|
On-Grid Renewable
Energy Systems
For many years, solar, wind or microhydro systems were the domain of
off-grid locations.
The last several years have seen a tremendous worldwide awareness and
uptake of renewable energy technologies. Europeans have paved the way,
with innovative policies to encourage and R&D support to develop products,
and the education of an entire new workforce has had a dramatic impact
on the whole renewable energy sector.
Here in Canada, we lag about 10 years behind Europeans. For the last
few generations, we have existed in a playground of cheap, abundant energy
and as a consequence, we have become complacent about the very energy
that sustains our lifestyles.
In British Columbia, we enjoy the third cheapest electricity
rates in North America!
Despite what you might hope you are hearing, and despite some slow progress
in the right direction, Canadians have yet to see the bold type of political
actions that have enabled European nations to thrive in this sector.
Economics: No matter how you slice it, in BC with it's cheap power rates,
the economics are not favorable. A 1 kW PV system will produce on average
5 kWh per day in Southern BC. About $0.30/day at $0.06 per kWh. Works
out to about $100 a year of power for a system that will cost you around
$10,000 to purchase. Of course, as electricity prices increase, support
for renewables increase, and the costs go down, this equation will only
improve.
Renewable Energy Systems Are Expensive!
More and more people are investing in renewable energy systems today
to protect them from whatever the future may bring. It gives them direct
feedback as to how much energy is being produced. The self-reliance and
satisfaction of producing your own energy is hard to quantify.
People purchase grid tie systems because they want to do their part by
reducing their impacts and generating their own energy.
Systems
Grid Intertie
Direct (without batteries).
These systems are the simplest, and the most cost effective in terms
of $ per kW of electricity to produced. They work just like any other
appliance in your home - with the notable exception is they create electricity
and push it backwards into the power grid. These systems are extremely
scalable and flexible. Starting points around $10,000 and the sky is the
limit from there.
Grid Intertie
/ Backup Systems (with batteries).
These systems add storage in terms of batteries. This gives you more
flexibility, in terms of having a reserve energy system that will operate
when the grid goes down. It also allows flexibility in terms of buying
and selling power at different times of the day (to take advantage of
time of use electricity metering).
To get the best performance from a grid intertie system, one must consider
energy efficiency upgrades.
Energy Efficiency
The average Canadian home uses between 700-1500 kWh per month. A highly
efficient home can reduce this to 60-500. How can you realize these kinds
of improvements?
Every $1 you spend on efficiency will save you $5 in
energy generation.
The following steps are ranked in order of least capital cost to highest.
Start at the top to get the best bang for your buck.
- Behavioral change: The best way to save money on your home energy
use is to use less! You can do this in a variety of ways, including
turning off and unplugging unneeded lights and devices, insulating your
attic, walls, windows and doors, and by converting to more efficient
appliances. Cost: $0
- Make your heating or cooling system work less. How many buildings
do you go into where the temperature inside is either extremely high
or extremely cold, exactly the opposite of the weather outside? Space
heating and cooling accounts for 54% of the country's energy. The less
energy you use to heat or cool your building, the less it will cost.
Cost: $0
- Consider using a clothesline instead of a clothes dryer. Cost:
$0
- Install energy efficient lighting. Switching to energy efficient lighting,
such as Compact Fluorescent (CFL) and Light Emitting Diode (LED), will
result in fast payback. Cost: $
- Have an EnerGuide
Home Assessment done and act on the recommendations to better insulate
your home and replace draughty windows. Cost: $
- Check your appliances. Measure your energy usage with a Kill-a-Watt
electricity meter and learn how much energy your appliances use.
If you haven't already, invest in EnergyStar appliances. Do you really
need that second fridge? Cost: $$
- Solar hot water
is one of the most cost effective renewable energy technologies. If
your location has a suitable southern exposure on which to mount solar
collectors, you will find this option pays for itself in 3-10 years,
depending on the system. The more hot water you use, the better the
return will be. Cost: $$$
- Wind Generation Systems.
IF YOU HAVE A GOOD WIND SITE, installing a small or medium sized
wind generator may be a good investment. Siting a wind generator is
tricky business. More information...
Cost:$$$$
- Microhydro. If
you are blessed with a good source of running water, preferably with
10' or more drop, microhydro is an excellent technology to consider.
Cost: $$$$$
- Solar Electric systems
Most utilities now allow reverse metering, grid intertie, or net metering.
Generally speaking, the energy that you generate will directly offset
the power you draw from the power grid. If you are creating more power
than you are using at the time, this power will be exported to the power
grid. Cost: $$$$$
Government support we would like to see:
All of Canada (except Ontario) uses a system called Net Metering. That
means the utility will pay you the same price for the power you produce
as you are paying for the power you consume.
The problem with this system is that the power utilities across Canada
are highly subsidized and renewable energy is not. That makes it really
difficult to compare the costs of one with the other. For example, with
a coal fired power plant, subsidies in terms of roads, real estate and
tax exemptions are substantial. The environmental cost of cleaning up
a coal mine and the health cost of the pollution created from burning
the fuel is not accounted for at all. It's left as a mess for our kids
to deal with.
When you purchase an RE system there are limited associated indirect
environmental or health costs and there are no serious government subsidies
to offset the cost of the system. The price you pay for an RE system
is the actual cost of the power produced.
In Ontario they use a system called the Standard
Offer Contract Program (aka Advanced Renewable Tariff). Under
this program the government has regulated the utility to recognize that
RE power has a greater value than power from conventional sources. In
Ontario the utility will pay 42¢ /kWh for solar power and 11¢
/kWh for wind or microhydro power compared to 7¢ /kWh for RE power
in British Columbia. This is an example of a forward-looking policy which
will help an industry that is booming through the world, but lagging in
Canada.
This is an example of an innovative policy that helps promote the use
of renewable energy.
For Non-Canadian On-Grid Customers
For our international friends, we recommend that you consult your
local phone book, business directories, etc. and select a local contractor
who can help with your projects. Alternative energy systems are very site
specific and who better to design your system than someone who lives in
the same locale.
|
Natural
Resources Canada Office of Energy Efficiency
Canada
ranks an embarrassing 27th out of 29 OECD nations in terms of energy use
per capita
Profiles
Installer Profile:
Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-Op. EA has been working with VREC since
2003. Their focus is grid-tie installations in the Vancouver area.
Laura Iwan
Burnaby
Now Article
Georgia
Strait Article
Doug Horn
Homepower Magazine Article
EA Installations
Gordon Handford. Customer
walking his environmental talk with one of the largest privately-owned
Grid-Tie PV systems in British Columbia.
Grid-tie / backup power system.
Faced with a desire to to generate their own power, and critical
need to keep power on during sometimes extended power outages, EA designed
and installed a very customized system.
Grid-tie / backup power system.
Small grid-tie battery backup system to keep the lights on during often
extended outages down a country road.
Click here for more installations
|
