At 04:16 PM 2008-05-10 +0000, skipp025 wrote:
Well... you're going to need deal with snow? In your location on gray winter days you're probably talking less than 20% to 30% of the summertime solar energy from most solar arrays (on a good day with a tail wind).
I thought solar cells were only 10-15% efficient on cloudy days? And days up here are about one to two hours shorter up here in winter compared to you folks in the Pacific NW. Although you likely get a lot more cloudy days than we do.
The propane generator doesn't have to be mechanical... you can use a Thermal Electric Generator "TEG" and use the available heat to warm both the building and adjacent requirements as required. And TEG units run on other types of liquids and gases. An example in operation here in the Pacific Northwest... One modest tank of propane runs the TEG continous through the winter months. With a little planning... by the time the propane runs out and the TEG simply goes to sleep you have enough spring time solar energy available once again.
I was unaware of this option. This sounds very interesting. Do you have some vendor names?
I found a list at http://www.peltier-info.com/generators.html
I've also run the numbers... a combination of solar and propane energy production can be operationally very cost effective against commercial power once you get past the initial investment.
We have the funds for the initial investment. I just don't want to saddle the club with $40-$50 monthly payments. I'd far sooner spend, say, $5,000 now to avoid that even if it has an eight year payback. Besides $5,000 is what it would cost to have power poles put in place.
Just some things to think about...
Very nice things to think about. I especially like the no moving parts and heating up the shack as a benefit. Awesome.
Tony
