opinions sought on PV/wind hybrid system

 

I met these guys at a homebuild show/ exhibition.They are from Co.Mayo
in Ireland and manufacture and sell hybrid generating systems.The guy
on the stand told me that option number 4 is their most popular hybrid
system being installed in the Republic of Ireland,and they are now
trying to get a foothold in Northern Ireland.

UK electricity costs are rising dramatically,and I am seriously
considering self generation options,due to the fact we're running a
ground source heat pump,and the quarterly electric bill is higher as a
result.Even with the UK clearskies grant not being applicable if you
deal with them,they seem to be very keenly priced compared to say
Proven wind turbines from Scotland,just as an example.Typical Proven
2.5 kw system is running around £7500 after the grant,and that's a
grid connected system-no deep cycle batteries.And that is a bit too
dear for me to cope with right now.

Is this a good deal?PV panels,wind turbine and deep cycle
batteries-supply only-you have to get your own tradesmen to install.And
you can add to the sysytem in the future if you need to.
Helpful advice appreciated.....

www.surfacepower.com   is the website

 


I met these guys at a homebuild show/ exhibition.They are from Co.Mayo
in Ireland and manufacture and sell hybrid generating systems.The guy
on the stand told me that option number 4 is their most popular hybrid
system being installed in the Republic of Ireland,and they are now
trying to get a foothold in Northern Ireland.

UK electricity costs are rising dramatically,and I am seriously
considering self generation options,due to the fact we're running a
ground source heat pump,and the quarterly electric bill is higher as a
result.Even with the UK clearskies grant not being applicable if you
deal with them,they seem to be very keenly priced compared to say
Proven wind turbines from Scotland,just as an example.Typical Proven
2.5 kw system is running around £7500 after the grant,and that's a
grid connected system-no deep cycle batteries.And that is a bit too
dear for me to cope with right now.

Is this a good deal?PV panels,wind turbine and deep cycle
batteries-supply only-you have to get your own tradesmen to install.And
you can add to the sysytem in the future if you need to.
Helpful advice appreciated.....

www.surfacepower.com   is the website

Before I jumped into wind power I would get the local data on average wind,
no wind and high wind speeds.  I have a friend that has 4 450 watt wind
turbines. They provide about 50% of their rating day in and day out. Also do
you have a lightning problem?  Wind towers can be an attraction point even
in installed correctly and grounded properly.

Price is as price does. I am not familar with what things cost in Europe.
Here in the States the utilities some time offer incentives and so do the
states. I live in Arizona and you can get up to 50% on some new solar/wind
installations.  Check the paper work first to see if your proposed equipment
is on the list.

 

ltwf1964 wrote:
...

If you're connected to the grid then it's almost a sure bet
that grid power is many times cheaper than this kit.

The #4 kit looks like 300W of PV, an Air-X and an inverter
(or maybe two?). They don't sell wire and it's a little
fuzzy if they include batteries or not. Certainly such a
system is not going to supply 40-60% of a typical house
unless that house is stuck in the pre-electrical age. It's
more likely to be in the 6-10% range.

The drawings and photos on their opening webpages are not
ones to inspire confidence in the company. One clearly
shows a wind turbine firmly bolted to the side of a house.
Others show generic pretty smiling people in absolutely
no context with the products the company sells.

I think you would likely do better to find a reputable outfit
that can sell you all the same parts and have a qualified
person install them for you properly.

Anthony

 

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 15:25:42 -0800, Anthony Matonak


Yup. High prices, Pollyanna, and exaggeration. And Watts per hour?
Geez. Also, the chick on this page
http://www.surfacepower.com/index2.html  looks weak and hungry. It
seems cruel to make her hold up that heavy wall.

Wayne

 



Yep, and that will still be true after mass production kicks in and costs go
down, whenever that eventually happens.

My own PV system will take decades to recoup, even with higher grid costs
and lower equipment costs.  I did it because I like fiddling around with
this stuff and reducing my dependence on the grid.

The secret to living off-grid is to reduce your normal consumption to a
fraction, using anything you can that's non-electrical, and conserving your
electrical energy budget.  You still almost invariably need a backup source
such as a grid-tie and/or a generator when it's not enough.

I believe most of these postings are driven by fear of a high electric bill.
That's entirely the wrong reason to go off-grid with alternate power.  You
can hardly expect to find a cheaper and easier alternative to conventional
power by buying a PV or windmill, or water turbine system or a generator.
Even if you have a reliable source of steady energy, such as constant wind,
abundant sunlight or flowing water, the setup, operating and maintenance
costs would generally make it more costly in the long run.

The message for alternate energy, for a long time to come will be, "Less for
More."  That is, less performance, less consumption, less ease of use...

For more cost, more engineering, more maintenance and more management.