Should I go off-grid?

HertsLad

Verdigris said:

This thread's definitely a wind-up. Time to move on.

You could not be more wrong.

HertsLad

mikb said:

As to comments earlier about buying LiFePo4 cells from China direct, or via Alibaba/Aliexpress -- definitely read the above site and work out if you want to take that gamble.

Your warning is very valid. A few years ago, I bought 8x 3.7v batteries with a claimed rating of 2800mAh. I used them in a case to make a power bank which was supposed to have a capacity of 20,000mAh. Last night, I measured the capacity of one of the cells. It was a lowly 900mAh. These people should be shot! The real capacity of my power bank can't be more than 7,000mAh 

HertsLad

Progress - I have now reduced my daily electricity consumption from just over 3kWh per day to just over 2kWh per day. The lower the figure, the greater chance I may have of meeting the energy need through PV solar and by other means. I also bought a wind turbine (100w output maybe) but have not yet used it. I continue gathering together the materials I need to try making a steam powered generator, with an intention to try two different designs. The weather has been awful for the past week or so, meaning the potential for either solar thermal or solar PV has been very low. Gas will be the first account I close. I will retain electricity until such time as I can prove it is possible for me to create enough electricity myself, to go off-grid. 

HertsLad

Update: I turned off my mains electricity at the meter at the beginning of April and haven't used any since then. All the power I need comes from five solar panels. In fact, mostly from just three panels because the other two are on a different controller and rarely kick in.  My expectation is low that I can keep this up over the next winter but we will see. Despite good intentions, I have still not converted my gas supply to propane so I am still paying far more for the standing charge, than for actual gas used. As for the steam turbine, no progress there either, probably because I know it will be incredibly difficult.

QrizB

Thank you very much for the update, HertsLad!

It's been a pretty good year for solar so far, and I'm glad to hear that it's working out for you.

paul991

although i like the idea  of  going off grid >is  not the best thing to  do add more solar and sell your excess back to grid

Screwdriva

In the mid-2000's, we used to install off-grid installations in poorer nations lacking reliable infrastructure as part of a charitable cause. In those days, we used 150W panels (on the market 15 years ago) + a 1kW micro wind turbine + tubular lead acid batteries for storage. The tech has come a long way but combination still works very well for off-grid applications, as we found a loosely inverse relationship between terrible months for solar and terrible months for wind (sunny days).

If you are able to secure permission for a micro wind turbine, you will find you may never need to worry about generation in the winter months again. 

Magnitio

HertsLad said:

Update: I turned off my mains electricity at the meter at the beginning of April and haven't used any since then. All the power I need comes from five solar panels. In fact, mostly from just three panels because the other two are on a different controller and rarely kick in.  My expectation is low that I can keep this up over the next winter but we will see. Despite good intentions, I have still not converted my gas supply to propane so I am still paying far more for the standing charge, than for actual gas used. As for the steam turbine, no progress there either, probably because I know it will be incredibly difficult.

Does that mean you won't receive the £400 energy grant from the government? That would have paid for at least a couple of years' worth of standing charges. As someone else mentioned, another benefit of being connected to the grid means you can export excess solar; given the good weather and high prices, my panels have generated an income of about £10 today.

QrizB

Magnitio said:

HertsLad said:

Update: I turned off my mains electricity at the meter at the beginning of April and haven't used any since then.

Does that mean you won't receive the £400 energy grant from the government?

If the OP still has a live feed, they will still have an account and should qualify for the £400 grant.

Alnat1

Free standing charge for a couple of year then.