3 ms·

In this hypothetical scenario, instead of investing so much in batteries, why not just double the size of your solar array so you're not storing 6 months worth

In this hypothetical scenario, instead of investing so much in batteries, why not just double the size of your solar array so you're not storing 6 months worth of power in batteries? That would only cost ~20K instead of the ~500K for batteries.

jacquesm 11y ago
You use the battery to offset the times when the sun does not shine so more solar power does not work. You don't use batteries to offset the summer/winter cycle, you use them to offset the day/night cycle and to store a bit more in case the next couple of days are overcast. The whole winter/summer storage thing is nonsense, nobody sizes a PV system like that.
- raesene4 11y ago
  well nobody apart from people looking for an off-grid lifestyle of course. What I took from the article is that pure solar off-grid is impractical away from equatorial latitudes.
  - jacquesm 11y ago
    If that's what you too from the article then you're right 'pure solar' is impractical (anywhere). You always need a battery and you always need some kind of backup. But if you're going to think like that grid power is also impractical anywhere, since it too could fail. Power is so important that no single source should be relied on anywhere. In inner cities of course your only chance of getting power is the local electricity company hookup, but if that should fail for any extended period of time such a city would rapidly become a place where you could no longer live, especially at latitudes where it tends to get very cold in the winter. So, nobody (in their right mind, at least) will do a 'pure' photovoltaic system. There will always be some kind of backup-power mechanism, either the grid, a wind-turbine, a battery to tide you over, a pelton wheel fed from a stream, grid power or any combination of the above.
    - ghshephard 11y ago
      I really liked the article - it will be interesting to see it updated every 5-10 years as Battery Technology (slowly) improves. In reality, what most people (today) who want to live off grid end up doing is hybrid-systems. Natural Gas/Propane for heating, cooking, cooling, and Solar for electrical use. (computer, lights)
      - jacquesm 11y ago
        People living off the grid tend to use wood for heating. Outdoor woodstoves are the thing, and for cooling they open two windows ;).
    - Johnythree 11y ago
      Have lived off grid for over 20 years with no generator. But then I have seriously big batteries, and am careful with my electricity consumption, especially in winter. FWIW, I'm living in a cold climate with high rainfall.

jacquesm 11y ago

You use the battery to offset the times when the sun does not shine so more solar power does not work. You don't use batteries to offset the summer/winter cycle, you use them to offset the day/night cycle and to store a bit more in case the next couple of days are overcast. The whole winter/summer storage thing is nonsense, nobody sizes a PV system like that.

raesene4 11y ago
well nobody apart from people looking for an off-grid lifestyle of course. What I took from the article is that pure solar off-grid is impractical away from equatorial latitudes.
- jacquesm 11y ago
  If that's what you too from the article then you're right 'pure solar' is impractical (anywhere). You always need a battery and you always need some kind of backup. But if you're going to think like that grid power is also impractical anywhere, since it too could fail. Power is so important that no single source should be relied on anywhere. In inner cities of course your only chance of getting power is the local electricity company hookup, but if that should fail for any extended period of time such a city would rapidly become a place where you could no longer live, especially at latitudes where it tends to get very cold in the winter. So, nobody (in their right mind, at least) will do a 'pure' photovoltaic system. There will always be some kind of backup-power mechanism, either the grid, a wind-turbine, a battery to tide you over, a pelton wheel fed from a stream, grid power or any combination of the above.
  - ghshephard 11y ago
    I really liked the article - it will be interesting to see it updated every 5-10 years as Battery Technology (slowly) improves. In reality, what most people (today) who want to live off grid end up doing is hybrid-systems. Natural Gas/Propane for heating, cooking, cooling, and Solar for electrical use. (computer, lights)
    - jacquesm 11y ago
      People living off the grid tend to use wood for heating. Outdoor woodstoves are the thing, and for cooling they open two windows ;).
  - Johnythree 11y ago
    Have lived off grid for over 20 years with no generator. But then I have seriously big batteries, and am careful with my electricity consumption, especially in winter. FWIW, I'm living in a cold climate with high rainfall.