. The system could pay for itself in 5 years, or less as electricity prices increase. And since solar panels can be expected to last in excess of 20 years, you’ll be getting many years of low-cost electricity after that.
Using your system:
Your small system may not always keep up with your needs, but you’ll learn techniques to maximize efficiency. Using energy from the sun as it’s generated (instead of storing it in batteries for later use), increases system efficiency greatly. By using the vacuum cleaner, washing machine, and other appliances during peak-sunlight hours you eliminate losses associated with converting, storing, and retrieving energy. Your goal should be to use electricity wisely, ensuring a surplus. That surplus will come in handy when it’s cloudy.
Conclusion:
Having your own power plant means that you’ll not be affected by outages and brown-outs that grid-connected customers often experience. News reports about rate increases will no longer concern you. You’ll feel good knowing that by disconnecting from the grid you’re not contributing to the environmental problems associated with mining and burning coal to produce electricity. By installing your own PV system you’ll be taking an important step toward personal electric transportation, or as a politician might say eliminating your “addiction to oil”. Declining oil supplies will soon usher in the age of electric cars, and it’s not unreasonable to think that someday you’ll be able to drive on free energy from the sun. That’s something to get excited about!
John
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Future USA
George W has a horrible environmental record as president, but his Texas ranch is off-grid with a variety of renewable energy systems. Although he’s done little to prepare the country for the effects of declining fossil fuel, he hasn’t neglected his own needs. Does he know something about the future that the rest of us don’t? We see skyrocketing gasoline and food prices, but we tend to plan for the future as if we expect things to be pretty much the same as they are today. Are we in a state of denial about our future?
Perhaps we’re all in a state of denial, even large corporations. GM spends an enormous amount of money promoting big cars and trucks, while closing several of its assembly plants due to lack of sales. Shouldn’t they have seen this coming? Why did they let Toyota and Honda take the lead with their fuel-efficient vehicles? GM continues to push it's gas-guzzlers by offering discounts and rebates, even offering to pay a portion of your gas bill. They use slogans like “Let’s Refuel America”. It seems that they’re determined to use up all of the remaining fossil fuel as quickly as possible!
Banks are in trouble, and I wonder why so many of them have been willing to make loans to people who probably won’t be able to keep up with the payments. Again, shouldn’t they have seen this coming? We shouldn’t be shocked when we find ourselves in a society that is much different than the one we live in today. Unlike some car manufacturers and banks, we should see this coming and prepare for it. We already drive less today because of the high cost of gasoline, but we still drive. We’re learning to economize as food prices go up, but we still buy food of course. Today most of us can compensate for rising food and gasoline prices by cutting back here and there, but what will we do if things get worse?
While another terrorist attack could trigger a sudden collapse of our economy, we might suffer more from a gradual decline. If your cost of living outpaces your income long enough, you’re in trouble. You may think that these gloom-and-doom scenarios are unrealistic and choose to do nothing, but if you believe that the worst is yet to come you should prepare as soon as you can. If you wait until things get worse, it will be too late. You’ll be forced to use the renewable energy systems you have in place, not the systems you planned to install someday.
Once you’ve decided to prepare, the next question is “How do I prepare?” How you prepare depends on how you want to live, and on your budget. You might choose to prepare for a total melt-down of society by considering your basic needs, or you might opt for a strategy that attempts to maintain your lifestyle as it was before the melt-down. A reasonable approach would be somewhere in between. Since everyone’s goals and budgets are different, this article is not a one-size-fits-all design guide. Instead, these are some ideas to help you formulate your own plan.
You can probably live as comfortably as you do now, and use half of the resources that you’re currently using, if you’ll simply cut waste. Start by eliminating phantom loads. Put your TV’s, and other items that continue to use power when turned off, on power strips. Get used to powering these items on and off with the power strips on/off switch. Get rid of unnecessary items like hand-lotion warmers. When possible, replace electrical items with mechanical items that serve the same purpose. Alarm clocks, can openers, and doorbells are a few examples. If you haven’t done so already, replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFL’s). Replace old and inefficient appliances, especially your refrigerator. Consider energy-saving home improvements, such as adding insulation and replacing inefficient windows and doors. These things not only help to cut your energy costs, they are a logical prerequisite to implementing alternative energy systems in your home. Having done those things you can get by with a smaller photovoltaic (PV) system, but you’re still not fully prepared to deal with a serious energy crisis. Let’s go beyond the basics.
Do you heat and cool your entire house 24/7? You could cut your heating and cooling costs dramatically if you were to heat and cool only the area’s that you’re using. Is a 14’ by 14’ bedroom really necessary? Couldn’t you sleep just as well in a climate-controlled 6’ by 9’ space? Providing climate control to a much smaller space requires less energy, making it possible to get by with a smaller photovoltaic (PV) system. If you have an unused room in your home, perhaps an unfinished basement with a window, you can easily create a living environment that requires little energy. You can be just as comfortable in a small well insulated space, perhaps with the aid of a window air conditioner or an electric blanket, as you are now in your big bedroom. If you’ll make the necessary adjustments you’ll be able to meet your energy needs with a small PV array, instead of covering your entire south-facing roof and spending $25,000.00. I’ve determined that I can meet my own basic needs with as little as 800 watts of PV panels, and a total investment of less than $6000.00. With 4 hours of sunshine, a system that size can generate 3200 watt/hours each day (not taking into account system losses and inefficiencies). A big portion of the energy I produce will be used to keep a small chest freezer running. I’ll also use cfl’s, radio and tv, cell phone charger, microwave oven, and fans. I’ll have limited use of my corn-burning stove or a window air conditioner. I can summarize my minimum needs as shown below:
Mild Weather Energy Requirements: 1220 watt/hours per day
Hot Weather Energy Requirements: 2530 watt/hours per day
Cold Weather Energy Requirements: 2990 watt/hours per day
If I build a system that barely meets my cold weather requirements, I’ll have shortages on cloudy days. I’ll need to cut back at times. But a system designed to meet my cold weather requirements will give me a surplus of electricity during mild and warm weather, allowing me to use other appliances to a greater extent. I’ve learned techniques that help me get the most from a small system. For example; if I place my chest freezer in the coolest portion of the house, it uses less energy for its operation while providing some heat to that area. I don’t run my refrigerator when the power fails; I use an ice-chest instead. My freezer, which is powered by my PV system, provides the ice.
As you make your plans, don’t neglect your basic needs. You’ll need fresh water on an ongoing basis of course. You might want to visit one of the many survivalist websites for information and ideas along those lines.
Since your need for food is an ongoing one, knowing how to grow and preserve vegetables and fruits is a skill that will serve you well. If you’re already a gardener, enlarge your garden. Tomatoes and other veggies are easy to grow, and easy to preserve. By canning your vegetables, you’ll have a supply of food that doesn’t require refrigeration. It’s a good feeling to know that an extended power failure (or a failure of your PV system), won’t ruin a big portion of your emergency food supply.
“Perhaps the day will come when the United States is no longer addicted to imported oil; but that day is still many years off. For now, the reason for America's rapt attention to the security of the Persian Gulf is what it has always been. It's about the oil.” Ted Koppel
Fighting for control of every last drop of oil is the foundation of this administration’s energy policy, and it will not end well. To the extent that we can, let’s not support this policy. Mass acceptance of renewable energy systems by the general public will show our elected officials, and the rest of the world, that we want to do the right thing. We can do it. We should do it. Future generations will appreciate our efforts.
John
Perhaps we’re all in a state of denial, even large corporations. GM spends an enormous amount of money promoting big cars and trucks, while closing several of its assembly plants due to lack of sales. Shouldn’t they have seen this coming? Why did they let Toyota and Honda take the lead with their fuel-efficient vehicles? GM continues to push it's gas-guzzlers by offering discounts and rebates, even offering to pay a portion of your gas bill. They use slogans like “Let’s Refuel America”. It seems that they’re determined to use up all of the remaining fossil fuel as quickly as possible!
Banks are in trouble, and I wonder why so many of them have been willing to make loans to people who probably won’t be able to keep up with the payments. Again, shouldn’t they have seen this coming? We shouldn’t be shocked when we find ourselves in a society that is much different than the one we live in today. Unlike some car manufacturers and banks, we should see this coming and prepare for it. We already drive less today because of the high cost of gasoline, but we still drive. We’re learning to economize as food prices go up, but we still buy food of course. Today most of us can compensate for rising food and gasoline prices by cutting back here and there, but what will we do if things get worse?
While another terrorist attack could trigger a sudden collapse of our economy, we might suffer more from a gradual decline. If your cost of living outpaces your income long enough, you’re in trouble. You may think that these gloom-and-doom scenarios are unrealistic and choose to do nothing, but if you believe that the worst is yet to come you should prepare as soon as you can. If you wait until things get worse, it will be too late. You’ll be forced to use the renewable energy systems you have in place, not the systems you planned to install someday.
Once you’ve decided to prepare, the next question is “How do I prepare?” How you prepare depends on how you want to live, and on your budget. You might choose to prepare for a total melt-down of society by considering your basic needs, or you might opt for a strategy that attempts to maintain your lifestyle as it was before the melt-down. A reasonable approach would be somewhere in between. Since everyone’s goals and budgets are different, this article is not a one-size-fits-all design guide. Instead, these are some ideas to help you formulate your own plan.
You can probably live as comfortably as you do now, and use half of the resources that you’re currently using, if you’ll simply cut waste. Start by eliminating phantom loads. Put your TV’s, and other items that continue to use power when turned off, on power strips. Get used to powering these items on and off with the power strips on/off switch. Get rid of unnecessary items like hand-lotion warmers. When possible, replace electrical items with mechanical items that serve the same purpose. Alarm clocks, can openers, and doorbells are a few examples. If you haven’t done so already, replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFL’s). Replace old and inefficient appliances, especially your refrigerator. Consider energy-saving home improvements, such as adding insulation and replacing inefficient windows and doors. These things not only help to cut your energy costs, they are a logical prerequisite to implementing alternative energy systems in your home. Having done those things you can get by with a smaller photovoltaic (PV) system, but you’re still not fully prepared to deal with a serious energy crisis. Let’s go beyond the basics.
Do you heat and cool your entire house 24/7? You could cut your heating and cooling costs dramatically if you were to heat and cool only the area’s that you’re using. Is a 14’ by 14’ bedroom really necessary? Couldn’t you sleep just as well in a climate-controlled 6’ by 9’ space? Providing climate control to a much smaller space requires less energy, making it possible to get by with a smaller photovoltaic (PV) system. If you have an unused room in your home, perhaps an unfinished basement with a window, you can easily create a living environment that requires little energy. You can be just as comfortable in a small well insulated space, perhaps with the aid of a window air conditioner or an electric blanket, as you are now in your big bedroom. If you’ll make the necessary adjustments you’ll be able to meet your energy needs with a small PV array, instead of covering your entire south-facing roof and spending $25,000.00. I’ve determined that I can meet my own basic needs with as little as 800 watts of PV panels, and a total investment of less than $6000.00. With 4 hours of sunshine, a system that size can generate 3200 watt/hours each day (not taking into account system losses and inefficiencies). A big portion of the energy I produce will be used to keep a small chest freezer running. I’ll also use cfl’s, radio and tv, cell phone charger, microwave oven, and fans. I’ll have limited use of my corn-burning stove or a window air conditioner. I can summarize my minimum needs as shown below:
Mild Weather Energy Requirements: 1220 watt/hours per day
Hot Weather Energy Requirements: 2530 watt/hours per day
Cold Weather Energy Requirements: 2990 watt/hours per day
If I build a system that barely meets my cold weather requirements, I’ll have shortages on cloudy days. I’ll need to cut back at times. But a system designed to meet my cold weather requirements will give me a surplus of electricity during mild and warm weather, allowing me to use other appliances to a greater extent. I’ve learned techniques that help me get the most from a small system. For example; if I place my chest freezer in the coolest portion of the house, it uses less energy for its operation while providing some heat to that area. I don’t run my refrigerator when the power fails; I use an ice-chest instead. My freezer, which is powered by my PV system, provides the ice.
As you make your plans, don’t neglect your basic needs. You’ll need fresh water on an ongoing basis of course. You might want to visit one of the many survivalist websites for information and ideas along those lines.
Since your need for food is an ongoing one, knowing how to grow and preserve vegetables and fruits is a skill that will serve you well. If you’re already a gardener, enlarge your garden. Tomatoes and other veggies are easy to grow, and easy to preserve. By canning your vegetables, you’ll have a supply of food that doesn’t require refrigeration. It’s a good feeling to know that an extended power failure (or a failure of your PV system), won’t ruin a big portion of your emergency food supply.
“Perhaps the day will come when the United States is no longer addicted to imported oil; but that day is still many years off. For now, the reason for America's rapt attention to the security of the Persian Gulf is what it has always been. It's about the oil.” Ted Koppel
Fighting for control of every last drop of oil is the foundation of this administration’s energy policy, and it will not end well. To the extent that we can, let’s not support this policy. Mass acceptance of renewable energy systems by the general public will show our elected officials, and the rest of the world, that we want to do the right thing. We can do it. We should do it. Future generations will appreciate our efforts.
John
Monday, July 14, 2008
My Renewable Energy Projects, an Update
Solar Water Heater:
My solar swimming pool water heating project is still a work in progress. I now circulate water through 200 feet of pvc tubing mounted in the attic of my storage shed. I pump cool water from the pool, circulate it through the pvc heat exchanger, and return the heated water back into the pool.
The system heats the water nicely, but I seem to have too much pool for the small amount of hot water I’m producing. I’m using an ordinary garden hose for the water input, and it has a tendency to collapse under the vacuum that the pump creates. This restriction lowers the output of the system. I may put this project on hold, since heating the pool water is not necessary this time of year. I suppose I'll work on it again this fall, or next spring.
Home Heating with Corn:
My corn stove saw limited use last winter due to the high cost of corn. Corn was about $2.50 per bushel when I installed the stove, but it’s currently about $7.00 per bushel. The sharp increase was due to the huge demand for corn by the ethanol industry. I expect the cost of corn to decline as cellulosic ethanol plants come on line, and I’ll once again be able to economically use the stove.
If the price of corn remains high, I might try growing it myself (again). I've recently purchased my first piece of equipment to help with the process, an old corn sheller. I found the sheller at an antique store. This should be well worth the 20 dollars I paid for it.
My PV System Automation and Battery Charging:
Summer has arrived, and hot weather has resulted in an increased demand for electricity. My utility rate plan has me paying for electricity based on demand, and the rate has exceeded .17 per kwh a few times. However, my nighttime rates have been surprisingly low, sometimes below .01 per kwh. To take advantage of this large discrepancy, I sometimes charge my batteries at night and use the stored energy to run my refrigerator and freezer during the day when utility rates are high. It seems that switching to a variable electricity rate plan has paid off, and that my load shifting plan is working. Here are some statistics:
My cost for the electricity I used in June of 2008 was $65.38.
My cost for the electricity I used in June of 2007 was $116.31.
I used 625kwh of electricity in June of 2008.
I used 1127kwh of electricity in June of 2007.
Other PV System Statistics:
I currently have 5 – 85 watt PV panels on my roof. I’ve not yet adjusted the angle for the summer sun, so they’re not pointed at an optimal angle. I waited a little too long to do this, and now I want to avoid walking on the roof while the shingles are hot. Later this year I’ll add another PV panel, and I’ll adjust the angle at that time.
In addition to the inefficiency caused by a less-than-ideal angle, I’ve noticed the effect of temperature on the PV panels. I seldom see PV panel current exceed 22 amps. I’ve seen panel current exceed 25 amps during cold weather.
System output averages a little more than 2kwh per day, or about 10% of my total household usage, but that is with a boost from the battery charger. I’m pretty happy with this free, and low-cost, electricity.
Summary:
Some say that unless utility rates are exceptionally high, and renewable energy incentives are exceptionally good, the payback for a solar PV system might be in excess of 25 years. But for those of us who do most of the labor ourselves, and explore ways to improve efficiency, payback can be much quicker. At the same time we benefit from a system that shelters us from utility failures. We can stay comfortably in our homes at a time when others need to abandon theirs. We can keep our refrigerators and freezers running, protecting our food from spoiling. We can keep our communications and entertainment equipment working, and protect our property and belongings. I don’t dwell on the payback period. My system has already paid for itself as far as I’m concerned. My systems can keep me comfortable in my home regardless of outside weather, or disruptions of any of my utilities. My systems are far from complete, but are improving with time. In the not-to-distant future I’ll be able to cut my transportation expenses thanks to my PV system. Perhaps one of these days I’ll be able to pull the plug on all outside services.
John
My solar swimming pool water heating project is still a work in progress. I now circulate water through 200 feet of pvc tubing mounted in the attic of my storage shed. I pump cool water from the pool, circulate it through the pvc heat exchanger, and return the heated water back into the pool.
The system heats the water nicely, but I seem to have too much pool for the small amount of hot water I’m producing. I’m using an ordinary garden hose for the water input, and it has a tendency to collapse under the vacuum that the pump creates. This restriction lowers the output of the system. I may put this project on hold, since heating the pool water is not necessary this time of year. I suppose I'll work on it again this fall, or next spring.
Home Heating with Corn:
My corn stove saw limited use last winter due to the high cost of corn. Corn was about $2.50 per bushel when I installed the stove, but it’s currently about $7.00 per bushel. The sharp increase was due to the huge demand for corn by the ethanol industry. I expect the cost of corn to decline as cellulosic ethanol plants come on line, and I’ll once again be able to economically use the stove.
If the price of corn remains high, I might try growing it myself (again). I've recently purchased my first piece of equipment to help with the process, an old corn sheller. I found the sheller at an antique store. This should be well worth the 20 dollars I paid for it.
My PV System Automation and Battery Charging:
Summer has arrived, and hot weather has resulted in an increased demand for electricity. My utility rate plan has me paying for electricity based on demand, and the rate has exceeded .17 per kwh a few times. However, my nighttime rates have been surprisingly low, sometimes below .01 per kwh. To take advantage of this large discrepancy, I sometimes charge my batteries at night and use the stored energy to run my refrigerator and freezer during the day when utility rates are high. It seems that switching to a variable electricity rate plan has paid off, and that my load shifting plan is working. Here are some statistics:
My cost for the electricity I used in June of 2008 was $65.38.
My cost for the electricity I used in June of 2007 was $116.31.
I used 625kwh of electricity in June of 2008.
I used 1127kwh of electricity in June of 2007.
Other PV System Statistics:
I currently have 5 – 85 watt PV panels on my roof. I’ve not yet adjusted the angle for the summer sun, so they’re not pointed at an optimal angle. I waited a little too long to do this, and now I want to avoid walking on the roof while the shingles are hot. Later this year I’ll add another PV panel, and I’ll adjust the angle at that time.
In addition to the inefficiency caused by a less-than-ideal angle, I’ve noticed the effect of temperature on the PV panels. I seldom see PV panel current exceed 22 amps. I’ve seen panel current exceed 25 amps during cold weather.
System output averages a little more than 2kwh per day, or about 10% of my total household usage, but that is with a boost from the battery charger. I’m pretty happy with this free, and low-cost, electricity.
Summary:
Some say that unless utility rates are exceptionally high, and renewable energy incentives are exceptionally good, the payback for a solar PV system might be in excess of 25 years. But for those of us who do most of the labor ourselves, and explore ways to improve efficiency, payback can be much quicker. At the same time we benefit from a system that shelters us from utility failures. We can stay comfortably in our homes at a time when others need to abandon theirs. We can keep our refrigerators and freezers running, protecting our food from spoiling. We can keep our communications and entertainment equipment working, and protect our property and belongings. I don’t dwell on the payback period. My system has already paid for itself as far as I’m concerned. My systems can keep me comfortable in my home regardless of outside weather, or disruptions of any of my utilities. My systems are far from complete, but are improving with time. In the not-to-distant future I’ll be able to cut my transportation expenses thanks to my PV system. Perhaps one of these days I’ll be able to pull the plug on all outside services.
John
Monday, June 23, 2008
Living a Better Life - Post Oil
Did your parents ever scold you for wasting energy? Did they complain when you didn’t close a door or turn off the light when you left a room? I suspect that most of us were chastised on occasion. Some of us might recall a parent saying; “when you’re paying the electric bill, you can leave the lights on as much as you want”.
By contrast, children of the future might be chastised for NOT using electricity. That may sound odd, so let me explain. Photovoltaic (PV) panels generate electricity as long as the sun hits them, but they’re most productive during “peak” sunlight hours. Most of the United States gets peak sunlight, and therefore maximum output from solar panels, for 3 to 5 hours per day. A grid-tied system feeds this energy back into the grid, and it offsets power used at night. On the other hand, the energy produced by an off-grid system is usually stored in batteries. For several reasons, this process is far less efficient than a grid-tied system. However, if the off-grid system output is used to directly power a load, instead of storing and retrieving it, system efficiency increases dramatically. We get the most from an off-grid system by using it during peak sunlight hours, and we should exploit that whenever we can. Chores like washing and drying clothes, pumping water, and preparing food should be done during the day. Using appliances and machinery during the day, and avoiding their use at night, will be common practice in the future. The child who forgets to do his chores during peak sunlight hours may be in for a scolding.
For the past 100 years we’ve gotten used to paying for the electricity we use. It may be hard for some of us to grasp the concept of free electricity, but PV-produced electricity is indeed free. Once we’ve used all we need for charging batteries and powering devices, the rest can be considered free. We can leave lights or appliances on at no cost (except for the wear and tear on the lights and appliances).
Some people believe that civilization will decline as fossil fuels become more expensive, but I believe that we’ll adjust. Learning new habits will be part of that adjustment. The way we use electricity will not be the only change. We’ll still have transportation, but the vehicles that take us from place to place will change dramatically. We’ll still have comfortable homes, but our HVAC systems will be radically different than they are today. The equipment and systems will still be automatic and thermostatically controlled, and we’ll continue to make adjustments to ensure optimization. In other words; our equipment will be different but we’ll use it pretty much the same way we use the equipment of today.
More of us will have gardens in the future, and those who already have gardens will have bigger ones. Gardens not only help offset the rising cost of food, they can be part of our heating and cooling systems. Some already heat their homes with biofuels, and some use “green roofs” to help keep their homes cool.
You might argue that the ideas I’ve presented here represent a more labor-intensive lifestyle than we’re used to, indicating a decline in the quality of life, but I would disagree. While many of these strategies do indeed require more effort, they’ll also keep us more fit and in better health. We’ll benefit from a better quality of food, more exercise, and better air quality. Anyone who’s ever compared a store-bought tomato to one grown in a backyard garden knows what I mean. Tomatoes that have to be shipped a long distance are picked green, and “gassed” to turn them red by the time they show up in the supermarket. They’re rock-hard, and have little flavor. I can only guess that the nutritional and cancer-fighting properties are not what they should be either. And it’s wise to remember that the recent salmonella outbreak linked to tomatoes was a result of industrial agriculture. Shipping fewer vegetables not only means better food, it also means fewer trucks on the road, which reduces fossil fuel use and improves air quality.
When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.
John M. Richardson, Jr.
There will be bumps in the road to oil independence. We’ve overreacted to the rapid rise in the price of oil by making ethanol from corn (kernels), when we should be making it from agricultural waste (cellulosic ethanol). But we’ll adjust, and we’ll eventually be living a far better life than we do today. We’ll replace our dirty gasoline-powered cars with non-polluting electric ones. We’ll develop better ways to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We’ll find better ways to heat water. We’ll generate at least a portion of our own electricity. We’ll build communities that allow us to walk or bike to the grocery store and to work. Additional chores will instill a greater sense of responsibility in our children, resulting in far fewer social problems than we have today.
What we need now is for governments to stop making war, stop promoting fossil fuels, and to begin supporting alternative energy in a substantial way and with well thought out plans. Beyond that, we need little help from them. If they’ll just get out of our way and let us use what God has given us, we’ll be fine.
John
By contrast, children of the future might be chastised for NOT using electricity. That may sound odd, so let me explain. Photovoltaic (PV) panels generate electricity as long as the sun hits them, but they’re most productive during “peak” sunlight hours. Most of the United States gets peak sunlight, and therefore maximum output from solar panels, for 3 to 5 hours per day. A grid-tied system feeds this energy back into the grid, and it offsets power used at night. On the other hand, the energy produced by an off-grid system is usually stored in batteries. For several reasons, this process is far less efficient than a grid-tied system. However, if the off-grid system output is used to directly power a load, instead of storing and retrieving it, system efficiency increases dramatically. We get the most from an off-grid system by using it during peak sunlight hours, and we should exploit that whenever we can. Chores like washing and drying clothes, pumping water, and preparing food should be done during the day. Using appliances and machinery during the day, and avoiding their use at night, will be common practice in the future. The child who forgets to do his chores during peak sunlight hours may be in for a scolding.
For the past 100 years we’ve gotten used to paying for the electricity we use. It may be hard for some of us to grasp the concept of free electricity, but PV-produced electricity is indeed free. Once we’ve used all we need for charging batteries and powering devices, the rest can be considered free. We can leave lights or appliances on at no cost (except for the wear and tear on the lights and appliances).
Some people believe that civilization will decline as fossil fuels become more expensive, but I believe that we’ll adjust. Learning new habits will be part of that adjustment. The way we use electricity will not be the only change. We’ll still have transportation, but the vehicles that take us from place to place will change dramatically. We’ll still have comfortable homes, but our HVAC systems will be radically different than they are today. The equipment and systems will still be automatic and thermostatically controlled, and we’ll continue to make adjustments to ensure optimization. In other words; our equipment will be different but we’ll use it pretty much the same way we use the equipment of today.
More of us will have gardens in the future, and those who already have gardens will have bigger ones. Gardens not only help offset the rising cost of food, they can be part of our heating and cooling systems. Some already heat their homes with biofuels, and some use “green roofs” to help keep their homes cool.
You might argue that the ideas I’ve presented here represent a more labor-intensive lifestyle than we’re used to, indicating a decline in the quality of life, but I would disagree. While many of these strategies do indeed require more effort, they’ll also keep us more fit and in better health. We’ll benefit from a better quality of food, more exercise, and better air quality. Anyone who’s ever compared a store-bought tomato to one grown in a backyard garden knows what I mean. Tomatoes that have to be shipped a long distance are picked green, and “gassed” to turn them red by the time they show up in the supermarket. They’re rock-hard, and have little flavor. I can only guess that the nutritional and cancer-fighting properties are not what they should be either. And it’s wise to remember that the recent salmonella outbreak linked to tomatoes was a result of industrial agriculture. Shipping fewer vegetables not only means better food, it also means fewer trucks on the road, which reduces fossil fuel use and improves air quality.
When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.
John M. Richardson, Jr.
There will be bumps in the road to oil independence. We’ve overreacted to the rapid rise in the price of oil by making ethanol from corn (kernels), when we should be making it from agricultural waste (cellulosic ethanol). But we’ll adjust, and we’ll eventually be living a far better life than we do today. We’ll replace our dirty gasoline-powered cars with non-polluting electric ones. We’ll develop better ways to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We’ll find better ways to heat water. We’ll generate at least a portion of our own electricity. We’ll build communities that allow us to walk or bike to the grocery store and to work. Additional chores will instill a greater sense of responsibility in our children, resulting in far fewer social problems than we have today.
What we need now is for governments to stop making war, stop promoting fossil fuels, and to begin supporting alternative energy in a substantial way and with well thought out plans. Beyond that, we need little help from them. If they’ll just get out of our way and let us use what God has given us, we’ll be fine.
John
Monday, June 16, 2008
Unbelievably Low Electricity Rates
Here’s something you’re not going to believe - electric rates below 1 cent per kilowatt hour (kwh). My electricity provider, Ameren, must have lost its mind! For most of the United States, electric rates are about ten cents per kwh, with many areas paying much more than that.
As a participant in the “PowerSmart Pricing” plan, my electricity rate fluctuates from hour to hour, depending on the demand at the time. Shown below are the rates for June 11th, 2008. Notice that from 2:00am until 4:00am electric rates are below 1 cent, and then slightly more than 1 cent per kwh from 4:00am until 6:00am. The highest cost for the day was just over 11 cents per kwh at 3:00pm.
Date * * * * * * * Hour * * * * Price
2008-06-11 * * * 00 - 01 * * * 0.015520
2008-06-11 * * * 01 - 02 * * * 0.012190
2008-06-11 * * * 02 - 03 * * * 0.009200
2008-06-11 * * * 03 - 04 * * * 0.009380
2008-06-11 * * * 04 - 05 * * * 0.012560
2008-06-11 * * * 05 - 06 * * * 0.013790
2008-06-11 * * * 06 - 07 * * * 0.020730
2008-06-11 * * * 07 - 08 * * * 0.030550
2008-06-11 * * * 08 - 09 * * * 0.042160
2008-06-11 * * * 09 - 10 * * * 0.060670
2008-06-11 * * * 10 - 11 * * * 0.077770
2008-06-11 * * * 11 - 12 * * * 0.091420
2008-06-11 * * * 12 - 13 * * * 0.100440
2008-06-11 * * * 13 - 14 * * * 0.108230
2008-06-11 * * * 14 - 15 * * * 0.111300
2008-06-11 * * * 15 - 16 * * * 0.111880
2008-06-11 * * * 16 - 17 * * * 0.104470
2008-06-11 * * * 17 - 18 * * * 0.095140
2008-06-11 * * * 18 - 19 * * * 0.084570
2008-06-11 * * * 19 - 20 * * * 0.070230
2008-06-11 * * * 20 - 21 * * * 0.084700
2008-06-11 * * * 21 - 22 * * * 0.073010
2008-06-11 * * * 22 - 23 * * * 0.042210
2008-06-11 * * * 23 - 24 * * * 0.027310
As unbelievable as these rates are, I was even more surprised on June 16th when my 3:00am rate dropped to .00207 (two tenths of a cent per kwh).
These low rates won’t last forever. When plug-in electric cars become available, most will be charged at night. This increased demand for electricity will drive up the rates. But for now I’m taking advantage of these exceptionally low nighttime rates by topping off the charge on my batteries while rates are at their lowest, and using the stored energy when rates are higher. My battery charger is on a timer, set to power it up from 1:00am until 5:00am. Load switching is automatic. I’ve also switched most of my laundry chores to late-night. See my previous post for additional details, or my March 15th post.
For information about the Ameren plan, visit the PowerSmart Website.
John
As a participant in the “PowerSmart Pricing” plan, my electricity rate fluctuates from hour to hour, depending on the demand at the time. Shown below are the rates for June 11th, 2008. Notice that from 2:00am until 4:00am electric rates are below 1 cent, and then slightly more than 1 cent per kwh from 4:00am until 6:00am. The highest cost for the day was just over 11 cents per kwh at 3:00pm.
Date * * * * * * * Hour * * * * Price
2008-06-11 * * * 00 - 01 * * * 0.015520
2008-06-11 * * * 01 - 02 * * * 0.012190
2008-06-11 * * * 02 - 03 * * * 0.009200
2008-06-11 * * * 03 - 04 * * * 0.009380
2008-06-11 * * * 04 - 05 * * * 0.012560
2008-06-11 * * * 05 - 06 * * * 0.013790
2008-06-11 * * * 06 - 07 * * * 0.020730
2008-06-11 * * * 07 - 08 * * * 0.030550
2008-06-11 * * * 08 - 09 * * * 0.042160
2008-06-11 * * * 09 - 10 * * * 0.060670
2008-06-11 * * * 10 - 11 * * * 0.077770
2008-06-11 * * * 11 - 12 * * * 0.091420
2008-06-11 * * * 12 - 13 * * * 0.100440
2008-06-11 * * * 13 - 14 * * * 0.108230
2008-06-11 * * * 14 - 15 * * * 0.111300
2008-06-11 * * * 15 - 16 * * * 0.111880
2008-06-11 * * * 16 - 17 * * * 0.104470
2008-06-11 * * * 17 - 18 * * * 0.095140
2008-06-11 * * * 18 - 19 * * * 0.084570
2008-06-11 * * * 19 - 20 * * * 0.070230
2008-06-11 * * * 20 - 21 * * * 0.084700
2008-06-11 * * * 21 - 22 * * * 0.073010
2008-06-11 * * * 22 - 23 * * * 0.042210
2008-06-11 * * * 23 - 24 * * * 0.027310
As unbelievable as these rates are, I was even more surprised on June 16th when my 3:00am rate dropped to .00207 (two tenths of a cent per kwh).
These low rates won’t last forever. When plug-in electric cars become available, most will be charged at night. This increased demand for electricity will drive up the rates. But for now I’m taking advantage of these exceptionally low nighttime rates by topping off the charge on my batteries while rates are at their lowest, and using the stored energy when rates are higher. My battery charger is on a timer, set to power it up from 1:00am until 5:00am. Load switching is automatic. I’ve also switched most of my laundry chores to late-night. See my previous post for additional details, or my March 15th post.
For information about the Ameren plan, visit the PowerSmart Website.
John
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Second Anniversary Message
I began my first anniversary message with a rejection of the notion that “America is Addicted to Oil”. Today I’m proud to be among a growing number of people who are actually doing something about it. We have different strategies, and different kinds of projects underway, but similar goals. We’re fortunate to live in a time when it is easy to share information, and to learn from each other. At the rate gasoline prices have been rising, we all need to avoid mistakes and to work as efficiently as possible.
In addition to individual efforts, it’s good to see corporate projects. We’re closer to having practical electric vehicles than we were on this date last year. The GM Volt seems to be progressing on schedule, and the Norwegian Th!nk City car should arrive in the United States sometime next year. Both will have Lithium Ion batteries, and that technology seems to be progressing nicely. Because of the rapid progress, I’m no longer sure if my first electric car will be a plug-in-hybrid-electric, or an electric-only vehicle. As long as I have enough range to meet my daily driving requirements, an electric-only car will meet my needs. I’ll continue to enlarge my PV system so that at least a portion of my driving will be via free energy from the sun.
Another winter has passed, and my corn-burning stove once again supplemented my home heating system. I’m happy to have replaced fossil-fuel heating with corn, but I didn’t really save money this year due to the high cost of corn. I hope someday to own enough land to not only grow my own food, but also to grow corn to be used for home heating. I’ve been told that I can meet all of my home heating needs with just one acre of corn. I know that this will be an ambitious project, so I may hold off until I’m ready to retire from my day job.
In addition to my solar electric and bio-fuel projects, I’m now experimenting with solar water heating. Besides cutting my use of fossil fuels, this project has the potential for cutting my natural gas bill. Check back later for a progress report.
As we go forward we follow different paths, but diverse strategies are good. There will be no single solution to the problems we’ll face as oil declines. Short-term solutions, like hoarding gasoline, will be of little value. Let’s continue to share information as we face the challenges of the future, including our successes and failures, for the benefit of all. As we make the transition to alternative sources of energy, let's enjoy the journey. I appreciate blog comments, and hope to see more of them as I enter the third year of this blog.
John
In addition to individual efforts, it’s good to see corporate projects. We’re closer to having practical electric vehicles than we were on this date last year. The GM Volt seems to be progressing on schedule, and the Norwegian Th!nk City car should arrive in the United States sometime next year. Both will have Lithium Ion batteries, and that technology seems to be progressing nicely. Because of the rapid progress, I’m no longer sure if my first electric car will be a plug-in-hybrid-electric, or an electric-only vehicle. As long as I have enough range to meet my daily driving requirements, an electric-only car will meet my needs. I’ll continue to enlarge my PV system so that at least a portion of my driving will be via free energy from the sun.
Another winter has passed, and my corn-burning stove once again supplemented my home heating system. I’m happy to have replaced fossil-fuel heating with corn, but I didn’t really save money this year due to the high cost of corn. I hope someday to own enough land to not only grow my own food, but also to grow corn to be used for home heating. I’ve been told that I can meet all of my home heating needs with just one acre of corn. I know that this will be an ambitious project, so I may hold off until I’m ready to retire from my day job.
In addition to my solar electric and bio-fuel projects, I’m now experimenting with solar water heating. Besides cutting my use of fossil fuels, this project has the potential for cutting my natural gas bill. Check back later for a progress report.
As we go forward we follow different paths, but diverse strategies are good. There will be no single solution to the problems we’ll face as oil declines. Short-term solutions, like hoarding gasoline, will be of little value. Let’s continue to share information as we face the challenges of the future, including our successes and failures, for the benefit of all. As we make the transition to alternative sources of energy, let's enjoy the journey. I appreciate blog comments, and hope to see more of them as I enter the third year of this blog.
John
Saturday, May 03, 2008
My Latest Off-Grid PV System Upgrade
Because of a recent system upgrade I now have better control over the amount of power I use, and the amount of power I keep in reserve. While I want to benefit from as much power as the system is capable of providing on a day-to-day basis, I find myself cutting back, knowing that I’ll need stored energy in the event of a grid power failure. I need to strike a balance between the amount of power I use, and the amount of power I keep in reserve, but I find myself wanting more of both.
Since my solar panels have the ability to fully charge the existing battery bank by noon on a sunny day, it’s obvious that I have the capacity to charge a larger battery bank. It seems that a battery bank upgrade will allow me to get more from the system on a daily basis while at the same time increasing the amount of stored energy. For that reason, I’ve just replaced my old battery bank, increasing the amp-hour capacity from 420 to 675.
I’ve known that I could greatly improve system performance with a bigger battery bank for some time, but I’ve been holding off because my old batteries are still in good shape. Since batteries of different sizes, types, and ages shouldn’t be included in the same battery bank, I was confronted with the problem of what to do with the old batteries. I decided to isolate the two battery banks from each other, and to use a switch to connect or disconnect the old battery bank as needed. The diagram below shows how I did that:
Since my solar panels have the ability to fully charge the existing battery bank by noon on a sunny day, it’s obvious that I have the capacity to charge a larger battery bank. It seems that a battery bank upgrade will allow me to get more from the system on a daily basis while at the same time increasing the amount of stored energy. For that reason, I’ve just replaced my old battery bank, increasing the amp-hour capacity from 420 to 675.
I’ve known that I could greatly improve system performance with a bigger battery bank for some time, but I’ve been holding off because my old batteries are still in good shape. Since batteries of different sizes, types, and ages shouldn’t be included in the same battery bank, I was confronted with the problem of what to do with the old batteries. I decided to isolate the two battery banks from each other, and to use a switch to connect or disconnect the old battery bank as needed. The diagram below shows how I did that:
The new ones are 6-volt batteries, most commonly used in golf carts. I series wired three pairs of these to create the equivalent of three 12-volt batteries at 225ah each, and paralleled the three pairs for 675ah at 12-volts. I’ve installed a heavy-duty switch, allowing me to switch in bank 1, bank 2, or both banks at the same time. I’ll switch in the new battery bank for day-to-day operation, only switching to the old bank once in awhile to keep it fully charged. In the event of a power failure, when I’ll need the extra capacity, I’ll switch in both battery banks. With both battery banks connected, I’ll have one large battery bank with an awesome 1095 amp-hour capacity.
Understanding that batteries should not be allowed to fall to more than 50% of their capacity, I now have a useable capacity of 547 amp-hours, a significant upgrade from the previous 210 amp-hour useable capacity I previously had. After monitoring the new battery bank for a few days I observed that:
· It does indeed take more time to fully charge the bank.
· Loads are powered for a longer period of time each evening, after the sun goes down.
In the event of an extended power failure I’ll have light, refrigeration, communications, the ability to prepare food. I’ll be able to use my bio-fueled stove for heat, and fans to circulate fresh air. I’ll be able to watch TV or listen to the radio. I’ve had these capabilities previously, but not to the extent that I have them now. This will serve me well in the event of an extended power failure. I’ll need to continue upgrading the system if I expect to use it to charge the electric vehicle I hope to purchase within the next two years, but I’m getting there. I’ll be doing some capacity tests soon, and I’ll record the results on this blog. Check back later.
For information concerning my recent system automation upgrade, check my February 25th post: http://solarjohn.blogspot.com/2008/02/ive-automated-my-off-grid-pv-system.html
John
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Think Th!nk - Please Help Me Get One
Due to the skyrocketing cost of gasoline it is inevitable that Americans will soon be driving a radically different kind of car. We already have the Prius, and other hybrids, and we’ll have plug-in hybrids within a few years, but all of these have one thing in common; they still use gasoline. They all have an internal combustion engine, adding to the weight, cost, and complexity of the car. The gas engine is necessary to extend the range of the vehicle. Without it the car is impractical for long trips.
I had pretty much decided to wait until 2011 or 2012 for a Chevy Volt (plug-in-hybrid) until I learned that the “Th!nk” is coming to the USA sometime next year. The Th!nk is a plug-in-electric car that can get up to 110 miles on an overnight charge, and can reach speeds of 65 mph. It doesn’t have an internal combustion engine, so long trips are impractical, but it’s perfect for my daily work commute of 64 miles. Since the wife and I both work outside of the home, we’re a two-car family by necessity. Our other car can be used for long trips.
I understand that the Th!nk will first be offered to fleets, and then to consumers in California. I’ve recently sent several email inquiries asking how I might be able to be among the first in the USA to own or evaluate a Th!nk. I expressed a desire to test the Th!nk here in the Mid-West where we have an extreme range of temperatures and driving conditions. I explained that I want to use the Th!nk for my daily work commute, evaluate it’s performance, and publish the results on my blog. I mentioned that I intend to enlarge my PV system to the extent that I’ll be able to drive entirely off of free energy from the sun.
The only response I’ve received so far was a form letter. My questions went unanswered. For that reason I’m turning to you, my readers, for help. I’m asking that you write or email those involved with Th!nk in North America on my behalf. I’m just one person, easily ignored, but I doubt that they’ll ignore a large number of requests from all parts of the globe. To make this as easy as possible, I’ve composed a sample message, and I’ve listed the email addresses of those who might be able to make this happen. Just copy and paste the email addresses into the “To” line of your “New Message” window. I’ve included my own email address so that I’ll know how many messages have been sent. Next, copy and paste the suggested subject into the “Subject” line, and then copy and paste the message into the “Message” area.
In case you prefer to contact Th!nk by mail or phone, Vicki Northrup is the North American Operations Manager. Here is the information for her:
Vicki Northrup, Operations Manager
Th!nk North America
2750 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, CA 94205
Direct: +1 650 561 0243
Cell: +1 650 892 5068
Let’s let them know that we’re serious about eliminating our use of fossil fuels, and we want to do it now. Thank you very much for your help.
John
Please send the message to the following email accounts:
ila@think.no; willums@online.no; rayl@kpcb.com; info@thinkna.com; jdallas@charter.net
Suggested Subject:
Th!nk testing in the Mid-Western USA
Suggested Message:
To Whom It May Concern:
I am a regular reader of Solar John’s blog (http://solarjohn.blogspot.com/), and am writing at John’s request. I’ve learned that the Th!nk City car is coming to California next year, and John would like to be among the first to test it in the Mid-Western United States. Unlike Southern California, the Mid-West offers a wide range of weather extremes and road conditions, making this an ideal venue for an extended test and evaluation of the Th!nk. John’s test would include using the car for his daily 64-mile round trip work commute. Additionally, John plans to use his solar photovoltaic (PV) system to charge the car, perhaps driving it entirely off of free energy from the sun, and to publish the results on his blog. John is not involved in the Alternative Energy industry, or the Automobile industry, and therefore I expect unbiased reporting from him.
John is not asking for a hand-out, he’s willing to pay full retail price for the car if necessary. He simply wants to be among the first in North America to have the opportunity to evaluate the Th!nk. Sadly, John’s inquiries have gone unanswered. Can you please help? You need not respond to this message, but please work directly with John. You may contact him at this email address: Jdallas@Charter.net
Thank you in advance,
(Your Name)
(Your City, State, Country)
I had pretty much decided to wait until 2011 or 2012 for a Chevy Volt (plug-in-hybrid) until I learned that the “Th!nk” is coming to the USA sometime next year. The Th!nk is a plug-in-electric car that can get up to 110 miles on an overnight charge, and can reach speeds of 65 mph. It doesn’t have an internal combustion engine, so long trips are impractical, but it’s perfect for my daily work commute of 64 miles. Since the wife and I both work outside of the home, we’re a two-car family by necessity. Our other car can be used for long trips.
I understand that the Th!nk will first be offered to fleets, and then to consumers in California. I’ve recently sent several email inquiries asking how I might be able to be among the first in the USA to own or evaluate a Th!nk. I expressed a desire to test the Th!nk here in the Mid-West where we have an extreme range of temperatures and driving conditions. I explained that I want to use the Th!nk for my daily work commute, evaluate it’s performance, and publish the results on my blog. I mentioned that I intend to enlarge my PV system to the extent that I’ll be able to drive entirely off of free energy from the sun.
The only response I’ve received so far was a form letter. My questions went unanswered. For that reason I’m turning to you, my readers, for help. I’m asking that you write or email those involved with Th!nk in North America on my behalf. I’m just one person, easily ignored, but I doubt that they’ll ignore a large number of requests from all parts of the globe. To make this as easy as possible, I’ve composed a sample message, and I’ve listed the email addresses of those who might be able to make this happen. Just copy and paste the email addresses into the “To” line of your “New Message” window. I’ve included my own email address so that I’ll know how many messages have been sent. Next, copy and paste the suggested subject into the “Subject” line, and then copy and paste the message into the “Message” area.
In case you prefer to contact Th!nk by mail or phone, Vicki Northrup is the North American Operations Manager. Here is the information for her:
Vicki Northrup, Operations Manager
Th!nk North America
2750 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, CA 94205
Direct: +1 650 561 0243
Cell: +1 650 892 5068
Let’s let them know that we’re serious about eliminating our use of fossil fuels, and we want to do it now. Thank you very much for your help.
John
Please send the message to the following email accounts:
ila@think.no; willums@online.no; rayl@kpcb.com; info@thinkna.com; jdallas@charter.net
Suggested Subject:
Th!nk testing in the Mid-Western USA
Suggested Message:
To Whom It May Concern:
I am a regular reader of Solar John’s blog (http://solarjohn.blogspot.com/), and am writing at John’s request. I’ve learned that the Th!nk City car is coming to California next year, and John would like to be among the first to test it in the Mid-Western United States. Unlike Southern California, the Mid-West offers a wide range of weather extremes and road conditions, making this an ideal venue for an extended test and evaluation of the Th!nk. John’s test would include using the car for his daily 64-mile round trip work commute. Additionally, John plans to use his solar photovoltaic (PV) system to charge the car, perhaps driving it entirely off of free energy from the sun, and to publish the results on his blog. John is not involved in the Alternative Energy industry, or the Automobile industry, and therefore I expect unbiased reporting from him.
John is not asking for a hand-out, he’s willing to pay full retail price for the car if necessary. He simply wants to be among the first in North America to have the opportunity to evaluate the Th!nk. Sadly, John’s inquiries have gone unanswered. Can you please help? You need not respond to this message, but please work directly with John. You may contact him at this email address: Jdallas@Charter.net
Thank you in advance,
(Your Name)
(Your City, State, Country)
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The Energy 12-Step Program
When President Kennedy made it America’s goal to put a man on the moon, it happened within ten years. But America is in a technology “funk” today. We have a president who tells us we’re addicted to oil, while at the same time underfunding projects that would help to solve the oil crisis. Instead of developing solutions, our president implies that the American people need a 12-Step program. With that in mind, let’s examine the 12-steps:
Step 1. Admit that we are powerless over oil, and that our lives have become unmanageable.
Absurd! If you believe that you’re powerless over oil, and that you can’t manage your own life, you’ll never accomplish anything.
Step 2. Come to believe that a power greater than yourself can restore you to sanity.
Ridiculous! You’re not insane.
Step 3. Make a decision to turn your will and your life over to the care of God.
Bolderdash! Don’t expect God to solve your problems. Solve problems with the help of God.
Step 4. Make a searching and moral inventory of yourself.
Finally, some good advice! Applying your knowledge and skills to this problem is morally appropriate.
Step 5. Admit to God, to yourself, and to another human being the exact nature of your wrongs.
Silly! You did nothing wrong in the context of oil use. It was wrong of our president to tell us we’re addicted to oil.
Step 6. We’re entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Asinine! Your use of oil does not represent a defect of character.
Step 7. Humbly ask God to remove your shortcomings.
Good advice, but remember that your use of oil is not a shortcoming.
Step 8. Make a list of all persons you’ve harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all.
Don’t feel guilty for your past use of oil, it was thrust upon you.
Step 9. Make amends to such people whenever possible.
You harmed no one, and therefore need not make amends.
Step 10. Continue to take personal inventory, and admit when you’re wrong.
Good advice, but don’t list your use of oil as a wrong.
Step 11. Improve your conscious contact with God.
Good advice, but remember that God doesn’t solve your problems; you do that with God’s help.
Step 12. Practice these principles in your affairs.
You’re not addicted to oil no matter who says you are, and you don’t need a twelve-step program. Use your time and talents to make better use of the resources you have, and don’t expect God or anyone else to do it for you. Someday we’ll have leaders who will actually work with us to solve problems, instead of calling us “addicts”, but for now we’re just going to have to rely on our own efforts. God bless you, keep up the good work, and don’t listen to those who say you’re an addict. God gave us a limited supply of oil, and we could have used it more responsibly. More than anyone else, this was the fault of our leaders. If we’re “addicts” in our president’s mind, then he’s the “dealer”. He himself may need a 12-Step program, but we don’t.
John
Step 1. Admit that we are powerless over oil, and that our lives have become unmanageable.
Absurd! If you believe that you’re powerless over oil, and that you can’t manage your own life, you’ll never accomplish anything.
Step 2. Come to believe that a power greater than yourself can restore you to sanity.
Ridiculous! You’re not insane.
Step 3. Make a decision to turn your will and your life over to the care of God.
Bolderdash! Don’t expect God to solve your problems. Solve problems with the help of God.
Step 4. Make a searching and moral inventory of yourself.
Finally, some good advice! Applying your knowledge and skills to this problem is morally appropriate.
Step 5. Admit to God, to yourself, and to another human being the exact nature of your wrongs.
Silly! You did nothing wrong in the context of oil use. It was wrong of our president to tell us we’re addicted to oil.
Step 6. We’re entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Asinine! Your use of oil does not represent a defect of character.
Step 7. Humbly ask God to remove your shortcomings.
Good advice, but remember that your use of oil is not a shortcoming.
Step 8. Make a list of all persons you’ve harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all.
Don’t feel guilty for your past use of oil, it was thrust upon you.
Step 9. Make amends to such people whenever possible.
You harmed no one, and therefore need not make amends.
Step 10. Continue to take personal inventory, and admit when you’re wrong.
Good advice, but don’t list your use of oil as a wrong.
Step 11. Improve your conscious contact with God.
Good advice, but remember that God doesn’t solve your problems; you do that with God’s help.
Step 12. Practice these principles in your affairs.
You’re not addicted to oil no matter who says you are, and you don’t need a twelve-step program. Use your time and talents to make better use of the resources you have, and don’t expect God or anyone else to do it for you. Someday we’ll have leaders who will actually work with us to solve problems, instead of calling us “addicts”, but for now we’re just going to have to rely on our own efforts. God bless you, keep up the good work, and don’t listen to those who say you’re an addict. God gave us a limited supply of oil, and we could have used it more responsibly. More than anyone else, this was the fault of our leaders. If we’re “addicts” in our president’s mind, then he’s the “dealer”. He himself may need a 12-Step program, but we don’t.
John
Monday, April 07, 2008
You'll Buy an Electric Car Someday - You'll Charge it!
Has anyone else noticed how expensive gasoline is these days? Ten years ago a gallon of gas could be bought for under $1.00. Gasoline hit the $2.00 mark in 2004, and we were paying $3.00 per gallon in 2006. Now it looks like gas might hit $4.00 per gallon before the end of this year. If this trend continues, we’ll be paying $6.00 per gallon in 2012. Car manufactures are taking notice of this, and several have electric cars in the works.
Since the days of cheap gasoline seem to be gone forever, a sudden shift to electric cars is inevitable. With the automotive industry already working on electric cars, and battery manufacturers competing to see who can make the best batteries, we’re well on our way. The first generation of electric cars will be equipped with a small gasoline engine, included to extend the range of the car. These are called plug-in-hybrid-electric-vehicles, or PHEV’s. And while the PHEV is a great intermediate step, the gasoline engine will eventually be eliminated altogether. Quick charging batteries, and the emergence of battery charging stations, will make that possible.
It looks as if the transition to electric cars will be more of a landslide than a trickle, a scenario that will create some problems. The electric grid, which is already strained in some parts of the country, may not be able to handle the additional load of charging all of these vehicles. Fortunately, most of these electric cars will be charged at night, when other demands on the grid are low. V2G technology (cars that supply power to the grid during the day), will help, but infrastructure upgrades are needed before that can happen. We’ll pay for improvements, and for the upgrades needed for the implementation of V2G technology, through higher electric rates.
Another problem created by a sudden shift to electric cars is that there will be less money available for highway maintenance. Federal and state taxes on gasoline pay for road improvements, bridges, and maintenance. A sudden switch to electric transportation will reduce gasoline tax revenue, and it’s likely that we’ll be required to pay our share of road-usage taxes in some other way. If you use 25 gallons of gas per month, enough to drive about 500 miles, you’re paying about $150.00 per year in road-use taxes. Many of us are paying much more than that. To make up for the loss, we might see additional taxes on our electric bill, but that isn’t the best solution. There is no easy way of determining how much electricity is used for charging our car(s), and how much is ordinary household use. It’s likely that we’ll calculate our share of road-use tax via our state and federal income tax forms. Tax forms will include questions designed to determine how much electricity we use for charging our electric car(s).
The sudden need for more electricity does more than just strain the electrical grid, it means that coal-fired power plants will burn more coal. This will drive up the cost of coal, and you’ll pay for that on your electric bill. Any way you look at it you’re going to have to pay for electricity at an ever-increasing rate, and you’ll soon be taxed for the electricity you use at a much higher rate than you’re paying now. Just as gasoline prices have skyrocketed in recent times, the days of cheap electricity will end as well.
What can you do about it? I’m glad you asked!
Most of the country pays about ten cents per kilowatt hour for electricity now, making it possible to charge an electric vehicle for less than $1.00 per night. You’ll be able to drive 40 miles or more on an overnight charge, instead of burning five to eight dollars worth gasoline at today’s prices. What a deal! But with the likelihood that electric rates will soon mimic the steep increase of gasoline prices, it would be wise to consider other options. For many, a solar electric (PV) system is a great way to deal with the expense of, and problems related to, a sudden switch to electric transportation. It seems that those who already drive electric cars are aware of this, since 50% of them also use solar electric systems.
Off-grid or Grid-tied?
A grid-tied PV system may be the best choice for those served by a robust electrical grid. Electricity is fed into the grid during the day, offsetting electricity pulled from the grid at night. With a large enough system, the user contributes more than he withdraws, and therefore pays nothing for electricity. An off-grid PV system may be the best choice for those with marginal electric service, but system inefficiencies and the added cost of batteries will result in a much higher system cost.
Size matters:
While it’s alright to start out small, it’s going to take a substantial PV system to charge an electric car’s battery bank. GM’s Volt PHEV can be charged via a 110 volt standard home outlet, and a full charge will take 6 ½ hours. I suspect that the charge current will exceed 10 amps, or about 1100 watts, representing a pretty hefty load on a PV system. A 2kw grid-tied system will produce enough electricity (on sunny days) to offset the charging power supplied by the grid at night, but an off-grid system will need to be substantially larger than that in order to compensate for system inefficiencies. If you opt for an off-grid system, and if you’re able to charge your PHEV during the day, you’ll achieve efficiencies similar to those who implement a grid-tied system. An off-grid PV system operates much more efficiently when power flows directly from the solar panels to the load, instead of temporarily storing that power in PV system batteries and retrieving it later. Another thing to consider is that a two-car family will need a PV system twice as large as a one-car family. Still, you can start out with a small system that will generate a portion of your needs, and upgrade later.
PV system cost vs. savings:
As you do your homework you might be shocked by the high cost of a PV system, but don’t forget to do the math. By switching from a gas-powered car to electric, you might be eliminating $3600.00 worth of gasoline per year from your budget. If you apply those savings toward the purchase of a PV system, the payback period will be 2 to 5 years. And better yet, you’ll be driving on FREE power from the sun once your solar equipment is paid for. Any economist, I suspect, would call that a good investment.
Something else to consider:
Once your PV system is in place, you’ll use it as much as possible to charge your PHEV. During times when the sun doesn’t shine, you’ll need to charge your PHEV in some other way. For most people, that other way will be the power grid. This will be the best option as long as electric rates remain reasonable. Charging can be done by wind power, micro hydro, or even a bio-fueled generator after that.
A bonus:
If you don’t drive much on the weekends, you’ll have a surplus of electricity for household use at a time when you’ll need it most.
Conclusion
Like the invention of radio, TV, and the personal computer, the plug-in electric car appears to be the next great invention that will change the way we live. The sudden switch from gas to electricity will trigger an increase in the price we pay for electricity, but those who use PV for some or all of their needs will suffer the least. The surge in the cost of electricity will result in a greater demand for solar panels and equipment, leading to shortages and price increases. To avoid dealing with those shortages and price increases, now is the time to install solar electric panels and systems. And as an added bonus, the massive shift away from internal combustion engines, combined with an increased use of solar panels, will have a positive affect on the quality of our air. You gotta love that!
How will you charge your electric car?
With a credit card of course.
John
Since the days of cheap gasoline seem to be gone forever, a sudden shift to electric cars is inevitable. With the automotive industry already working on electric cars, and battery manufacturers competing to see who can make the best batteries, we’re well on our way. The first generation of electric cars will be equipped with a small gasoline engine, included to extend the range of the car. These are called plug-in-hybrid-electric-vehicles, or PHEV’s. And while the PHEV is a great intermediate step, the gasoline engine will eventually be eliminated altogether. Quick charging batteries, and the emergence of battery charging stations, will make that possible.
It looks as if the transition to electric cars will be more of a landslide than a trickle, a scenario that will create some problems. The electric grid, which is already strained in some parts of the country, may not be able to handle the additional load of charging all of these vehicles. Fortunately, most of these electric cars will be charged at night, when other demands on the grid are low. V2G technology (cars that supply power to the grid during the day), will help, but infrastructure upgrades are needed before that can happen. We’ll pay for improvements, and for the upgrades needed for the implementation of V2G technology, through higher electric rates.
Another problem created by a sudden shift to electric cars is that there will be less money available for highway maintenance. Federal and state taxes on gasoline pay for road improvements, bridges, and maintenance. A sudden switch to electric transportation will reduce gasoline tax revenue, and it’s likely that we’ll be required to pay our share of road-usage taxes in some other way. If you use 25 gallons of gas per month, enough to drive about 500 miles, you’re paying about $150.00 per year in road-use taxes. Many of us are paying much more than that. To make up for the loss, we might see additional taxes on our electric bill, but that isn’t the best solution. There is no easy way of determining how much electricity is used for charging our car(s), and how much is ordinary household use. It’s likely that we’ll calculate our share of road-use tax via our state and federal income tax forms. Tax forms will include questions designed to determine how much electricity we use for charging our electric car(s).
The sudden need for more electricity does more than just strain the electrical grid, it means that coal-fired power plants will burn more coal. This will drive up the cost of coal, and you’ll pay for that on your electric bill. Any way you look at it you’re going to have to pay for electricity at an ever-increasing rate, and you’ll soon be taxed for the electricity you use at a much higher rate than you’re paying now. Just as gasoline prices have skyrocketed in recent times, the days of cheap electricity will end as well.
What can you do about it? I’m glad you asked!
Most of the country pays about ten cents per kilowatt hour for electricity now, making it possible to charge an electric vehicle for less than $1.00 per night. You’ll be able to drive 40 miles or more on an overnight charge, instead of burning five to eight dollars worth gasoline at today’s prices. What a deal! But with the likelihood that electric rates will soon mimic the steep increase of gasoline prices, it would be wise to consider other options. For many, a solar electric (PV) system is a great way to deal with the expense of, and problems related to, a sudden switch to electric transportation. It seems that those who already drive electric cars are aware of this, since 50% of them also use solar electric systems.
Off-grid or Grid-tied?
A grid-tied PV system may be the best choice for those served by a robust electrical grid. Electricity is fed into the grid during the day, offsetting electricity pulled from the grid at night. With a large enough system, the user contributes more than he withdraws, and therefore pays nothing for electricity. An off-grid PV system may be the best choice for those with marginal electric service, but system inefficiencies and the added cost of batteries will result in a much higher system cost.
Size matters:
While it’s alright to start out small, it’s going to take a substantial PV system to charge an electric car’s battery bank. GM’s Volt PHEV can be charged via a 110 volt standard home outlet, and a full charge will take 6 ½ hours. I suspect that the charge current will exceed 10 amps, or about 1100 watts, representing a pretty hefty load on a PV system. A 2kw grid-tied system will produce enough electricity (on sunny days) to offset the charging power supplied by the grid at night, but an off-grid system will need to be substantially larger than that in order to compensate for system inefficiencies. If you opt for an off-grid system, and if you’re able to charge your PHEV during the day, you’ll achieve efficiencies similar to those who implement a grid-tied system. An off-grid PV system operates much more efficiently when power flows directly from the solar panels to the load, instead of temporarily storing that power in PV system batteries and retrieving it later. Another thing to consider is that a two-car family will need a PV system twice as large as a one-car family. Still, you can start out with a small system that will generate a portion of your needs, and upgrade later.
PV system cost vs. savings:
As you do your homework you might be shocked by the high cost of a PV system, but don’t forget to do the math. By switching from a gas-powered car to electric, you might be eliminating $3600.00 worth of gasoline per year from your budget. If you apply those savings toward the purchase of a PV system, the payback period will be 2 to 5 years. And better yet, you’ll be driving on FREE power from the sun once your solar equipment is paid for. Any economist, I suspect, would call that a good investment.
Something else to consider:
Once your PV system is in place, you’ll use it as much as possible to charge your PHEV. During times when the sun doesn’t shine, you’ll need to charge your PHEV in some other way. For most people, that other way will be the power grid. This will be the best option as long as electric rates remain reasonable. Charging can be done by wind power, micro hydro, or even a bio-fueled generator after that.
A bonus:
If you don’t drive much on the weekends, you’ll have a surplus of electricity for household use at a time when you’ll need it most.
Conclusion
Like the invention of radio, TV, and the personal computer, the plug-in electric car appears to be the next great invention that will change the way we live. The sudden switch from gas to electricity will trigger an increase in the price we pay for electricity, but those who use PV for some or all of their needs will suffer the least. The surge in the cost of electricity will result in a greater demand for solar panels and equipment, leading to shortages and price increases. To avoid dealing with those shortages and price increases, now is the time to install solar electric panels and systems. And as an added bonus, the massive shift away from internal combustion engines, combined with an increased use of solar panels, will have a positive affect on the quality of our air. You gotta love that!
How will you charge your electric car?
With a credit card of course.
John
Friday, February 15, 2008
Dealing with the Energy Crisis
Alternative energy research tends to produce interesting, but useless information. Do you really care how much of the sun’s energy falls on one square meter of land on any given day? Do you benefit by knowing how much electricity is needed to power Chicago? David MacKay, University of Cambridge Physics Professor, is one source of information of this nature. For the most part it’s interesting, but not really helpful. David did get my attention with a couple of statements: “…the people of the developed world are living immorally, and a huge crisis is upon us, unless we change our lifestyle.” I don’t know if we’re living immorally, but it’s hard to deny that an energy crisis exists, and that it’s getting worse.
How did we get into this mess?
Most of the electricity produced in the United States comes from coal-fired power plants. Since coal has always been plentiful and inexpensive, electric rates have been reasonable. Most people spend less than 2% of their household income on electricity, and as a result of its low cost, we tend to waste a lot of it. We use electric doorbells when we could be using mechanical ones. We have electric can openers, hand-lotion warmers, air-fresheners, and many other unnecessary items. In addition to the wasteful items we use by choice, many wasteful items are forced upon us because of a lack of availability of energy-efficient alternatives. Many of our electrical devices use energy even when they’re turned off. These are known as “phantom loads”, and they’re more wasteful than most people realize. Because a device appears to be off, we’re not always aware that it is wasting energy.
How do we correct the problem?
Because our lifestyle includes so many wasteful gadgets, there are many corrective actions we can take. Begin with an energy audit of your home. You’re likely to find some no-cost energy-saving measures you can take that will not adversely affect the quality of your life. Do you really need that plug-in air freshener or hand-lotion warmer? You probably already have surge protectors on your TV’s and stereo equipment. If you use the switch on the surge protector, instead of the remote-control unit for on/off control of your TV, you’ll eliminate a phantom load. Check all of your AC outlets, and remove all unused wall-warts (transformers).
Next, you might want to spend a few dollars on things that will end up costing you nothing by virtue of the savings you’ll see on your electric bill. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs is a good example. And why not replace your clock-radio with a wind-up alarm clock? Having done those things, it’s time to move on to larger items. Maybe it’s time to replace that old refrigerator with an energy-star-rated model. You might cut $20.00 per month off of your electric bill if you do. And isn’t it time to replace that big old TV in the den with a new 42” plasma model? In doing so you might go from 300-Watts to 100-Watts. You’ll get three hours of TV viewing for the price of one hour. The savings really add up at the end of the month.
After doing all of those things, you might consider geothermal heating and cooling, and solar hot water heating. I use a corn-burning stove to supplement my natural gas heating. Burning corn is a little more work, but it reduces my heating bill significantly. Check with a reliable contractor to see if any of these strategies will benefit you.
How much are you willing to sacrifice?
Once you’ve done all you can to reduce consumption, and perhaps made energy-efficiency improvements to your home, you then need to decide just how far you’re willing to cut back. It’s easy to say “I’ll turn my thermostat down” when the weather is mild, but will you really do it when you’re shivering in the coldest winter months? Will you also cut back significantly on air-conditioning? Be honest with yourself. If it seems like too much of a sacrifice, remind yourself of the negative effects of excessive energy consumption. Cutting back benefits you, your children, and the entire planet.
It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to make all of these changes at once. Do some research and come up with a game plan, and a consumption rate to shoot for. Check the energy-star tags on appliances you intend to buy. Look at your electric bill. If you’re currently averaging 900kwh of electricity per month, that’s a lot. Try to cut it in half. If you’re using 500kwh of electricity per month, try to cut it by at least 25%.
As you work on your plan you’re likely to discover energy-saving lifestyle changes that actually enhance the quality of your life instead of detracting from it. I’ve found it much more pleasant to turn my thermostat down and use an electric blanket in a cool bedroom. An inexpensive Kill-A-Watt meter helps me determine how much I’m saving.
Beyond conservation
After you’ve reduced consumption, the cost of a solar photovoltaic, wind, or a hybrid electric system won’t be so daunting. If you’re not ready to disconnect from the grid entirely, you can install a small system that meets a portion of your needs. If you choose to start small, employ a strategy that helps you get the most out of your system. Solar equipment that is unused, or underused, is counterproductive. Everything you’ll need to automate your system for maximum efficiency is available, and at a reasonable cost.
Expensive gasoline – The other part of the energy crisis
Having a solar electric system in place not only contributes to your independence from the power company, it’s the first step toward gasoline independence. Plug-in-hybrid-electric-vehicles (PHEV’s) will start to show up in dealer showrooms in the year 2010. By charging your car with power from your photovoltaic system, you’ll be driving on free power from the sun instead of expensive gasoline. It’s going to take a substantial system to do the charging, so now would be a good time to get started.
Renewables – No War Required
By purchasing less oil from Middle Eastern countries we not only reduce the amount of money that they have available for war, we eliminate our need to be there in the first place. Since the politicians won’t stop it, it’s up to each of us to lead the way.
When the people lead, leaders follow. Let’s roll!
John
How did we get into this mess?
Most of the electricity produced in the United States comes from coal-fired power plants. Since coal has always been plentiful and inexpensive, electric rates have been reasonable. Most people spend less than 2% of their household income on electricity, and as a result of its low cost, we tend to waste a lot of it. We use electric doorbells when we could be using mechanical ones. We have electric can openers, hand-lotion warmers, air-fresheners, and many other unnecessary items. In addition to the wasteful items we use by choice, many wasteful items are forced upon us because of a lack of availability of energy-efficient alternatives. Many of our electrical devices use energy even when they’re turned off. These are known as “phantom loads”, and they’re more wasteful than most people realize. Because a device appears to be off, we’re not always aware that it is wasting energy.
How do we correct the problem?
Because our lifestyle includes so many wasteful gadgets, there are many corrective actions we can take. Begin with an energy audit of your home. You’re likely to find some no-cost energy-saving measures you can take that will not adversely affect the quality of your life. Do you really need that plug-in air freshener or hand-lotion warmer? You probably already have surge protectors on your TV’s and stereo equipment. If you use the switch on the surge protector, instead of the remote-control unit for on/off control of your TV, you’ll eliminate a phantom load. Check all of your AC outlets, and remove all unused wall-warts (transformers).
Next, you might want to spend a few dollars on things that will end up costing you nothing by virtue of the savings you’ll see on your electric bill. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs is a good example. And why not replace your clock-radio with a wind-up alarm clock? Having done those things, it’s time to move on to larger items. Maybe it’s time to replace that old refrigerator with an energy-star-rated model. You might cut $20.00 per month off of your electric bill if you do. And isn’t it time to replace that big old TV in the den with a new 42” plasma model? In doing so you might go from 300-Watts to 100-Watts. You’ll get three hours of TV viewing for the price of one hour. The savings really add up at the end of the month.
After doing all of those things, you might consider geothermal heating and cooling, and solar hot water heating. I use a corn-burning stove to supplement my natural gas heating. Burning corn is a little more work, but it reduces my heating bill significantly. Check with a reliable contractor to see if any of these strategies will benefit you.
How much are you willing to sacrifice?
Once you’ve done all you can to reduce consumption, and perhaps made energy-efficiency improvements to your home, you then need to decide just how far you’re willing to cut back. It’s easy to say “I’ll turn my thermostat down” when the weather is mild, but will you really do it when you’re shivering in the coldest winter months? Will you also cut back significantly on air-conditioning? Be honest with yourself. If it seems like too much of a sacrifice, remind yourself of the negative effects of excessive energy consumption. Cutting back benefits you, your children, and the entire planet.
It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to make all of these changes at once. Do some research and come up with a game plan, and a consumption rate to shoot for. Check the energy-star tags on appliances you intend to buy. Look at your electric bill. If you’re currently averaging 900kwh of electricity per month, that’s a lot. Try to cut it in half. If you’re using 500kwh of electricity per month, try to cut it by at least 25%.
As you work on your plan you’re likely to discover energy-saving lifestyle changes that actually enhance the quality of your life instead of detracting from it. I’ve found it much more pleasant to turn my thermostat down and use an electric blanket in a cool bedroom. An inexpensive Kill-A-Watt meter helps me determine how much I’m saving.
Beyond conservation
After you’ve reduced consumption, the cost of a solar photovoltaic, wind, or a hybrid electric system won’t be so daunting. If you’re not ready to disconnect from the grid entirely, you can install a small system that meets a portion of your needs. If you choose to start small, employ a strategy that helps you get the most out of your system. Solar equipment that is unused, or underused, is counterproductive. Everything you’ll need to automate your system for maximum efficiency is available, and at a reasonable cost.
Expensive gasoline – The other part of the energy crisis
Having a solar electric system in place not only contributes to your independence from the power company, it’s the first step toward gasoline independence. Plug-in-hybrid-electric-vehicles (PHEV’s) will start to show up in dealer showrooms in the year 2010. By charging your car with power from your photovoltaic system, you’ll be driving on free power from the sun instead of expensive gasoline. It’s going to take a substantial system to do the charging, so now would be a good time to get started.
Renewables – No War Required
By purchasing less oil from Middle Eastern countries we not only reduce the amount of money that they have available for war, we eliminate our need to be there in the first place. Since the politicians won’t stop it, it’s up to each of us to lead the way.
When the people lead, leaders follow. Let’s roll!
John
Friday, December 14, 2007
Driving a PHEV is Like Buying Gasoline at 20 Cents a Gallon
While you might think a Plug-in-Hybrid-Electric-Vehicle (PHEV) is simply an ordinary hybrid with a plug added for charging, there is another significant difference between the two. Typical hybrid cars on the road today have a gasoline motor and an electric motor, and either of them can be used to drive the wheels. On the other hand, power to the wheels on the new breed of PHEV’s will come ONLY from the electric motor. The gasoline motor is used to recharge batteries. This design is inherently more fuel-efficient, since the gasoline motor will run at a constant speed. It’s called a “series” hybrid, and the Chevrolet Volt is an example. The plug-in Volt is expected to be available in 2010. It will have a 16kwh lithium-ion battery that will take 6 to 6 ½ hours to charge, and a fully-charged battery can propel the car for the first 40 miles. The gasoline motor kicks-in after that, extending the range of the car. For those who drive less than 40 miles per day, which is most of us, the car will use no gasoline at all.
Based on that information, it’s easy to calculate operating expenses. Assuming that electricity costs ten cents per kwh, the cost to charge the battery should not exceed $1.60, which is ten cents per kwh times 16kwh. In reality, the battery will not be fully drained, and therefore the actual cost will be less than that. But for no more than $1.60 worth of electricity, the car will go 40 miles. It takes $3.00 to $6.00 worth of gasoline to go that far in a typical gasoline-powered car!
Nighttime electric rates are much less than daytime rates in many locations, and I’ve signed up for a plan that gives me rates as low as two cents per kwh in the early morning hours. My rate will change from day to day and hour to hour, but if it averages less than four cents per kwh at night, I’ll be able to charge my Volt for as little as twenty six cents. Needless to say, I can hardly wait to own one. When compared to a car that gets 30 mpg, this is equivalent to gasoline at 20 cents per gallon for the first 40 miles of driving each day!
In reality, state and federal legislators will soon realize that I’m not paying my fair share of road use taxes, and somehow I’ll be forced to make up the difference, but I’ll certainly have some unbelievably inexpensive transportation in the mean time.
Here’s the info from Chevy: http://www.chevrolet.com/pop/electriccar/2007/process_en.jsp
John
Based on that information, it’s easy to calculate operating expenses. Assuming that electricity costs ten cents per kwh, the cost to charge the battery should not exceed $1.60, which is ten cents per kwh times 16kwh. In reality, the battery will not be fully drained, and therefore the actual cost will be less than that. But for no more than $1.60 worth of electricity, the car will go 40 miles. It takes $3.00 to $6.00 worth of gasoline to go that far in a typical gasoline-powered car!
Nighttime electric rates are much less than daytime rates in many locations, and I’ve signed up for a plan that gives me rates as low as two cents per kwh in the early morning hours. My rate will change from day to day and hour to hour, but if it averages less than four cents per kwh at night, I’ll be able to charge my Volt for as little as twenty six cents. Needless to say, I can hardly wait to own one. When compared to a car that gets 30 mpg, this is equivalent to gasoline at 20 cents per gallon for the first 40 miles of driving each day!
In reality, state and federal legislators will soon realize that I’m not paying my fair share of road use taxes, and somehow I’ll be forced to make up the difference, but I’ll certainly have some unbelievably inexpensive transportation in the mean time.
Here’s the info from Chevy: http://www.chevrolet.com/pop/electriccar/2007/process_en.jsp
John
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Power Smart Pricing from Ameren
My electric utility company now has a real-time pricing program and I’ve enrolled. Instead of a paying a flat rate for electricity, my rate will vary by the hour depending upon demand at the time. I'll minimize my electricity use during peak demand times. Tasks like washing and drying clothes can be done late at night when rates are low.
My current electric bill is hard to understand, but from a recent one this is what I’ve been able to determine:
I am charged 0.072 per kwh of electricity of electricity I use.
With taxes, customer charge, distribution charge, and other miscellaneous charges and credits, I am actually paying 0.1016 per kwh.
Based on program information from the utility’s website, I’ll be paying as little as 0.015 per kwh when demand is low, or as much as 0.15 per kwh when demand is high. In addition to the rate information available to me over the Internet, I’ll be alerted when rates are expected to exceed 0.13 per kwh.
A new electric meter was installed on December 3rd, allowing my electricity use to be monitored by time-of-day.
To get the most from this program I’ll run as many daytime loads as possible off of my solar photovoltaic (PV) system. To the extent that my small system can keep up, I’ll run my refrigerator and chest freezer off of it. At night, when rates are low, I’ll run them off of grid-supplied power. Fortunately, the PV system operates most efficiently during the day because energy goes straight to the load, instead of being stored in and retrieved from batteries. As I add solar panels to my existing array, I’ll add electrical items to the daytime load when utility rates are highest.
Perhaps the easiest way to switch between the grid and solar is by way of a simple timer and relay as illustrated below:
The transfer switch can be wired so that it selects the inverter when AC is present, and switches to grid-supplied power when necessary. The timer can be programmed to switch the inverter on during the day, and off at night.
My current electric bill is hard to understand, but from a recent one this is what I’ve been able to determine:
I am charged 0.072 per kwh of electricity of electricity I use.
With taxes, customer charge, distribution charge, and other miscellaneous charges and credits, I am actually paying 0.1016 per kwh.
Based on program information from the utility’s website, I’ll be paying as little as 0.015 per kwh when demand is low, or as much as 0.15 per kwh when demand is high. In addition to the rate information available to me over the Internet, I’ll be alerted when rates are expected to exceed 0.13 per kwh.
A new electric meter was installed on December 3rd, allowing my electricity use to be monitored by time-of-day.
To get the most from this program I’ll run as many daytime loads as possible off of my solar photovoltaic (PV) system. To the extent that my small system can keep up, I’ll run my refrigerator and chest freezer off of it. At night, when rates are low, I’ll run them off of grid-supplied power. Fortunately, the PV system operates most efficiently during the day because energy goes straight to the load, instead of being stored in and retrieved from batteries. As I add solar panels to my existing array, I’ll add electrical items to the daytime load when utility rates are highest.
Perhaps the easiest way to switch between the grid and solar is by way of a simple timer and relay as illustrated below:
The circuit above will work, but for safety and NEC code compliance a transfer switch should be used. The inverter can be switched on and off via a timer as shown below:
The transfer switch can be wired so that it selects the inverter when AC is present, and switches to grid-supplied power when necessary. The timer can be programmed to switch the inverter on during the day, and off at night.With nightly electricity rates below 0.035 per kwh, I’ll have to reevaluate my Plug-In-Electric-Vehicle (PHEV) recharging strategy. It no longer seems practical to purchase extra solar panels for this. I’ll buy extra panels for the daytime loads instead.
I might also benefit from this plan by using the grid to charge batteries. I'll charge batteries at night when rates are low, and use the stored energy to power household loads during the day when rates are high. I suspect that the losses associated with storing and retrieving energy will be more than offset by the low nighttime electric rates.
As I gain experience, I suspect that I’ll discover other ways to get the most from this plan. I welcome suggestions and comments from others.
For more information about the plan I’ve signed up for, click here: http://www.powersmartpricing.org/
John
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