Diesel generator

[Jdunn55]

Hi all we are having massive massive electric company problems due to a fire last year, switching suppliers etc.

Anyway they're now charging 60p/kwh as we've been shoved on a variable rate tarrif and have no way of changing until the issues are sorted. I'm trying my best to get it sorted but having spent 3 hours on hold just yesterday (plus countless other attempts) and still not speaking to anyone I'm not getting very far.

Anyway if even if we did get it sorted and could switch suppliers, a new contract would be well over 35p/kwh now which to run just the parlour would cost over £1000/month

Now looking at diesel generator instead, with fuel at £1.20/litre it would work out at 27p/kwh which is a hell of a lot cheaper.
I obviously if the fuel price comes down it would be even cheaper.

Anyone else doing it? Am I mad for considering it?

 

[sjt01]

Hi all we are having massive massive electric company problems due to a fire last year, switching suppliers etc.

Anyway they're now charging 60p/kwh as we've been shoved on a variable rate tarrif and have no way of changing until the issues are sorted. I'm trying my best to get it sorted but having spent 3 hours on hold just yesterday (plus countless other attempts) and still not speaking to anyone I'm not getting very far.

Anyway if even if we did get it sorted and could switch suppliers, a new contract would be well over 35p/kwh now which to run just the parlour would cost over £1000/month

Now looking at diesel generator instead, with fuel at £1.20/litre it would work out at 27p/kwh which is a hell of a lot cheaper.
I obviously if the fuel price comes down it would be even cheaper.

Anyone else doing it? Am I mad for considering it?

Do you have backup power for when the engine needs servicing or repairing? If you are going to dump mains you will need something, as keeping the connection will still incur standing charges. Also beware of reconnection charges if you change your mind.

 

[vantage]

Hi all we are having massive massive electric company problems due to a fire last year, switching suppliers etc.

Anyway they're now charging 60p/kwh as we've been shoved on a variable rate tarrif and have no way of changing until the issues are sorted. I'm trying my best to get it sorted but having spent 3 hours on hold just yesterday (plus countless other attempts) and still not speaking to anyone I'm not getting very far.

Anyway if even if we did get it sorted and could switch suppliers, a new contract would be well over 35p/kwh now which to run just the parlour would cost over £1000/month

Now looking at diesel generator instead, with fuel at £1.20/litre it would work out at 27p/kwh which is a hell of a lot cheaper.
I obviously if the fuel price comes down it would be even cheaper.

Anyone else doing it? Am I mad for considering it?

Maybe wrong, but I seriously doubt you’ll find electric at 35p/kWh. The electricity price tracker on the building thread, shows it at or near 60p! It may hopefully change, but not immediately.

 

[Jdunn55]

Do you have backup power for when the engine needs servicing or repairing? If you are going to dump mains you will need something, as keeping the connection will still incur standing charges. Also beware of reconnection charges if you change your mind.

Fair comment, I would probably want to keep the comment for just in case scenarios like you've said.

Had a look and currently my standing charge is £80/month

 

[Jdunn55]

Maybe wrong, but I seriously doubt you’ll find electric at 35p/kWh. The electricity price tracker on the building thread, shows it at or near 60p! It may hopefully change, but not immediately.

sh!t. That makes this look even more viable

Nothing ever bloody goes right, when I switched supplier I contracted at 15p night unit and 19p day unit for 4 years but that's all gone out the window for reasons/mistakes beyond my control

 

[vantage]

sh!t. That makes this look even more viable

Nothing ever bloody goes right, when I switched supplier I contracted at 15p night unit and 19p day unit for 4 years but that's all gone out the window for reasons/mistakes beyond my control

Just beware you’ll have to factor in breakdowns and eventually the generator wearing out. Local to here farm recently put another in, as three phase connection years ago was £££££.

 

[Jdunn55]

Just beware you’ll have to factor in breakdowns and eventually the generator wearing out. Local to here farm recently put another in, as three phase connection years ago was £££££.

Any guesses on roughly how long they last? Had a quote for £6k which doesn't seem to bad if it'll do 10 years plus

 

[Netherfield]

If you need it 24 hrs a day 7 days a week, it's 8736 hours running time, would you expect a tractor engine to survive 87,360 hours, even with servicing.

Then you've the alternator and electronics to consider.

I've had electric motors go 30+ years without problem but not running non-stop.

 

[Jdunn55]

If you need it 24 hrs a day 7 days a week, it's 8736 hours running time, would you expect a tractor engine to survive 87,360 hours, even with servicing.

Then you've the alternator and electronics to consider.

True, all things to consider.
Looking at possibly buying a bigger one than necessary and running it during milking and storing the excess in batteries to run the bulk tank and house, that way its only 3-4 hours a day and tbh, a bigger generator isn't that much more expensive. It'll be the batteries that make or break that idea.

 

[Rossymons]

Would it not be a better idea to look at where to save on usage?

I know it's not cheap but you hit the switch and the electricity is there. When I'm milking I want to hit the start and start right away. Not fanny about hoping the parlour will work.

 

[Farmer Keith]

Maybe the people on the standard variable rate are subsidising the folks that still have time to run on contracts where electric is significantly below the cost of production.

 

[Jdunn55]

Would it not be a better idea to look at where to save on usage?

I know it's not cheap but you hit the switch and the electricity is there. When I'm milking I want to hit the start and start right away. Not fanny about hoping the parlour will work.

We have looked at that, even considering moving to once a day milking at 2am and then paying for milk to be collected every day before 7am so we are fully on economy 7 for milking and then can turn off the bulk tank for the day as it's the parlour and bulk tank that use 80% of the electric, the house uses about 10-15% and then everything else uses the remaining 5-10%

With a new generator I would hope that there wouldn't be any messing around! Worst come worst we could just turn the parlour on via the national grid connection instead to get us out the

Also looking into solar panels, but theyre harder to move at the end of a tenancy so would need landlords permission/help

 

[Rossymons]

Solar panels are a piece of pish. Just dont put them on the roof!

 

[sjt01]

Any guesses on roughly how long they last? Had a quote for £6k which doesn't seem to bad if it'll do 10 years plus

Our MAN biogas 170kW set now has 98,000 hours on the clock. It gets a new turbo every 14,000, new pistons, liners and heads every 28,000 and has had one major service at 56,000 hours - that one cost £43,000

 

[Jdunn55]

Our MAN biogas 170kW set now has 98,000 hours on the clock. It gets a new turbo every 14,000, new pistons, liners and heads every 28,000 and has had one major service at 56,000 hours - that one cost £43,000

currently using 75,000kw annually I think, but would need extra capacity. Another thing worth looking at maybe.
Are they moveable or is it a case of once built thats it?

Would you mind sharing what running costs are including servicing and parts? Feel free to pm and no worries if not!

 

[sjt01]

currently using 75,000kw annually I think, but would need extra capacity. Another thing worth looking at maybe.
Are they moveable or is it a case of once built thats it?

Would you mind sharing what running costs are including servicing and parts? Feel free to pm and no worries if not!

Ours is on biogas, so a bit more expensive to run. We have an extended sump to give us over 1000 hours on oil changes, special gas engine oil £2.50 a litre in IBC, about 80 litres every 1300 hours at present. Two standard filters every oil change. Being a gas engine, it has new spark plugs at 2600 hours at £60 each. Apart from that, the turbo recon at 14,000 is about £1500, the 28000 hour service £15,000, and the 56,000 hour was £43,000 about 5 years ago. Very little cost apart from that. The engine is in an acoustic enclosure, plonk it down, connect wires, fuel and in our case the hot water pipes as we make use of the heat.

If you are smart you can use the cooling water to do your dairy hot water, heat your house etc so than can be quite a saving. We use spare heat for warming the cows drinking water in winter.

 

[cattow]

currently using 75,000kw annually I think, but would need extra capacity. Another thing worth looking at maybe.
Are they moveable or is it a case of once built thats it?

Would you mind sharing what running costs are including servicing and parts? Feel free to pm and no worries if not!

75,000kw seems a little high 160 cows , slurry separater in winter here no energy saving toys & I’m less then 100

 

[Wee Willy]

A parlour does not need a hot wash every day. Water heater uses lots of electricity.

 

[Farmer Keith]

I used 36000kw last year for 140 cows. I’ve put a heat exchanger in in April to so that should reduce further. How are you heating water @Jdunn55?

 

[Barmyfarmer]

I used 36000kw last year for 140 cows. I’ve put a heat exchanger in in April to so that should reduce further. How are you heating water @Jdunn55?

We are very similar to this usage milking 150, your usage sounds very high @Jdunn55