Re: OT(ish) Wind Generator / Solar Panels

["John Benfield" <john.benfield@xxxxxxx>]

>A bit off-topic, but I'm wondering if there's  anyone out there with
exper=
ience with harnessing mother nature to generate  electricity/hot water.=A0
=
I've come across a lot of sites which >promote  alternative energy, but
non=
e that offer any great advice, where to start  etc.

>I don't have any great need to do this, since I  live on a large
housing e=
state and do have mains electricity, it's something  I've always wanted to
=
do.

Phil,

Lots of problems with both of these. If you are already on the grid that
ge=
ts rid of one problem, batteries. Batteries are pretty basic technology,
co=
st quite a bit and don't last that long (lifespan). Better technology is
co=
ming, but it's not there yet. Secondly, PV and wind generate either 12V or
=
24V, so you need to step this up to 230V. Easily done, but you need to buy
=
the control gear. PV's are damn expenses, and you need a large area in
orde=
r to produce reasonable power. Wind is fine if you live in a windy place
(o=
bvious I know). You need an average airspeed of about 5m/s. Buildings,
tree=
s etc all get in the way and slow down the air and create turbulence.
Final=
, wind turbines can be noisy and you might need planning permission for it!

If all of this does put you off, the Centre of Alternative Energy do a
coup=
le of books about alternative energy generation.

Regards
John Benfield





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