Looking at it another way, I have calculated previously that the cost per kWh for 24x7 power from a diesel generator is in the range of $0.35 to $0.49 per kWh. That's including the purchase cost of the generator, maintenance, expected lifespan, cost of fuel, etc.
If you want to see prime power examples of diesel used for islanded grid power, each town in Nunavut has its own set of diesel generators and tanks. There is no long distance transmission setup or inter-city grid. http://www.qec.nu.ca/home/ On Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 5:57 PM, Chuck McCown <[email protected]> wrote: > I agree, but my application is primary power, not emergency. > > *From:* Eric Kuhnke > *Sent:* Friday, December 02, 2016 6:53 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] generator fuel > > I don't think it's fair to directly compare diesel fuel to natural gas, > because one is portable in just about any container (in a real emergency), > the other is not. > > http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2012/10/31/peer-1- > mobilizes-diesel-bucket-brigade-at-75-broad/ > > On Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 5:49 PM, Chuck McCown <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I am assuming a BTU of fuel will make so many Wh of energy. >> >> If perfectly efficient 1M BTU =292.3 kWh >> That would cost me *$35* from the power utility. >> >> A gallon of diesel is abou $3.25 around here. 139000 btu. >> Diesel then is about $23 per 1M btu. >> However diesel engines are only 30% efficient so it will cost me *$76* >> in fuel to make that 292.3 kWh >> >> If that assumption is approximately correct: >> I pay about $7.80 per decatherm in the winter for NG. A decatherm is 1 >> million btu >> About half that in summer. >> >> $7.80/.3= *$26*/293.3 kWh for NG not considering depreciation and maint >> of the generator. >> >> It seems to me that NG is the hands down fuel cost winner? Anyone see >> mistakes in this? >> >> > >
