RENEWABLE ENERGY

1
RENEWABLE ENERGY

• Cas Vanwoerden
• Houston Permaculture Guild

2
Definitions

• Fossil Fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) are
  being depleted 100,000 times faster than being
  formed
• Renewable Energy cannot be depleted or is quick
  to regenerate such as wind, solar, geothermal,
  hydro, bio-gas and hydrogen power

3
Measurements

• Amperes measure electrical current (flow)
• Volts measure electrical potential (pressure)
• Watts measure power, Amperes x Volts
• One Kilowatt is 1000 Watts
• One Megawatt is 1000 Kilowatts
• One Gigawatt is 1000 Megawatts

4
Energy

• One Kilowatt-hour is an expression of energy use,
  1000 watts for one hour
• One British Thermal Unit (BTU) is the amount of
  heat required to raise the temperature of one
  pound of water one degree F.
• One Kilowatt-hour is 3,411 BTU
• One Quad is one quadrillion BTUs

5
Sources and Usage of Energy
6
Global Trends in Energy Use

• Energy source Annual rate of growth
• Wind power 25.7
• Solar power 16.8
• Geothermal power 3.0
• Natural gas 2.1
• Hydroelectric power 1.6
• Oil 1.4
• Coal 1.2
• Nuclear power 0.6
• Source World watch institute

7
Principles of Technology

• Solar Electric
• Wind Energy
• Hydro Energy
• Bio Energy
• Fuel Cells

8
Solar Electric Energy

• Photovoltaic cells are made from silicon. When
  silicon is combined with other materials, it
  exhibits unique properties in the presence of
  sunlight. Electrons are excited by the light and
  move through the silicon. This is called the
  photo-voltaic effect and results in direct
  current (DC). PV modules are virtually
  maintenance free and will last at least 20-30
  years.

9
Solar Panel Principle
10
Solar Map US
11
Peak Sun Hours
12
Sun Angles
13
Panel Angles
14
Sun Shadows
15
Wind Energy

• Wind Turbines convert kinetic energy directly
  into electric energy by spinning a generator. Air
  foils or blades turn a central hub which is
  connected through a series of gears to an
  electric generator. The generator technology is
  identical to that employed by traditional fossil
  power plants

16
Rotor Size vs Power
17
Wind Speed vs Power
18
Wind Map
19
Wind Generator Picture
20
First Wind Generator
21
Mega Generator
22
Crew on Mega Generator
23
Iowa Wind Farm
24
Proportional Height
25
Off-Shore Wind Farm
26
The Wind Never Sleeps
27
Hydro Energy

• Hydro Energy uses the kinetic energy from moving
  water to generate direct electricity. The
  technology is identical to that used in wind
  generators, however is far more expensive to
  build. The traditional example of a
  hydro-electric generation is to use the kinetic
  energy of falling water, using man made dams,
  with sluice gates.

28
Hydro Power Curve
29
Hydro Power Example
30
Drop In Hydro Generator
31
Other Technologies

• Bio Energy. Bio Gas, released during the
  decomposition of organic materials is used as an
  alternative to fossil fuel
• Hydrogen Generation (Fuel Cells) Hydrogen is used
  in a fusion process to generate direct
  electricity with water as the only by-product.

32
Example of Bio Energy
33
Principle of Fuel Cell
34
Real World Examples

• Hydronic Cooling
• Active Solar Design
• Passive Solar Design
• Day lighting
• Natural Ventilation
• Low Emission Glass
• Super Insulation

35
Hydronic Cooling (chiller)
36
Hydronic Cooling (coils)
37
Hydronic Cooling (Close-up of Valance)
38
Hybrid Technology
39
Detail of Canopy
40
Day Lighting
41
Solar Living Institute
42
Real Goods HQ
43
Rooftop Solar
44
Solar Wall
45
Small PV System
46
AC Coupled Inverters
47
(No Transcript)
48
Example of a Sustainable Building in Cat Spring,
Texas
49
Clere Storey
50
Louvre Windows
51
Efficient Fridge
52
Propane Appliance
53
Animal Farm Main PV System

• Main House Power System
• 1 KW Solar Panels
• 1500 AH Battery Capacity
• 1 week of autonomy
• Redundant Inverters 2.5KW

54
Main PV System
ANIMAL FARM - MAIN HOUSE PV SYSTEM
Solar Panels (20) 12V 3A Each
6000 WATT GENERATOR
FOSSIL FUEL
HOUSE CIRCUITS
HOUSE CIRCUITS
24 V DC BREAKER BOX
110 V AC BREAKER BOX
Ligthning Protection
Charge Controller
STACKING INTERFACE
1234567890
24V-30A
Battery Charger 24 V 100A
Battery Charger 24 V 100A
Volt Amp Indicator
24 VDC / 110 VAC INTERFACE INVERTER
24 VDC / 110 VAC INTERFACE INVERTER
Battery Bank 24 V 1500 AH
WATER
STACKING INTERFACE
1234567890
Volt Amp Indicator
55
Batteries
56
Charge Controller
57
Inverter
58
Animal Farm Water System

• Well Screen Depth 180 Feet
• Well Pump Head 80 Feet
• Main Pump Capacity 9 GPH
• Low Pressure Distribution
• Booster Pump with High Pressure Storage

59
Booster Pump
60
Irrigation Timers/Valves
61
AF Main Water
ANIMAL FARM - MAIN HOUSE PV SYSTEM
WATER SYSTEM DISTRIBUTION
Solar Panels (20) 12V 3A Each Array 24V-30A

• HOT WATER
• BATHROOMS
• KITCHEN
• MUDROOM

• 15-30 PSI
• LOW PRESSURE
• DISTRIBUTION
• IRRIGATION
• ANIMALS
• OUTBUILDING
• CENTER
• CAMPING

ON-DEMAND WATER HEATER
Ligthning Protection
PRESSURE TANK 50G
PRESSURE TANK 15G
Charge Controller
1234567890
48V-30A
P
P
Volt Amp Indicator
BACKFLOW PREVENTER
1 PVC
BOOSTER PUMP 24V-3A
Battery Bank 48 V 440 VA
LOW BATTERY DISCONNECT
PRESSURE SWITCH 20-40 PSI
PUMP
48 V 8 A ½ HP
180 WELL
62
Animal Farm Camping

• Dual Solar Water Heater
• Circulation Pump
• Hot Water Storage
• Booster Pump
• PV Assistance (brush teeth at night)

63
Cam
ANIMAL FARM HOT WATER SYSTEM FOR CAMPING FACILITY
4x10 SOLAR WATER PANEL
4x10 SOLAR WATER PANEL
CIRCULATION PUMP 12 V 300 mA
Solar Panels 12V 500mA
P
Solar Panels (2) 12V 3A Each
PRESSURE TANK 15G
LIGHT
HOT WATER STORAGE 85G
HOT WATER TO LAVATORIES SHOWERS
Charge Controller
P
COLD WATER TO LAVATORIES SHOWERS FLUSH TOILETS
BOOSTER PUMP
BATTERY 24 V 220 A
WATER SUPPLY FROM LOW PRESSURE WATER
DISTRIBUTION 15 PSI
64
AF Outhouse
65
AF Green Filter
66
Resources

• www.ases.org
• www.txses.org
• www.realgoods.com
• www.homepower.com
• www.bergey.com
• www.gepower.com
• www.trcat.com/animalfarm.htm