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Case Studies for Off-Grid Living: Hybrid Grid-Tiered Power in Kansas

 

A homeowner in Kechi, Kansas designed a hybrid grid-tied wind/solar system. The social benefits of his Pika Energy hybrid system, uses solar power and a Pika Home Wind Turbine to deliver clean energy to his home. The homeowner’s wind/solar hybrid system has allowed him to affirm his commitment to sustainable living, and the home owner credits two financial factors in making his system easier to purchase:

1.Tax credits – Hybrid Wind/Solar Energy systems are eligible for the 30% Federal Income Tax credit

2.Net metering – The utility company buys back the excess power The Homeowner’s system generates.

The home is powered by REbus™, a high-voltage DC nanogrid that provides power transmission, control, and data all on one wire. The self-configuring system collects, manages and distributes power as needed, working as a smart energy operating system. The experience of having the a Home Wind Turbine installed was smooth and the homeowner can monitor the power production and administer system upgrades remotely over the REview™ web dashboard. Homeowner’s system is shown in the dashboard shot below. The yellow bars show his solar power, while the blue bars illustrate his wind production. (“www.pika-energy.com/hybrid-grid-tied-power-in-windy-sunny-kansas/ ", nod., Para 1-3).

 

Figure 1: (Left) Kechi REview™ web dashboard. http://www.pika-energy.com/hybrid-grid-tied-power-in-windy-sunny-kansas/

Figure 2: (Right) Kechi hybrid grid-tie system http://www.pika-energy.com/hybrid-grid-tied-power-in-windy-sunny-kansas/

 

 

 

Case Studies for Off-Grid Living: Off Grid Sustainability Issues

 

A Maine resident Brent Bibles wanted the benefits of off-grid living and added a wind turbine and a 990W solar array is roof-mounted on a shed outside his house, running into a 24V battery system using a Trace AC inverter and an Outback

Like many off-grid homesteaders, Bibles found system sizing to be one of the most challenging and important aspects of his project. The power system can be sized large enough for almost all uses in a grid-tied household however seasonal variations or lack of wind or sun can effect performance. production. (“www.pika-energy.com/off-grid-sustainability/ ", nod., Para 1-3).

 

Bible’s Off-Grid Setup

• 990W solar array

• 1.5 kW Pika T701 wind turbine

• Pika Recharge B801 battery charge controller

• Small 24V battery bank

• Outback charge controller (solar)

• Trace inverter (solar)

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Figure 1: (Right) Hybrid grid-tie system http://www.pika-energy.com/off-grid-sustainability/

 

 

 

 

Off-Grid Economics: Living Rich on the Cheap

 

A Family living in a remote part of Maine saved $50,000 by choosing to install an off-grid system and  take advantage of significant Federal tax incentives. Adding a wind turbine provides a near-constant power supply for batteries. Off-grid system sizing is complex, and every project is different. In terms of economics, his off-grid energy was half as expensive as connecting to the local utility. The family lives on a remote peninsula in Maine’s Casco Bay and there was noworking power system in the house, no heat, no hot water system. Connecting to utility system would cost 100,000 verses $75,000 for an off-grid system. The system is sized for 20 kWh per day — a relatively high energy profile for an off-grid system. Their setup includes a 6.7 kW solar array on a tilt tracker and a 1.5 kW wind turbine. Sizing your system for a larger capacity will ensure fewer sacrifices in your energy usage. This way the family can stay warm, run appliances and computers all at the same time.

 

(“www.pika-energy.com/ Living Rich on the Cheap/ ", nod., Para 1-3).

 

Figure 1: (Right) Hybrid grid-tie system http://www.pika-energy.com/ Living Rich on the Cheap/

 

Off Grid  Hybrid Setup for Home in Casco Bay

 

1.5 kW Pika T701 wind turbine on 63’ guyed tower

• 1 Outback MATE3 System Display and Controller

• 1 Outback Radian Inverter

• 2 Outback Flexmax Charge Controllers

• 24 Rolls batteries

• LED Lights

• Propane appliances

 

Off-Grid Economics: Off-Grid Independence

 

A Colorado Family built their retirement home in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range which is a remote area with no Utility source close by. While they continue to build their retirement home, the family lives in a fifth wheel trailer, powered by wind and solar with the inverter and batteries housed in a metal outbuilding. The family cited independence as a driving factor in his decision to live in the Sangre de Cristos. Trying to live off a generator in this location, its energy production was limited by its performance at high altitude so a hybrid wind Turbine and solar setup was more economical in the long run as well as more functional providing more power and energy for the home. Since in Colorado, there is ample amounts of sun and a lot of wind.

 

Payne Family Off-Grid Setup

 

• Pika T701 wind turbine

• Pika X3001 AC-coupled inverter

• Schneider XW+ inverter/charger

• 2 Midnite Classic battery charge controllers

• 3.6 kW roof mounted solar array

• 24 Crown lead acid batteries

• Pika REview performance monitoring

 

(“www.pika-energy.com/Off-Grid Independence/ ", nod., Para 1-3).

 

Figure 1: (Right) Power Setup and Controls http://www.pika-energy.com/Off-Grid Independence/

Figure 2: (Right) Hybrid grid-tie system http://www.pika-energy.com/Off-Grid Independence/

 

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