Commercial off-grid application? [RE-wrenches]

[Jeff Clearwater]

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Hey David B.,

I think Jay's response  is right on the money in terms of the 
generator.  You basically need to talk them out of the notion that a 
gigantic battery bank is any more environmentally responsible than a 
small one backed up by a seldom run propone or perhaps diesel unit. 
You might sell them on the propane unit by speaking of the 
possibility that some day in the not too distant future, local green 
gas production may be possible in the form of methane or hydrogen. 
Give them some reason to back away from their position.


The other, probably more immediate approach, is to sell them on the 
vision of "greening the grid" by putting all that money that would 
have been spent on batteries that eventually land in the land-fill or 
some Asian backyard recycled by bare-handed kids - into grid tied PV.

I think sometimes our job is more of psychologist than engineer . . . 
. "you don't want to do that" sometimes is the best sales line.  Or 
at least one we can sleep with at night.  . . .  It's fun to be an 
engineer and try to solve the problem - but we must be careful the 
problem is defined right in the first place.

Is there a way to have biodiesel or vegie oil be a reliable backup? 
I think Jay may be practically right  on that, but it would be nice 
if he wasn't - anybody else with experience have a say on that?

So get to work and sell them a very large PV system (or better yet an 
aggressive conservation program) with all that money and disgust of 
oil!

Best of luck!

Jeff C.



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>Hi, David,
>
>
>How long does this system have to back up for?  Minutes, hours, days?
>
>If its minutes, then yep a industrial sealed battery ( absolite 2P) 
>the way to go.
>
>If its a few hours same.
>
>If you ever need this to run for more than some hours, then you'll 
>need the genny.  For example, when the power does go out
>usually its from storms, hence no solar, no battery recharge, and 
>then you''ll need the genny to power this anyway.
>
>I don't recommend bio, straight oil or even diesel for such a 
>standby by unit.  All of this fuels don't like to sit for months let 
>alone years.
>A propane unit with storage tank gives the best backup.  ( even if 
>you have natural gas, if the power goes out, so can the power for 
>the gas)
>
>On a side note, I understand the dislike of gennys, but in this 
>case, its actually much more environmentally friendly to go with 
>only a small battery to run before the genny
>starts than to go with a huge battery.  Assuming the use of backup 
>is the normally very rare thing.
>
>peace,
>
>jay
>
>peltz power
>
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-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff Clearwater
Village Power Design Associates
Sustainable Energy & Water Solutions for Home & Village
http://www.villagepower.com
gosolar at villagepower.com

530-470-9166
877-SOLARVillage
877-765-2784
425 Nimrod St.
Nevada City, CA 95959
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