Off-grid electric

[cotswoldcs]

I have been searching without success for a truly off grid renewable solution. We have a remote barn that doesn't have any electric supply and trying to find a solution that doesn't involve bringing mains electric to the property. Budget is around £250k but needs to be a solution that can supply one large family home completely independently.

Has anyone done something like this?

 

[ShooTa]

what is the property situation ? ie water, position in relation to a slope, woodland - site info is key as some of the options involve a nearby roadsystem just to drop off equipment.

 

[Clive]

250k buys a lot of solar and batteries surely ?

 

[Exfarmer]

I think you need to bring wind into the equation but also a back up generator would be a good investment! I suspect it would best not be included in the planning application

 

[farmerdan7618]

I stayed in a holiday let with this exact same problem, it belongs to the late GTB's (TFF name) father.

The solution there is a ground mounted solar array of approximately 20 panels, and a gas (lpg tank) fired generator. Both are connected to a battery block that is about the size of an IBC.

If the sun doesn't shine, then the generator went on for an hour or so, and if the batteries looked like over charging there were a couple of heaters to use for dumping electric.

Worked well, stayed for 2 weeks in September and only used the generator twice. Llechwedd Mawr is the cottage www.holidaycambriancoast.co.uk

 

[rollestonpark]

I stayed in a place where they had a large solar array, batteries and a small (3 cylinder I think) diesel backup generator.
This worked well for them. The generator auto started when the voltage dropped due to a large load on the batteries or lack of solar etc or low battery power.
When the load dropped or batteries recovered, it auto switched off.

If you have a windy site, you could have a turbine also I suppose.
In winter you'd probably want heat recovery on the generator's exhaust to heat the house maybe. As well as a boiler of some sort. Perhaps large buffer tanks might help also.
Where you have the batteries, I'd make sure there was lots of room, in case more had to be added, cos this could be a bit trial and error.

 

[PhilSL]

I have been searching without success for a truly off grid renewable solution. We have a remote barn that doesn't have any electric supply and trying to find a solution that doesn't involve bringing mains electric to the property. Budget is around £250k but needs to be a solution that can supply one large family home completely independently.

Has anyone done something like this?

200kW LPG fuelled CHP unit for 100% onsite heat and power use.

Have you thought about an LPG fuelled CHP unit to provide both electricity and heat to the barn and the large family home?

We currently have a brand new 200kW CHP LPG fuelled unit which was a cancelled order - was costing £200k fully installed, now c.£110k installed, with LPG @ 4.5ppkWh inc installation of the LPG tank. Although I suspect that may be too big as I don't know the consumption figures, but smaller LPG fuelled CHP units are available.

 

[br jones]

If you put a turbine up ,do the elecy board have to give you a connection to take your excess electricty ?

 

[PhilSL]

If you put a turbine up ,do the elecy board have to give you a connection to take your excess electricty ?

No. Your have to apply for a grid connection. Dependent on where you are and what size the turbine is you, could sell the excess on a PPA.

 

[deleted user 837354]

I would say it may depend on your requirement for heating.

If you had a big house and a swimming pool to heat, a CHP unit would heat these and provide electricity nearly as a by product.

Wind turbine would be a good bet but planning and you still need a grid connection really.

 

[PhilSL]

I would say it may depend on your requirement for heating.

If you had a big house and a swimming pool to heat, a CHP unit would heat these and provide electricity nearly as a by product.

Wind turbine would be a good bet but planning and you still need a grid connection really.

There are so many sizes of CHP available now to suit the required base loads 3.5kWe 15kWt upwards. And fuel options range from chip, gas, and LPG.

 

[renewablejohn]

Have done it here but need to know more of your lifestyle and location before recommending anything. Will be easy to find a solution with that size budget.

 

[Fast Farmer]

For your budget I'd just buy a silent diesel generator and run it on red

 

[puppet]

£250,000 would bring mains electricity a long way

 

[puppet]

I applaud your desire to be off-grid and I presume you have environmental reasons not to have a generator. If so you will need log of panels and a turbine for when it is dark.
I have spoken to people in the U.S. who were a long way from mains and I think you also have to recognise a different disciplined lifestyle. A well insulated house will keep you warm but you only put the washing machine on when the sun is out, either cook or boil a kettle, fewer mod-cons and need a fair stack of batteries.
My granny had a range covering half the kitchen wall fuelled by wood with a fairly full time job keeping it going. Big kettle with instant hot water, cooking hob and could heat half the house. That reduces your electric use a lot.

 

[cotswoldcs]

£250,000 would bring mains electricity a long way

You'd be surprised! Couldn't believe the quote when I saw it.

 

[gmgmgm]

I've spent a week living with some friends who live off-grid, and it's not for everyone. Always worrying about, or considering the weather and power.

How remote is remote? How far to bring a cable? Even a tiny cable to top-up batteries would take away some of that concern.