T: 01568 760671 F: 01568 760484 info@windandsun.co.uk Humber Marsh, Stoke Prior, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0NR
...renewable energy systems
Specific applications for renewable energy systems are listed below:
Whether for weekend, holiday, or daily use, wind and solar power can be used to keep batteries charged in your boat,
caravan or motorhome - giving an independent electricity supply without the noise and stench of engines and generators, or the inconvenience of finding
mains hook-ups.
Typical loads include: DC lighting, TV, radio, pumps, fans, phones. By using an inverter, 230 Vac appliances such as video, HiFi, microwave, vacuum cleaner, satellite system or computer can be powered.
On vehicles and inland craft, wind generators are best mounted on a hinged mast which is easy to raise when moored but compact when travelling. Seagoing boats often use mounts on deck rails or masts. Separate guyed masts are preferred for caravans. Output is dependent on the openness of the mooring or site and wind conditions, but will generally be greatest over winter months.
Solar systems are perfect if mainly summer use is intended. Solar modules are simply fastened to the van or boat roof using frames which ideally should adjust to catch maximum sun. Usually the higher output industrial panels are appropriate. Non-glass modules are available for decks and vulnerable locations. Output cables are simply connected across the domestic battery via a charge controller which prevents battery overcharge and provides system monitoring. Generally systems can be easily mounted and installed by the user. Alternatively, many boatyards and caravan or RV suppliers can make up fittings or undertake installation.
For remote homes that need power for lighting or appliances, wind or solar battery charging systems can be the ideal solution. See Kits for more details or small wind and/or solar kits.
Smaller systems use 12V lighting and equipment run directly from a battery, with the wind or solar charging sized to keep up with anticipated demand. Inverters can be included to enable 230 Vac ‘mains’ power to be provided, enabling conventional tools or appliances to be run. The simplest systems use a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel to recharge the battery. This can be easily fitted to the roof or a sunny wall of the building. Greatest output will be over summer months so this is ideal for holiday, weekend or garden buildings.
No moving parts are involved so such systems are almost maintenance free. For year round use wind generators are ideal for providing lighting since maximum output tends to be over winter when lighting is needed most. Small wind generators can often be easily mounted on the end of a building using TV aerial type brackets and pole. Power is fed down to the battery via a charge controller and then on to the loads. In sheltered locations where using wind power is not feasible, additional PV panels to increase winter output helps year round performance. For buildings with greater power requirements larger systems or combined wind/solar systems can be designed, allowing an economical alternative to bringing in the mains.
PV modules are the ideal way to maintain the charge in 12V batteries used to run electric fencing units. Usually a 10Wp PV module will suffice. A 20Wp module may be necessary where there is heavy use in winter. Alternatively, electric fencing is commonly an extra load in stable lighting systems.
For more details on kits see Small wind & solar kits' or Solar lighting kits'.
Many situations exist where a small amount of reliable power is needed and this can easily be provided using wind or solar battery charging systems combined with an inverter to power conventional 230Vac appliances, allowing an economical alternative to bringing in the mains.
If loads are critical then a careful load analysis must first be done (see section on Off-Grid System Sizing). Alternatively flexible systems can be designed which can be added to, as budget allows or needs change
How well anything will work depends firstly upon what local wind and solar resources will permit and secondly on how carefully energy captured can be utilised.
For situations where seasonal use is expected a good match may be found between potential generation and energy use. eg. Holiday homes may be used most in the summer and be in sunny places and so a PV system will be the ideal solution. Lighting systems in remote buildings with winter winds are perfect situations for wind turbines.
Combined wind and solar generation allows a consistant power supply throughout the year and allows more flexibility - though a site with wind power potential is an essential. Using electricity efficiently and conserving power when not required or when weather conditions are unfavourable ensures the maximum potential can be obtained from such systems.
All sorts of applications are feasible: from remote villas to mobile phone telemetry systems.
In every case the first requirement is to evaluate the conditions at the proposed site and to realistically assess anticipated load requirements. Keeping those load (energy) requirements to a minimum, keeps costs to a minimum and helps make any system perform at it’s best.
Many areas have an unreliable grid supply with frequent power cuts. Using a battery store and inverter/charger gives back-up power allowing critical loads to be run until the grid supply is restored when the batteries can be recharged. Including a solar array or wind turbine enables loads to be run for extended periods without the mains. All loads can be run on conventional 230Vac wiring. Usually it is not feasible to size the system to run all loads so heavier or non-critical loads (eg. air conditioning or heating) should be separated off and only ever run from the mains. Systems vary from small sine wave inverters to run central heating pumps and controls to bigger systems for computers or hospitals.
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Boats, Caravans and Motorhomes
Whether for weekend, holiday, or daily use, wind and solar power can be used to keep batteries charged in your boat,
caravan or motorhome - giving an independent electricity supply without the noise and stench of engines and generators, or the inconvenience of finding
mains hook-ups.Typical loads include: DC lighting, TV, radio, pumps, fans, phones. By using an inverter, 230 Vac appliances such as video, HiFi, microwave, vacuum cleaner, satellite system or computer can be powered.
Using wind:
On vehicles and inland craft, wind generators are best mounted on a hinged mast which is easy to raise when moored but compact when travelling. Seagoing boats often use mounts on deck rails or masts. Separate guyed masts are preferred for caravans. Output is dependent on the openness of the mooring or site and wind conditions, but will generally be greatest over winter months.
Using the sun:
Solar systems are perfect if mainly summer use is intended. Solar modules are simply fastened to the van or boat roof using frames which ideally should adjust to catch maximum sun. Usually the higher output industrial panels are appropriate. Non-glass modules are available for decks and vulnerable locations. Output cables are simply connected across the domestic battery via a charge controller which prevents battery overcharge and provides system monitoring. Generally systems can be easily mounted and installed by the user. Alternatively, many boatyards and caravan or RV suppliers can make up fittings or undertake installation.
Stables, Sheds & Workshops
For remote homes that need power for lighting or appliances, wind or solar battery charging systems can be the ideal solution. See Kits for more details or small wind and/or solar kits.
Smaller systems use 12V lighting and equipment run directly from a battery, with the wind or solar charging sized to keep up with anticipated demand. Inverters can be included to enable 230 Vac ‘mains’ power to be provided, enabling conventional tools or appliances to be run. The simplest systems use a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel to recharge the battery. This can be easily fitted to the roof or a sunny wall of the building. Greatest output will be over summer months so this is ideal for holiday, weekend or garden buildings.
No moving parts are involved so such systems are almost maintenance free. For year round use wind generators are ideal for providing lighting since maximum output tends to be over winter when lighting is needed most. Small wind generators can often be easily mounted on the end of a building using TV aerial type brackets and pole. Power is fed down to the battery via a charge controller and then on to the loads. In sheltered locations where using wind power is not feasible, additional PV panels to increase winter output helps year round performance. For buildings with greater power requirements larger systems or combined wind/solar systems can be designed, allowing an economical alternative to bringing in the mains.
Electric Fencing
PV modules are the ideal way to maintain the charge in 12V batteries used to run electric fencing units. Usually a 10Wp PV module will suffice. A 20Wp module may be necessary where there is heavy use in winter. Alternatively, electric fencing is commonly an extra load in stable lighting systems.
For more details on kits see Small wind & solar kits' or Solar lighting kits'.
Remote Buildings & Power Supplies
Many situations exist where a small amount of reliable power is needed and this can easily be provided using wind or solar battery charging systems combined with an inverter to power conventional 230Vac appliances, allowing an economical alternative to bringing in the mains.
If loads are critical then a careful load analysis must first be done (see section on Off-Grid System Sizing). Alternatively flexible systems can be designed which can be added to, as budget allows or needs change
How well anything will work depends firstly upon what local wind and solar resources will permit and secondly on how carefully energy captured can be utilised.
For situations where seasonal use is expected a good match may be found between potential generation and energy use. eg. Holiday homes may be used most in the summer and be in sunny places and so a PV system will be the ideal solution. Lighting systems in remote buildings with winter winds are perfect situations for wind turbines.
Combined wind and solar generation allows a consistant power supply throughout the year and allows more flexibility - though a site with wind power potential is an essential. Using electricity efficiently and conserving power when not required or when weather conditions are unfavourable ensures the maximum potential can be obtained from such systems.
All sorts of applications are feasible: from remote villas to mobile phone telemetry systems.
In every case the first requirement is to evaluate the conditions at the proposed site and to realistically assess anticipated load requirements. Keeping those load (energy) requirements to a minimum, keeps costs to a minimum and helps make any system perform at it’s best.
Standby Power
Many areas have an unreliable grid supply with frequent power cuts. Using a battery store and inverter/charger gives back-up power allowing critical loads to be run until the grid supply is restored when the batteries can be recharged. Including a solar array or wind turbine enables loads to be run for extended periods without the mains. All loads can be run on conventional 230Vac wiring. Usually it is not feasible to size the system to run all loads so heavier or non-critical loads (eg. air conditioning or heating) should be separated off and only ever run from the mains. Systems vary from small sine wave inverters to run central heating pumps and controls to bigger systems for computers or hospitals.
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Stoke Prior, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0NR