do you generate renewable energy ...

[saratogatan]

given that this hobby consumes a lot of electricity. I am curious who in this hobby are generating renewable enerygy, and what form ?

stan

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by saratogatan given that this hobby consumes a lot of electricity. I am curious who in this hobby are generating renewable enerygy, and what form ? stan

I generate a little gas from time to time.

[philhunter]

I have a 12 Kw solar electric system that powers the house and pond.


Phil

[kntry]

Phil, could you start a thread on what's involved in putting in a solar system? I'm really interested in doing that but have no idea where to start or how expensive it is. Is the power company required to purchase surplus power from you? Where do you find installers, etc.?

[Fishbreeder]

At my farm I pump water and generate electricity using diesel engines fueled with used vegetable oil. I get the oil from restaraunts, mix it with paint thinner and some other stuff and use it for fuel in Chinese or INdian one banger diesels.

Burning vegetable oil for fuel is carbon nuetral, the carbon released in the process was sequestered from the atmosphere in the plants as they were grown.

Today I visited a windmill farm (8 hours drive North of the koi farm) in Abilene where my brother in law works. I went up inside a 364 foot tall windmill that produces 3 megawatts, largest in North America. It was very impressive.

However, at a cost of over $3 million for each windmill, they are a bit out of my range. I could buy 5 fish farms for that much.

Still, the thing generates nearly 2500 horsepower at 17 rpm's and has zero emissions. There are thousands of them atround here, far as you can see in any direction. More windmill generating capacity than any state of nation.

Texas has planned over 30 new coal fired powerplants over the next 20 or so years. We build those and none of us will be able to breathe. My uncle, (50 years with the power company) says it would take a couple of dozen Chernobyl type disasters to poison as much land, wreak as much environemtnal havoic and kill as many people as mining coal and using coal fired generators has done. We need more nukes, and baddly. 30,000 coal miners die every year (mostly in Ghina), and we are oblivious.

I'm trying to do my little part by generating some of my power on site.

My plans are to do the same at my house.

Brett

[schildkoi]

Brett,
Actually there is new technology in coal powered powerplants. They are called "Futuregen." The first is being built about 70 miles southwest of us in Mattoon Illinois and has virtually no emmissions. From the burning coal, Hydrogen and CO2 emmissions are made. The CO2 is then compressed and pumped into salt domes in the ground. The hydrogen is then sold for fuel as well. Not really coal related but very interesting and prommising.

Steve

[philhunter]

Hi Kntry,

Unfortunately, solar electric is not very cost effective without some form of government subsidy. In 2002 when I had mine installed, it cost roughly $7000 per Kw to have installed. Even with the state paying for over 50% of the install cost, and the highest utility rates in the country, my payback was just over 7 years. Since then, utility rate increases have reduced the payback to just under six years, and we are looking at another rate increase, effective 2008, which will further reduce the payback period. That said, unless your state subsidizes solar installations and you electricity costs are very high, the payback on your investment will be 15 years or more. Of course you could reduce the cost considerably if you can install it yourself. Idid not feel comfortable doing this on such a large system.

I have what is called a Net Metering Agreement with the electric company. During the day I provide electricity to the grid and, at night, I draw electricity from the grid, since my system has no batteries. I also have a smart meter that keeps track of my production and usage by time of day. My rate structure is that I have a high rate during peak use period from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm , Mon through Friday and a low rate from 6:00 pm until 10:00 am Mon through Friday, Weekends and all Holidays. Ideally, I don't use any electricity during peak hours, but am a producer. At then end of the month, my meter is read and if I produced more that I used, I get a credit. If I used more than I produced, I get a bill. Some months I get a credit and some months I get a bill. It really depends upon the weather. The biggest bill I get is in the sumer when the A/C's are running a lot.

Here in California, installers are a dime a dozen. The state still has subsidies, but at a reduced rate from when I put my system in. The state also keeps and approved list of installers. You will need to check with you state to see what subsidies, if any, are available. You could also check for a list of installers there as well. Also, I believe there is a Federal Tax credit of up to $2000 for installing solar, which was not available when I installed my system.

Hope this helps.


Phil

[B.Scott]

Solar-electric pannels are about to get a whole lot cheaper! A new method of production is about to reduce the price of pannels to about $1000 per KW.

Nanosolar Blog » Nanosolar Ships First Panels

B.Scott

[Russell Peters]

How sweet it is, they are located in San Jose California. It is a mere 60 miles from us.

Just need the $$$.

[philhunter]

Very interesting! If the panels become available for residential installs at anywhere near the cost listed on the website, it will completely change the economics of home installed solar. Current technology is about $7000 per Kilowatt installed , so even if this comes in at $2000 per Kilowatt installed, it is a major breakthrough. At that price, i would make my system larger and never have an electric bill again.


Phil