info@truenorthpower.com
A Publication of the FREE Wind Press - May be re-printed for personal use only
Copyright (C) 2007 TRUE-NORTH Power Systems
For commercial or non-profit publication contact TRUE-NORTH Power Systems
Lion's Head ON N0H 1W0 - (519) 793-3290
A Publication of the FREE Wind Press - May be re-printed for personal use only
Copyright (C) 2007 TRUE-NORTH Power Systems
For commercial or non-profit publication contact TRUE-NORTH Power Systems
Lion's Head ON N0H 1W0 - (519) 793-3290
Issue 2:4 Headlines: May 2004
Federal Metering Standards May Approve Current Meters for Bi-Directional Use
Industry Proposal: For the purpose of facilitating grid interconnection and to reduce the costs associated with the replacement of currently in-service meters, it has been proposed by many promoters of renewable energy that existing non-detent equipped electro-mechanical meters or single register electronic meters should be permitted to run in the reverse direction to automatically net the measurement readings used for purpose of establishing the basis of a charge for electricity consumption. This proposal is now being evaluated by Measurements Canada the Federal agency responsible for approving electrical and gas consumption meters. If this is successful the current cost of $600-$1,000 or more for the utility to install a new meter would be eliminated. For the full story see the Measurements Canada website.
Industry Proposal: For the purpose of facilitating grid interconnection and to reduce the costs associated with the replacement of currently in-service meters, it has been proposed by many promoters of renewable energy that existing non-detent equipped electro-mechanical meters or single register electronic meters should be permitted to run in the reverse direction to automatically net the measurement readings used for purpose of establishing the basis of a charge for electricity consumption. This proposal is now being evaluated by Measurements Canada the Federal agency responsible for approving electrical and gas consumption meters. If this is successful the current cost of $600-$1,000 or more for the utility to install a new meter would be eliminated. For the full story see the Measurements Canada website.
L.A. Solar Installations Obtain Only 45 Percent of Expected Wattage
A recent review of six major solar installations in Los Angeles showed that the L.A. Department of Water and Power (DWP) obtained an average of only 45 percent of the anticipated wattage. Two photo voltaic panels at the Los Angeles Convention Center generated less than 40 percent of design capacity--29 percent from one and 37 percent from the other. The report on DWP's "green" power program also revealed that costs per kilowatt hour on the sampled solar installations were roughly twice the market average of 40 cents. According to DWP, experts are investigating whether the shortfall indicates a broader problem with more than 500 solar installations citywide. Since June, when the DWP temporarily froze its incentive plan because demand outpaced available funding, the utility has increased funding to $150 million through 2011. DWP has $11 million in confirmed funding to pay off this year and $109 million worth of requests on the waiting list. The DWP is restructuring the solar program to meet customer demand and could reduce the incentive grants that are offered. Customers now get $4.50 for every watt of solar energy generated by panels installed in L.A., but built outside the city. The funding is $6 per watt if the solar panels were built in L.A.
A recent review of six major solar installations in Los Angeles showed that the L.A. Department of Water and Power (DWP) obtained an average of only 45 percent of the anticipated wattage. Two photo voltaic panels at the Los Angeles Convention Center generated less than 40 percent of design capacity--29 percent from one and 37 percent from the other. The report on DWP's "green" power program also revealed that costs per kilowatt hour on the sampled solar installations were roughly twice the market average of 40 cents. According to DWP, experts are investigating whether the shortfall indicates a broader problem with more than 500 solar installations citywide. Since June, when the DWP temporarily froze its incentive plan because demand outpaced available funding, the utility has increased funding to $150 million through 2011. DWP has $11 million in confirmed funding to pay off this year and $109 million worth of requests on the waiting list. The DWP is restructuring the solar program to meet customer demand and could reduce the incentive grants that are offered. Customers now get $4.50 for every watt of solar energy generated by panels installed in L.A., but built outside the city. The funding is $6 per watt if the solar panels were built in L.A.
Private Wind Power for Under 4 cents per kWhr
Everyone wants to know, "What's the payback period" as if they expect that such a large investment must pay for itself in a couple of years or it's not worth it. What they fail to consider is that a privately owned wind turbine is about the ONLY thing they'll ever buy that pays ANYTHING back. But . . . for those who insist, and are actually serious about making money with a non-commercial turbine, here's the deal. Hot water is typically 25-30% of an average home's electricity use. Hook up a 1-2 kW turbine to a low voltage heater and put it where the sun don't shine . . inside your hot water tank. Whenever the wind blows you'll create heat that will offset or eliminate the utility grade energy used for your domestic hot water. Now the trick is, how do you do that when the system costs $10-15,000? All the other components used in a wind system, like batteries, inverters, charge controllers make a $3,000 turbine very expensive to connect.
That system cost, amortized over 10-15 years means the cost of power is still 15 cents per kilowatt. Actually, that IS the cost of energy today, especially if you only use 3-400kWhrs per month. Below are my actual utility charges for the past 3 months. During Nov we did not use the turbine much. I was experimenting with new controllers, so 677kWhrs is typical of a newer energy efficient house that does not use electricity for domestic hot water or heating. Notice the cost per kWhr is very sensitive to amount used below about 700 kWhrs/month. When we had the turbine running for most of December we used less energy, paid less in dollars but the cost per kWhr was almost doubled (23 cents/kWhr). In January, when we used more energy the cost/kWhr was still almost 15cents. You can appreciate now, that the ability to do the "Return on Investment" math on wind turbines is not very simple. You're an energy producer, but the energy you produce has no "cost" to create yet has a highly volatile value.
[missing image]
Everyone wants to know, "What's the payback period" as if they expect that such a large investment must pay for itself in a couple of years or it's not worth it. What they fail to consider is that a privately owned wind turbine is about the ONLY thing they'll ever buy that pays ANYTHING back. But . . . for those who insist, and are actually serious about making money with a non-commercial turbine, here's the deal. Hot water is typically 25-30% of an average home's electricity use. Hook up a 1-2 kW turbine to a low voltage heater and put it where the sun don't shine . . inside your hot water tank. Whenever the wind blows you'll create heat that will offset or eliminate the utility grade energy used for your domestic hot water. Now the trick is, how do you do that when the system costs $10-15,000? All the other components used in a wind system, like batteries, inverters, charge controllers make a $3,000 turbine very expensive to connect.
That system cost, amortized over 10-15 years means the cost of power is still 15 cents per kilowatt. Actually, that IS the cost of energy today, especially if you only use 3-400kWhrs per month. Below are my actual utility charges for the past 3 months. During Nov we did not use the turbine much. I was experimenting with new controllers, so 677kWhrs is typical of a newer energy efficient house that does not use electricity for domestic hot water or heating. Notice the cost per kWhr is very sensitive to amount used below about 700 kWhrs/month. When we had the turbine running for most of December we used less energy, paid less in dollars but the cost per kWhr was almost doubled (23 cents/kWhr). In January, when we used more energy the cost/kWhr was still almost 15cents. You can appreciate now, that the ability to do the "Return on Investment" math on wind turbines is not very simple. You're an energy producer, but the energy you produce has no "cost" to create yet has a highly volatile value.
[missing image]
Here's the bottom line. If the cost of the system were only say $5,000 then the payback period would be half as long as a system costing $10,000 and the "value" of each kWhr would go up as the utility price rises with inflation. So where are the $5,000 systems? Every one you've looked at probably cost $10-15,000 or more installed. Here's an idea, I've only done this myself so it's just experimental but don't buy the batteries or inverter. Just plug your wind turbine directly into a water or air heater, use all of the energy generated to offset your electricity cost. The trouble with this is, if you plug a heater into most small wind turbines without batteries it will not run. You need to use batteries to "condition" the power so it can be used in a controlled way and not stall the turbine. You need an inverter to convert battery voltage to 120 or 240v AC power to run the 120v heater. Also, a wind turbine needs to always be connected to some load to keep it under control. Here's a solution to those issues.
We've recently experimented with a new system at the FREE Wind Test Centre using the new AEROMAX/LAKOTA turbine controller, that manages the load "automagically" without the need for batteries. The turbine shown running here at the test centre has been working through some pretty tough winter storms the last few weeks, 30-40mph winds for days at a time. It is not connected to anything but a 24 volt air heater that heats the sign . . . not a very good use of power . . . but hey it's just a test. The secret is in the new controller that "steals" just enough energy from the turbine to maintain a set voltage but not enough to let it stall or too little that would let it get out of control. Turbine $2,645, Tower $990, Heater $150, Installation $800: Total cost $4,585. Now the cost of energy paid off over 10 years is below current utility costs and as the utility price goes up the payback period is shorter. You can't get that from the family car or an energy efficient appliance. Use two turbines for twice the energy at $7,800 cost and over 20 years each kWhr costs less than 4 cents even accounting for maintenance and repairs. Are you ready . . . that's ONE THIRD the cost of today's energy.
[missing photos x3]
We've recently experimented with a new system at the FREE Wind Test Centre using the new AEROMAX/LAKOTA turbine controller, that manages the load "automagically" without the need for batteries. The turbine shown running here at the test centre has been working through some pretty tough winter storms the last few weeks, 30-40mph winds for days at a time. It is not connected to anything but a 24 volt air heater that heats the sign . . . not a very good use of power . . . but hey it's just a test. The secret is in the new controller that "steals" just enough energy from the turbine to maintain a set voltage but not enough to let it stall or too little that would let it get out of control. Turbine $2,645, Tower $990, Heater $150, Installation $800: Total cost $4,585. Now the cost of energy paid off over 10 years is below current utility costs and as the utility price goes up the payback period is shorter. You can't get that from the family car or an energy efficient appliance. Use two turbines for twice the energy at $7,800 cost and over 20 years each kWhr costs less than 4 cents even accounting for maintenance and repairs. Are you ready . . . that's ONE THIRD the cost of today's energy.
[missing photos x3]
Here is what some of these diversion load heaters look like
Wind Systems Workshops a Hit!
If you missed the last two wind workshops here at the FREE Wind Test Centre there's more to come. Click Here for information on upcoming workshops. Those that were here for the Jan and Feb sessions had a great time learning how to speak wind tech and net metering lingo. They visited local off-grid and grid-tied installations and saw the 1.8Megawatt turbine Sky Generation (from a distance), and assembled a complete wind turbine system with real components during the workshop. CONGRATULATIONS! to everyone especially to Matt Crane from Diesel Services Group, Saskatoon for coming the farthest distance, but not to be out-done by Nicholas Dragonas "and his whole family" who drove through the winter storms all the way from Montreal.
Here are some class photos from this workshop and some of the previous ones.
[multiple photos missing]
If you missed the last two wind workshops here at the FREE Wind Test Centre there's more to come. Click Here for information on upcoming workshops. Those that were here for the Jan and Feb sessions had a great time learning how to speak wind tech and net metering lingo. They visited local off-grid and grid-tied installations and saw the 1.8Megawatt turbine Sky Generation (from a distance), and assembled a complete wind turbine system with real components during the workshop. CONGRATULATIONS! to everyone especially to Matt Crane from Diesel Services Group, Saskatoon for coming the farthest distance, but not to be out-done by Nicholas Dragonas "and his whole family" who drove through the winter storms all the way from Montreal.
Here are some class photos from this workshop and some of the previous ones.
[multiple photos missing]
LAKOTA Skies Photos
Everyone dreams of getting clean renewable energy for free but just watching a turbine working quietly in the wind is quite satisfying, knowing the energy is flowing cleanly and effortlessly without impacting the environment like fossil fuel generators. Sometimes it's downright inspiring. I often have my trusty digital camera (with wind energy rechargeable batteries) handy and able to snap some special shots of turbines under different conditions. Here are some samples that will be posted on the TRUE-NORTH Power Systems website soon. You usually have to look UP to see a turbine so I call the series LAKOTA Skies.
If you have a special turbine photo you'd like to share, send it along to photos@truenorthpower.com and we'll add it to the album for everyone to enjoy. The big turbine is Sky Generation a 1.8 Megawatt turbine near the Test Centre.
[multiple photos missing]
Everyone dreams of getting clean renewable energy for free but just watching a turbine working quietly in the wind is quite satisfying, knowing the energy is flowing cleanly and effortlessly without impacting the environment like fossil fuel generators. Sometimes it's downright inspiring. I often have my trusty digital camera (with wind energy rechargeable batteries) handy and able to snap some special shots of turbines under different conditions. Here are some samples that will be posted on the TRUE-NORTH Power Systems website soon. You usually have to look UP to see a turbine so I call the series LAKOTA Skies.
If you have a special turbine photo you'd like to share, send it along to photos@truenorthpower.com and we'll add it to the album for everyone to enjoy. The big turbine is Sky Generation a 1.8 Megawatt turbine near the Test Centre.
[multiple photos missing]