Is it possible to go off grid by using only two small wind turbines on solar panels?

Answer 1

It really depends on the peak load you expect to match for your household - usually around 900 KiloWatt hours per month. If you are not going to use electrical power for most of your needs, your two little turbines and solar panels might provide enough of a supply - but I seriously doubt it will be suficient for a typical home in North America. Most people do not estimate their peak requirements sufficiently - you would also need to proved some kind of storage system (usually batteries) for nights when there is not enough wind to drive the turbines. You will also need to manage the load with a small control system.

Other considerations:
If you are in a northern location, your requirements may be higher than they would be in a more southerly latitude because of the shorter days and longer nights during the winter.
Your peak energy requirements can be reduced by using energy efficient appliances - for example replacing an older model refrigerator with a modern, more efficient one could reduce your electrical usage by 50 KWH per month. Likewise if you have an old CRT monitor you may want to use a Flat panel, since they only use 30-40 watts of electricity while CRTs run about 110 watts.

There are numerous other factors to consider when you calculate your personal home energy requirements, but that is a practical first step to take before you start designing your solution for living "off the grid".

Answer 2

A coworker from my last job lived off the grid on solar panels and 20 car batteries. He says he has to keep the TV and all the lights on just so the batteries don't overcharge because he produces too much power. One wind turbine is too much power for a house and his current electrical system can't handle that much power when the wind picks up to 15 mph.

He lives out in the middle of the desert and went off the grid because his neighborhood is always the last neighborhood to get power after a blackout.

Answer 3

if you are in the UK i reckon the wind turbines would be more cost effective than the solar panels- unless global warming picks up.

You can load share as well so that when you have natural power your appliances use that and tap off the grid when you don't have enough power.

You can also store power in batteries, if you have excess but bear in mind that this will be DC not AC. On that point your power source would need to supply 240v 13A 50Hz AC for your mains powered appliances to work.

Answer 4

Sure it is possible. It is even possible to go off grid without any solar or wind generators. The Amish live that way now. They just do not use electricity.

Answer 5

If you can work out your energy consumption for the year, then buy solar,wind turbines + batteries to cover your energy use for the year. Believe it is expensive but becoming cheaper. It will be the way to go soon

Answer 6

yes its possible. you just have to make sure your maximum load is less than the total output of your turbines and solar panels. I doubt a modern household could do it since the peak load could be 17600 Watts

Answer 7

If you use alternative heating and cooking fuel then I think you could do it with less. Heating and cooking are the main areas of electricity useage.

Alternatives to electricity for heating? - all the alternatives use fossil fuels, which is how most electricity is generated. Similarly for cooking and heating of water.

If you live in a small, well insulated room, and cook in the same room, you will reduce your heating and cooking energy requirements.

The rest of your requirements will be trivial (or non-essential).

Answer 8

yes.
i only use wave power but your solution to global warming seems reasonable.
i put a sail on my bike the other day and got 25 miles an hour down the A4.
my vision was obscured by the sail but pc plodd said that it was okay and not to try it again until i purchased a cycle helmet.

Answer 9

Homemade Solar Power Videos : http://SolarPower.siopu.com/?xWs

Answer 10

Why not? Or you could use the sun for heating and the wind for electricity, provided that you lived in the right area.