I would really like to go "off grid."
Not for any logical reason, my home already has natural gas and electric service from the local utility. Gas service has NEVER been interrupted. We have regular electric service interruption so I have a natural gas generator installed for power back up.
But I'd like to complicate my life and spend money unnecessarily to go off grid, especially with electricity.
So here is my thought. A MULTI-PHASE approach with the transition done in stages.
Thoughts?
Not for any logical reason, my home already has natural gas and electric service from the local utility. Gas service has NEVER been interrupted. We have regular electric service interruption so I have a natural gas generator installed for power back up.
But I'd like to complicate my life and spend money unnecessarily to go off grid, especially with electricity.
So here is my thought. A MULTI-PHASE approach with the transition done in stages.
PHASE 1:
The problem I still would have is that the house uses Gas Forced Air for heating. So I would still rely on natural gas for most of the home heating needs, but it would be dramatically reduced if I can heat part of the home, and the water heater, with a solar collector. Install some solar PV panels, a battery bank, and an inverter. Set the system up as a "net metering" system so that any 'excess' power is sold to the utility. The solar PV panels change the batteries, the house draws power from the batteries, if the batteries get to low, the utility company is used to recharge the batteries. If the batteries are charged and there is surplus power then the excess power is sold to the utility.
In a power failure situation the solar PV panels would charge the battery bank, the house would draw power from the batteries, if the batteries get too low then the Natural Gas generator would re-charge the battery bank.
Install a solar water heater array to heat the household water. Excess heat could also be used to heat part of the house.
PHASE 2:In a power failure situation the solar PV panels would charge the battery bank, the house would draw power from the batteries, if the batteries get too low then the Natural Gas generator would re-charge the battery bank.
Install a solar water heater array to heat the household water. Excess heat could also be used to heat part of the house.
PART A) Based on the actual performance of the above system during the first year of the system, expand the solar PV panels or add a wind generator to supplement it as needed.
PART B) Install a "wood gasification" system to power the natural gas generator. These systems use burning wood to create a burnable gas and would remove the need have the natural gas line in place to power the generator. One example of a wood gas system => http://victorygasifier.com/
PART B) Install a "wood gasification" system to power the natural gas generator. These systems use burning wood to create a burnable gas and would remove the need have the natural gas line in place to power the generator. One example of a wood gas system => http://victorygasifier.com/
Thoughts?