Can solar and wind energy be combined in building a small home for total power usage?
Question:
Answer:
Yes it can, the energy is stored in a rechargable battery array.
DC power can be converted to AC power easily.
A friend of mine wanted (needed) to be sel-sufficient for energy for a house he was building on a private island in the Philippines.
The house is built and he has combined Wind turbines and solar power with an array of solar cells on the roof of the house, he has a bank of connected rechargable batteries the size of car batteries in the basement and produces more AC power than he needs.
The downside however is the cost of the Solar Panels that we estimated would take 15-18 years to pay for themselves.
No.
It will help, but not much.
Solar generates DC, and Wind generates AC. Either way, you need AC power output. 120volts and lots of amps.
Your best bet is a water mill. A large one.
I looked into some of this some years ago. Try Mr Solar. He used to depend on solar power for all his energy needs at his home in the midwest.
Of course... You'll need
1/2 acre of solar cells
A bank of batteries the size of fort Knox
A very large windmill
A power converter, about the size of a Volkswagen.
About a dump truck full of money
A whole lot of land to put it all on.
A very understanding wife when you tell her you need $10,000 worth of batteries every five years.
Yes...it can be done.
More Questions & Answers...