Alternative energy schemes. Do-it-yourself alternative energy sources for the home. Types and problems of alternative energy sources

Today we will talk about autonomous electricity, what it can be, how to equip a house with such a source of electricity, how to select optimal systems. And most importantly, “is the game worth the candle?”

Features of connecting to power line networks

It is now difficult to imagine comfortable housing without electricity. Thanks to it, the home is illuminated, heated, food is cooked, and water is heated. It’s just not always possible to provide electricity to your home, especially if the house is located far from the city.

Many owners of country houses and summer cottages, especially if they are located far from civilization, have to resolve the issue of energy supply at home.

The most common solution is to connect the house to power transmission networks, but they are not available everywhere or the nearest line is located at a considerable distance from the house.

In this case, providing electricity to your home can be very expensive. After all, you will have to coordinate issues on the supply of this energy source with the relevant authorities, pay for the installation of a substation and power line supports for connecting to the house.

And what’s especially unpleasant is that the equipment purchased, and at a considerable cost (substation, wires, supports), will be transferred to the balance of local energy networks, that is, they will be the owner of everything, and the owner of the house will also have to pay for the supply of electricity.

Therefore, for many, this option may become impractical, quite troublesome and expensive.

Autonomous sources of electricity

The second option to provide a country house with electricity is to use autonomous energy sources. Such sources can be wind, sun, water and flammable materials.

Using an autonomous energy supply, the home owner becomes completely independent in terms of obtaining electricity for consumption.

No approvals, power lines, etc. are required. Of course, obtaining electricity will still be associated with costs. And at the initial stage they will be quite significant, since the necessary equipment costs a lot.

In the future, it is also necessary to carry out maintenance of all components of the energy supply system, but in the end everything will pay off.

Let's briefly consider the most common autonomous sources of electricity.

Solar panels

Now they are gaining more and more popularity. The essence of such a source is simple - there are semiconductor photocells in which an electric charge is generated when sunlight hits them.

The amount of energy generated directly depends on the area of ​​the photocells, so they are collected in panels.

Panel with an area of ​​1 sq. m. capable of delivering 100 watts of power with a voltage of 20-25 V.

To fully provide the house with electricity, the area of ​​the panels must be large.

Among the positive qualities of such a source of electricity is its durability, complete environmental friendliness, and noiselessness.

The panels require minimal maintenance, and the electricity they generate is completely free and accessible.

But there are also disadvantages. To provide the required amount of electricity, the area of ​​the panels can reach significant sizes, which still need to be positioned correctly.

This energy is fickle. On sunny days the panels will work at maximum output, but there are also cloudy days. Therefore, the total amount of generated electrical energy depends on how many sunny days a year are in the region where the house is located.

Another drawback, and a significant one, is the cost of the panels. The price for each Watt of generated energy is now approximately $1.5, that is, only for panels generating 1 kW of electricity you will have to pay $1.5 thousand. You will also need to buy the rest of the equipment necessary for the system to operate.

Wind power plants

The second most popular autonomous energy supply system is wind. Wind generators are used to generate electricity.

In fact, these are ordinary generators with blades mounted on the rotor. Due to the wind, the rotor rotates and electricity is generated.

Among the positive qualities of wind generators are their fairly compact size, relative quiet operation, environmental friendliness, and durability. There is also the possibility of making such a generator at home.

But the wind system has more disadvantages. The first of them is cost; wind generators are not cheap.

Considering that the efficiency of wind generators is low, to fully provide a home with electricity, you will need to install three or more windmills of low power or one, but sufficiently productive. And in both cases, the acquisition costs will be significant.

Again, climatic conditions must also be taken into account. In areas where the average annual wind speed does not exceed 8 m/s, it will be inappropriate to use wind generators, since they will not be able to operate optimally.

It is also worth considering that on days of complete calm you can be left without electricity, so it is better to use a wind-powered autonomous power supply system if there is a backup source of electricity.

Fuel Generator Sets

Generators running on liquid or gaseous fuel (gasoline, diesel fuel, gas) can become a backup source of electricity.

Everything is simple here: the installation consists of an internal combustion engine and a generator. The engine turns the rotor and the generator produces energy.

Such a system cannot be called completely autonomous; it still requires fuel, which is also constantly becoming more expensive. But as a backup source of electricity, such generator sets are the most optimal.

If the weather has been cloudy for several days or there is no wind, you can always start the generator set to replenish the battery charge.

Among the positive qualities of fuel-powered generator sets is the constant availability of electricity, such installations are relatively cheap, and they provide a good energy output.

Their disadvantages include the need for fuel, which ensures constant costs. Such installations cannot operate for a long period, and internal combustion engines require maintenance.

Also, to use generator sets, it is necessary to allocate a separate room and organize the removal of exhaust gases, and, of course, there can be no question of any environmental friendliness.

Hydroelectric power plants

Hydroelectric power is used most rarely as an autonomous power source for one simple reason: not everyone has a river or a powerful stream flowing near their house.

The essence of the operation of such a station is that flowing water rotates the turbine blades, due to which the generator generates electricity.

The positive qualities of hydroelectric power stations are as follows: a stable supply of energy around the clock, since the water in a river or stream does not slow down the speed of movement. Such stations are completely environmentally friendly, durable and require virtually no maintenance.

Their main disadvantage is the need to install them on the bank of a river or near a stream. In this case, the speed of water movement should be high.

A hydroelectric station is capable of generating energy even with slow water movement, but in this case the river will be covered with ice in winter, and it will no longer be possible to use the station.

High water speed will guarantee that the river or stream will not freeze. The second disadvantage is the cost of the station.

And yet, the concept of providing a home with an autonomous energy supply system is promising and many are interested in it.

Above we looked at the main types of sources of electricity, but they alone are not enough to have electricity in the house.

Additionally, it is worth noting that the effectiveness of any autonomous system depends on the correctness of the calculations.

Features of installation and operation of autonomous sources

Before purchasing and installing any of the systems, you need to correctly make all the necessary calculations, because over time the number of electricity consumers in the house may increase, for example, you decide to install it, and this must be taken into account in the calculations.

Let us first consider the example of the solar system.

Solar autonomous system.

All calculations must begin with calculations of the total electricity consumption in the house, that is, calculate the power of all consumers. It is important to separate them.

The fact is that some electricity consumers operate without problems from a network with direct current and a voltage of 12 or 24 V. Such consumers can be the same LED lamps, which are better installed instead of conventional incandescent lamps. And in general, all work should begin with equipping the house with economical electricity consumers.

Based on the total power of current consumption, the selection of batteries and inverter is made. And only after this they move on to counting the number of solar panels, as well as selecting a controller.

You don’t have to worry about calculating the area of ​​solar panels, the capacity of the battery and inverter.

Many manufacturers offer ready-made kits that include all the necessary equipment. When purchasing such a kit, it is enough to know only the total electricity consumption.

Moreover, when choosing a kit, it is important to take into account that it has a certain power reserve so that the entire system does not operate at its maximum values. The total cost of such a system largely depends on its power.

Let's sum it up

Autonomous electricity in the house is quite an interesting solution. But its cost is still quite high, so not everyone can afford it.

But on the other hand, in the absence of a connection to industrial power lines, and large distances to civilization, it is still better to spend money on an autonomous power supply than to build a new line. But in each individual case, the owner of the house makes the decision himself.

In modern cities there is a high concentration of the population, which is supplied with high quality electrical energy. But in rural areas, characterized by long air transmission lines, this issue has not been fully resolved.

The voltage supplied to buildings located at the remote ends of power lines is not only unstable, but can be switched off for various reasons.

In this situation, people are looking for alternative sources of electrical energy that are capable of maintaining normal power supply in their country houses and private homes.

Our advice will help the home handyman choose the most suitable type of generator, which is optimal for restoring voltage while troubleshooting faults on the supply power line or will allow you to use its power for a constant power supply.

Brief information about the capabilities of a home power station

The term “generator” refers to technical devices capable of generating electric current by converting some source energy into electricity. For example, in a car it is created due to the mechanical rotation of the rotor inside the stator, and in a solar battery - as a result of irradiation of sensitive photocells with sunlight.

Electric generators are produced in a wide range and perform various power supply tasks. To correctly select an alternative energy source, it must be accurately analyzed according to its characteristics:

• maximum load power;
• types of electric current: constant or sinusoidal;
• consumer parameters (resistive or reactive load) that influenced startup and operation;
• working cycle duration;
• activation methods: manual or automatic mode;
• other specific operating conditions.

This means that one alternative energy source is capable of autonomously providing electrical power not only to a private house, but also to a village, while another can barely cope with the power of consumers in one apartment. But their cost will differ by several orders of magnitude.

Minimum requirements for a home power source

Before choosing the simplest generator for your home, you should consider only the main appliances that it must power and select it according to their parameters. For example, if the electricity is turned off for just a few hours, then you can exclude the operation of refrigerators and freezers, since they are able to keep the cold during this period.

An ordinary car battery with a voltage of 12 volts of any power, but preferably increased power, can provide the minimum functions of a budget source of electrical energy. You can connect to it:

The battery will power these devices and gradually discharge. To recharge it, it is enough to use a generator removed from the car, the rotor of which can be turned with a bicycle trainer.

For this purpose, the rear wheel of the bicycle is simply hung on a stand, and a second chain is installed on one of its free sprockets, which will transmit torque from the pedals to the rotor of the car generator.

Any other available method of transferring rotational energy can be used, for example, by creating direct contact from the wheel tire directly to the tip of the rotor axle.

Due to such a simple design, it is convenient to exercise on an exercise bike and at the same time watch television programs or use the Internet from a laptop or computer. In conditions of lack of physical activity, this is a pretty good way to maintain health and at the same time save energy for the home.

Overview of the features of alternative energy sources

Possibilities of synchronous and asynchronous designs

A generator that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy works as follows:

• the rotor winding rotates inside a magnetic field and current flows through it;
• its magnetic field penetrates through the stator turns through the magnetic circuit and induces a sinusoidal electric current in them.

Depending on the design features of the stator and rotor, their electromagnetic fields can rotate in the same way, as in synchronous structures, or be shifted by the amount of slip in asynchronous ones.

You can make a simple one with your own hands from an ordinary asynchronous motor. It just needs to be selected according to its electrical characteristics and, especially, the amount of power generated.

When choosing a generator design for your home based on power, take into account that when starting any electric motors, load currents with aperiodic components arise in the power circuit. They can only be eliminated by a special one, which is still rarely used in practice.

Large amplitudes of normal engine starting currents can drown out the operation of an asynchronous type generator. Therefore, when selecting it for loads of this inductive type, it is necessary to provide a threefold power reserve. But synchronous models do not need to create such a reserve.

Based on synchronous and asynchronous designs, autonomous generators powered by internal combustion engines operate, as well as water and wind structures that perform power supply tasks in various ways.

Generators on internal combustion engines

Nowadays, it is not difficult for a home craftsman to buy a similar factory model, focusing not only on the cost of fuel and design, but also on the output price of producing one kilowatt hour of electricity. It is advisable to calculate this characteristic for all types of combustion engines.

Such alternative sources of electrical energy are created for continuous operation for several working hours. The smallest models, being light in weight, are capable of generating power of less than 1 kW.

The simple design removes heat through natural air recirculation. After this, it requires stopping for cooling and maintenance.

On the front panel there are elementary controls and instruments for monitoring the operation of the gasoline engine and the electrical characteristics of the generator. They are necessary for visual observation of parameters by the operator.

The middle class of gas generators is capable of delivering power up to several kilowatts to power a private home.

Diesel fuel generators

Alternative energy sources running on diesel fuel are better suited to long-term power supply to consumers. They may have a blowing system and individual functions that make operation easier. They are usually produced with increased power.

Diesel generators, like gasoline ones, produce exhaust of spent fuel combustion products that is unpleasant for humans, and during operation they create noise that irritates the ear. Therefore, they require installation in remote areas and installation of a gas exhaust system from the house into the atmosphere.

Gas generators

These alternative energy sources are powered by various types of natural gas, including methane. The output power, like that of diesel designs, can range from several kilowatts, which is quite enough to power a separate house.

Devices of the middle power class already include an automation system that uses the automatic transfer switching mode - ATS, which quickly restores power to the house in the event of a power failure on the main power supply line.

Compared to diesel analogues of equal power, gas generators make less noise, and the combustion products released are not highly toxic.

Gas generators are often produced in a modular container design, allowing them to be installed near a residential building. When connected to a gas supply system or a special container that is regularly refilled with fuel, they are able to operate as sources of constant power supply.

Combined generators

Depending on the design, such alternative energy sources can operate on different types of fuel. Most often they use a combination of gas with gasoline or diesel fuel.

Combined type generators have the advantages of gas designs and at the same time their engine is capable of running on other types of fuel.

The listed generator devices are given with a minimum set of power supply functions that the owner of a private house or cottage may need. More powerful designs in each class are capable of performing increased tasks, operating as an autonomous power station.

Generators using natural energy

Home craftsmen may be interested in designs of alternative energy sources that work through:

• gusts of wind;
• water currents;
• exposure to sunlight.

Wind generators

Quite tempting proposals for the use of wind energy often end in disappointment.

There are many reasons for this because such alternative energy sources, at first glance, have a simple design, but in fact they require precise engineering calculations and analysis of the meteorological features of the area.

Many attempts to make a wind generator with your own hands end in failure due to:

• the difficulties of creating an efficient wind wheel with aerodynamically shaped propeller blades, which have long been used in aircraft construction;
• difficulties in accounting for changing wind speeds;
• location of rotating parts at a height away from a residential building;
• providing a rigid and durable mast structure that can reliably withstand hurricane loads.

Manufacturers of wind generators standardize their products for different climatic conditions, offer all kinds of technical solutions for power, various installation methods, even simple installation on the roof of a building. However, this may result in the loosening of the building elements of the walls and roof, and the formation of cracks in them.

Homemade hydroelectric power plants

Alternative sources of electrical energy that use the power of water flow are easiest to make yourself.

They can be powered by a small stream, as seen in the photo, or by a more powerful river flow directed at them.

The hydroelectric power station shown below was assembled by the hands of several craftsmen. It supplies free electricity to 30 homes in rural areas.

For such designs, you can use asynchronous electric motors switched to generator mode. They are installed on permanently mounted equipment, as shown in the photo above, or on floating stations.

Hydropower enthusiasts are creating different types of devices, using them in unexpected places, such as wastewater treatment plant wastewater flows.

Disadvantages of such designs:

1. the mandatory presence of a flow of water capable of turning the water wheel;
2. freezing of reservoirs during frosts.

In order not to lose electricity from hydroelectric power plants in winter, there are designs of water wheels located at the bottom of the river. They are created for year-round power supply.

Solar panels and stations

While the initial designs of solar panels were developed only for spacecraft, they are now being mass-produced for domestic use.

Solar panels work in different devices. They are used to supply electricity to small devices as an autonomous source and powerful power stations.

To create a home solar station you must use:

• solar panels that generate direct current;
• controller that receives and distributes battery energy to:
• batteries serving as storage devices;
• DC consumers;
• an inverter that changes the signal shape to a pure sine wave and increases its voltage to 220/380 volts.

All these devices must be coordinated in terms of power, technical characteristics and loads.

When choosing any design of an alternative energy source for power supply to your cottage or home, do not forget about the basics. Be sure to use automatic safety devices.

The practical implementation of the principles of autonomous power supply to a home and farm equipment using the example of a wind generator and a solar power plant can be seen in the video of the MicroArt company.

Without electricity, modern man is like without air, and it doesn’t matter whether he is in a city apartment with an abundance of technology, or in nature. Power outages at the dacha or its complete absence forces you to search. Humanity has not yet come up with so many of the latter: liquid fuel engines, solar panels, wind generators and batteries, if we do not take into account more exotic and sophisticated solutions. All existing methods have drawbacks, but if there is no dacha or plot of land, and construction work and simple household tasks need to be performed, then you will have to choose one, or better yet two (to be on the safe side) the most suitable autonomous options.

What to consider when choosing an autonomous source of electricity?

Many areas of the country, no matter how surprising it may sound, are still not connected to the general power supply system. Others suffer from constant power outages. If there are no power grids in the region, and it’s time to start building a house, what to do: wait until the site is connected to the network or look for alternative solutions? What to do if the electricity goes out in the evenings, sometimes during the day, and often completely unpredictably? Contemplation of the starry sky is, of course, romantic, but it’s already difficult to live without a refrigerator, a light bulb, a pump and other benefits of civilization in the countryside.

Sooner or later, everyone tries to find a way to connect electricity to the site. There is no universal formula for choosing the best source, since There are a lot of factors to consider:

• the size of the country house, the regularity of its visits, the usual and maximum number of people staying in it;
• number of devices consuming energy. It’s one thing if it’s a couple of light bulbs, a socket and a kettle. It is much more difficult to solve the issue of power supply to a country house if there are many powerful electrical appliances in it, ranging from several televisions and a refrigerator, ending with water heaters and pumps;
• features of the region. In windy regions, an expensive, at first glance, wind turbine will be the most economical and quickly payback source of electricity, but in the Moscow region, for example, wind will no longer be such a profitable source of energy;
• availability of electricity. If there are no power grids at all in the region, and their construction is unlikely to be expected, experts recommend using two sources of autonomous power supply. This advice can be ignored if you rarely appear at the dacha.

Naturally, before choosing the type and power of an autonomous source of electricity, you must carefully calculate the amount of energy consumed. The number of electrical appliances and the characteristics of energy consumers are taken into account. The total power is obtained by adding the needs of everyone and the equipment. It is better to add 15-30% to the obtained value in order to be on the safe side and not be afraid to turn on a new device. It should be remembered that to ensure maximum longevity, it is better for the generator to operate at 80% of its capacity.

No. 1. Generator for a summer residence: petrol, diesel, gas

The simplest and most popular way to solve the problem of electricity on a plot of land is to use fuel power generator. Essentially, this is a miniature power plant that operates completely autonomously and converts the energy of fuel combustion into electricity. Gasoline and diesel, less often gas, are used as fuel. To produce 1 kW/hour of energy, on average, 0.25 to 0.5 liters of fuel will be required.

Using generators The easiest way to organize power supply at home is: I bought it, connected it and can use it, just don’t forget to add fuel on time. This is the main thing advantage. The main disadvantage is the need to constantly buy fuel, and if the house is large and there are a lot of electrical appliances in it, then the costs will be significant. In addition, the generator itself also costs money, and the higher its power, the higher the price. But if you compare it with a windmill or solar panel, the generator will, of course, be cheaper.

When the generator is a backup energy source, it is important that it not only turns on in time, but also turns off in a timely manner so that there is no collision between two counter flows of charged electrons. To avoid troubles, an algorithm for turning on the generator in has long been developed. If there is no central power supply network, then it is recommended to use two generators: one is the main one, the second is a backup one and comes into operation when the first one runs out of fuel. Alternating operation of two generators significantly increases the service life of each.

The fuel the generator runs on determines its power, durability, noise level, and operating costs.

Diesel generator for a summer residence

Diesel power generators are best suitable for permanent work. Long continuous operation is ensured by the presence of a water cooling system. Among others his benefits:

Among the disadvantages:

Gasoline generator for a summer residence

A gasoline generator is better suited in cases where When the site is used from time to time. It can also work as a backup power source when the site is connected to the public network. In a small dacha with a minimal set of electrical appliances, a gasoline generator performs best. The power of gas generators is usually no higher than 7-9 kW (but you can find models with 15 and even 20 kW), and they cannot work longer than 8 hours continuously - they get very hot.

Advantages:

Cons:

• low efficiency;
• high cost of gasoline.

The noise level from a diesel and gasoline generator depends on the type of housing and the speed at which the generator operates: a device with 1500 rpm will produce significantly lower noise than a similar power one with 3000 rpm, but it will also cost more .

Gas generator for a summer residence

Gas generators allow you to obtain the cheapest energy, while The efficiency of their work is the highest, and the noise is minimal. The power can reach 24 kW, the generator can operate around the clock, and gas will be cheaper than gasoline and diesel fuel. It’s just that such devices have not yet become widespread, since they cost a lot, are complicated to operate and require connection to a gas pipeline, which is not available everywhere. However, some summer residents connect such generators to gas cylinders.

No. 2. Solar panels for a summer residence

The main disadvantage of fuel generators is the need to constantly buy fuel for them. Generators that use free energy available to everyone do not have this drawback. This is the energy of the sun and wind. To generate electricity, they also use geothermal energy, as well as water energy, but these options are unlikely to be suitable for powering a summer cottage.

Quite simply, then principle of operation of solar panels consists in knocking out electrons from semiconductors located in a photocell by photons of light, and the directed flow of electrons, as known from a school physics course, is electricity. To ensure the generation of electricity from sunlight, its accumulation and further use for domestic purposes A whole range of equipment is required:

It’s better to take all the elements together – it will be much easier.

Prices for solar panels vary greatly depending on their type, size, power and manufacturer's name. Of course, everyone wants to achieve maximum productivity and energy independence for their money, so it is necessary to carefully study the nuances of the weather in the region, and also understand what type of solar cells is best suited for a particular area:

Whatever option you choose, solar panels are always a lot of advantages:

• the opportunity to obtain a full-fledged source of electricity, and solar energy is obtained free of charge. In developed countries, households sell surplus energy to energy companies. The first steps in this direction are already being taken in the domestic space, although the phenomenon is still far from widespread;
• no monthly payments for electricity;
• long service life;
• environmental friendliness.

Cons, of course, are present. Firstly, it is impossible to use solar energy as a full-fledged source of electricity in regions with a large number of cloudy days a year. Snow can also become a nuisance, so you will have to constantly clear it off. In addition, you will need a lot of space for the entire set of home solar power plants: these are the batteries themselves and the equipment for them. As for the cost, it is initially high, but in the end it completely pays off.

When choosing solar panels, pay attention to:

• power. Depends on the needs of a particular home and the characteristics of the region;
• battery life directly affects the length of the period during which it will be possible to receive electricity in inclement weather;
• performance class. It is better to take class A batteries;
• manufacturer's name. The products of such companies as Sunpower, Sanyo, Jinko Solar have proven themselves well.

Calculation of required power– this is a painstaking task and requires knowledge of a lot of precise parameters. To estimate approximately what batteries you will need and get an idea of ​​the price, you can do a simple, but very approximate calculation:

To obtain accurate calculations it is necessary explore weather diaries in the region for the number of cloudy and sunny days in recent years in a particular month. Only after this will it be possible to judge the parameters of the batteries and the payback. In most cases, even a large reserve does not make it possible to use solar energy as a full-fledged source of electricity in winter, so backup power from a gas generator will be required.

No. 3. Wind generator for a summer residence

Another free source of electricity is wind, but, like the sun's rays, it is inconsistent. Main advantages, as with photocells, is the absence of the need to constantly purchase fuel and the environmental friendliness of the resulting energy. Cons: high cost of construction, the need to install not only the wind generator itself, but also additional equipment (inverter and batteries with controllers).

At dachas today they install two type of wind turbines:

The main question facing those who decide to install a wind turbine is not even its type, but its power. To answer the question, it's worth take into account generated, accumulated and consumed energy. Therefore, it is important to calculate how much energy is consumed, for example, per day, what is the average and peak load. It is necessary to take into account the average wind speed, the number of days when the wind speed is above 5 m/s (the most favorable), as well as the maximum duration of calm weather.

In practice, it turns out that weak winds of 2-3 m/s do not provide enough energy. Therefore, experienced summer residents advise stocking up on high-capacity batteries in order to accumulate the energy received on windy days and use it during periods of calm and weak winds.

No. 4. Inverter batteries for summer cottages

Batteries can be used to store energy from various types of generators, but sometimes used as an independent source of energy. Naturally, you shouldn’t consider this option as a way to constantly power the area with electricity, but as a backup he will go. If suddenly the lights are turned off, the fuel for the generator runs out, or there are no sunny days for a long time, then the minimum required set of electrical appliances will be able to be powered.

The inverter battery is connected to the general electrical system of the house, it is charged from the central power supply network, and when power outages occur, it releases energy itself.

The parameters of the battery are selected depending on the needs, taking into account how much energy the electrical appliances in the house consume and for how long a power outage is possible. For example, if you need a battery that will provide 3 kW of electricity, and taking into account the conversion losses in the inverter (10%) this is 3.3 kW, with an output voltage of 12 V, you will need a battery of 275 A*h or 2 of 150 A*h. When choosing a battery, consider the number of charge/discharge cycles (the more, the better), give preference to models with the longest service life and better not use car batteries, despite the fact that in all respects they seem to be suitable - for their safe operation you need specific conditions.

In conclusion

To obtain energy, mini-hydroelectric power stations are also equipped, but this requires access to a source of water, so this method has not found widespread use. If the country house is used all year round, then it’s better to invest in a wind generator or solar panels (whichever is more profitable), and insure yourself with a fuel generator. If the cottage is used from time to time, then you can only get by with a generator, and if there is still electricity at the site, but it is simply supplied according to a schedule or intermittently, then the option is a battery or a gasoline generator.

Inefficient operation of domestic power lines has long been the number one problem. This is especially felt in suburban villages, where low voltage and constant power outages have become simply the norm. But as they say, the problems of drowning people are their problems, which they themselves must solve. This is what happens in life, because alternative energy sources for a private home are the only correct solution that solves problems with electricity.

They have to be installed in private homes, sometimes even completely abandoning centralized electricity consumption. True, modern alternative sources of electricity, as they say, are not without sin. That is, each method of replacing power lines has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, we will understand this issue thoroughly by considering ready-made solutions.

Types of alternative electricity

The consumer is always faced with a choice based on the question, which is better? And in this regard, it is implied, firstly, the costs of purchasing a new type of source of electricity, and secondly, how long this device will work. That is, will it be profitable, will the whole undertaking pay off, and if it does, then after what period of time? Let's just say that saving money has not yet been canceled.

As you can see, there are plenty of questions and problems here too, because doing electricity yourself is not only a serious matter, but also quite expensive.

Electric generator

Let's start with this installation, as the simplest one. Its simplicity lies in the fact that you need to purchase an electric generator and install it in a secure, enclosed room that will comply with fire safety rules. Next, connect the electrical network of a private house to it, fill in liquid fuel (gasoline or diesel fuel) and turn it on. After which electricity appears in your home, which depends only on the availability of fuel in the generator tank. If you think through an automatic fuel supply system, then you get a small thermal power plant that will require minimal presence from you.

In addition, electric generators are reliable and convenient installations that work almost forever if used correctly. But there is one point. There are currently two types of generators on the market:

• Petrol.
• Diesel.

Which one is better? Let's just say that if you need an alternative energy source that will be used constantly, then choose diesel. If for temporary use, then gasoline. And that's not all. A diesel electric generator has large overall dimensions, compared to a gasoline one, it makes a lot of noise during operation and emits a huge amount of smoke and exhaust gases. Plus, it's more expensive.

Gas generators have recently appeared on the market that can run on both natural gas and liquefied gas. A good option, environmentally friendly, and does not require a special room for installation. You can connect, for example, several gas cylinders to one generator at once, which will be automatically connected to the installation.

Alternative to hydrocarbon fuels

Among the three types of electric generators, gas is the best and most efficient. But the cost of fuel (liquid or gaseous) is not cheap, so it’s worth thinking about producing your own fuel, investing a minimum of money in it. For example, biogas, which can be obtained from biomass.

By the way, alternative types of energy, which today are called biological, can replace almost all alternative sources of electricity. For example:

• Biogas is produced by fermenting manure, bird droppings, agricultural waste, and so on. The main thing is to install equipment that is used to capture methane.
• From garbage, for example, in landfills, the so-called cellulose standard is extracted. Or, as experts call it, landfill gas.

Attention! Scientists have already calculated that if you recycle all the world's landfills, you can get up to 84 billion liters of landfill fuel, which can be used to generate electricity.

IBGU-1 – installation for biogas production

• Soybean and rapeseed, or more precisely, their seeds, produce fats from which biodiesel can be obtained.
• A biostandard (biogasoline) can be produced from beets, sugar cane, and corn.
• Scientists have proven that using ordinary algae you can accumulate solar energy.

That is, there is a large number of scientific developments that produce alternative types of energy. And many of them have already received practical application. For example, the IBGU-1 installation, with the help of which up to twelve cubic meters of biogas can be obtained from manure per day. Domestic farmers appreciated the work of scientists, so this equipment is sold out quickly.

Wind generators

In those regions where wind is always available (coastal areas, mountains, steppes), the best option for an alternative source of electric current is a wind generator. In America, these installations are used almost everywhere. True, they are not cheap, but with their help you can solve the problem of lack of electricity.

The principle of obtaining current here is quite simple. The wind presses on the blades, which drive the rotor of the electric generator. The latter produces electric current. That is, the installation uses the principle of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. The most important thing is that wind generators operate with minimal wind gusts, over 2 m/s. If the speed is not lower than 8 m/s, then the generator can be connected to the house directly.

The most vulnerable part of the equipment is the battery, which stores electricity. It breaks down quickly, and costs 25% of the price of the entire installation. Therefore, this option for obtaining alternative energy is best used not for accumulation, but for consumption. Therefore, most often wind generators are connected directly to heating and hot water supply systems. By the way, a justified and excellent way out of the situation.

Heat pumps

The next option from the “alternative types of energy” category is energy from the bowels of the earth. For a private home this is an ideal option. It is simple, effective and economical. To do this, a well is drilled in the area near the house (the deeper the better), where a heat pump is installed.

Groundwater always has a positive temperature. When this water is cooled by a pump, energy is released, which has to be used. But some may wonder how the pump works, since it also requires electrical energy? Everything is correct, but this installation has a certain ratio of energy consumed and energy released, which is in the following relationship - 1:6. So the effectiveness is obvious.

Solar panels

Alternative electricity from the sun is rarely used in private housing construction. It's all about the high cost of solar cells that are installed in batteries. Hence the high cost of the entire installation. Although it should be noted that this is a promising direction that cannot be abandoned. After all, every year 1000 kW of energy falls on one square meter of the earth’s surface. Imagine how much humanity is losing. If we compare it with other types of fuel, this is 100 m³ of gas or 100 liters of diesel fuel.

Of course, obtaining electric current in this way is still expensive. But heating water this way is very cheap. That is why solar collectors are so in demand today among residents of suburban villages.

sea ​​water

Do not discount the ebb and flow of the sea. There is a huge storehouse of energy here, which residents of coastal regions have been using for their own benefit for a long time. To begin with, water is almost 900 times denser than air, so its slight movement causes turbines to spin. Of course, such a structure is beyond the capabilities of the owner of a private house, so you shouldn’t dwell on it. But for information please take this into account. Moreover, we are considering alternative types of energy.

Conclusion on the topic

So, a short review was made on the topic - alternative energy for a private home. As you can see, there are many options today. But, as always, everyone decides for themselves which one to choose. Here it is important to correctly approach the operating conditions, take into account the region, climatic conditions, and so on. Maybe even consider an option in which you could combine some alternative energy sources for your home and make them interchangeable.

Electricity is one of the most important power sources for a private home. Electricity helps in cooking, heating a room, pumping water into it, and simple lighting. It is able to completely replace the gas supply and central water supply. Without electricity, a modern home is not considered comfortable and functional. High-voltage lines reach even the most remote villages and towns, supplying them with electricity. But there are still places where communications are not laid, and their installation will cost a decent amount. In this situation, alternative energy sources will help out. They are environmentally friendly, completely autonomous and financially profitable. The owner of his own source of electrical energy does not depend on planned repairs, breakdowns and rolling blackouts that leave entire villages without electricity. The most common and not entirely familiar non-traditional energy sources are discussed in detail below.

Electric generators

The first and most popular source of energy at home, which is most often found in private homes, is electric generators. Based on the type of fuel used, they are divided into diesel, gasoline and gas.

Diesel generators have many advantages, including efficiency, reliability and low risk of fire. With regular daily use, a diesel generator is much more profitable than models that consume gas or gasoline. The fuel consumption of diesel equipment is not high, the price of fuel is also not high, it does not require expensive repairs and financial investments. The disadvantages of diesel generators are the large amount of gases released during operation, noise and the high price of the device itself. The price of equipment with a power of 5 kW is on average $850.

Gasoline generator - this device is ideal as a backup or seasonal power source. Generators using this type of fuel are small in size, make little noise during operation, and the device itself has a lower price than its diesel counterpart. The average price of a 5 kW gasoline generator is $500. The disadvantages of using a gasoline electric generator are that the noise level, although low, is there; a large amount of carbon dioxide is released during operation, so the device must be placed in separate rooms with good sound insulation.

Gas electricity generators have proven themselves well in all aspects. They operate on both natural gas and liquefied fuel in cylinders. The noise level of these devices is the lowest, and the service life is very high. The average price for a 5 kW device is $600.

Use of solar energy

Another alternative source of electrical energy is solar energy. It is used not only to generate electrical energy, but also to provide autonomous heating. To obtain electricity from the sun, solar panels of various sizes are installed, which are equipped with a battery and an inverter. Among the advantages of using solar energy sources are:

• Ability to renew.
• Absolutely silent operation.
• Safety for human health and the environment, since the devices used in this technology do not emit any substances into the atmosphere.
• Easy to install if you install it yourself.

All these qualities make solar energy sources one of the most popular. But this method of generating electricity also has disadvantages:

• For houses with high electricity consumption, the installation of large equipment will be required, which will take up a lot of space in the local area. The station area must be at least 10 m2. That is, this type of energy production is not available to owners of small plots of land.
• The second disadvantage is the dependence on daily and seasonal changes in solar radiation.
• Third, during operation, these installations do not emit harmful substances, but for the manufacture of photovoltaic cells and solar systems that make up the solar battery, highly toxic substances are used that are difficult to dispose of.

The finished station has a price from $3,500 to $7,000. A more affordable way to obtain energy from the sun is through water heating collectors. This equipment captures solar heat even on days when the star is hidden behind clouds. It is used only for heating water, it does not generate electricity. One collector satisfies the daily need for hot water for a family of three. The price varies from $1000 to $4000. This type of equipment has only one drawback, which is also inherent in solar batteries - the inability to function in areas with low solar activity and at night.

Use of wind energy

Installations for converting the energy of air flow into electricity are also no longer considered science fiction and are used everywhere. They work on the principle of wind turbines, which convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy from the rotation of the turbine. This energy is collected and converted by an inverter into alternating current. The minimum wind speed at which electricity is generated from the flywheel is 2 m/s. The optimal wind speed is 8 m/s. Based on the type of design, wind energy generators are divided into models with a horizontal rotor and a vertical one.

The horizontal design of the generator has a high efficiency rate; a small amount of materials is used during installation. Disadvantages - a high mast is required for installation, the generator itself has a complex mechanical part, and is not convenient to maintain. Vertical ones are distinguished by a larger range of wind speeds at which they operate. But at the same time, vertical wind generators are not economical, as they require the use of more equipment and materials.

The use of a wind farm is limited by wind indicators for each season. If in the off-season, with increased air activity, the station will be very effective, then on days without wind, electricity will not be generated. To smooth out this difference and power the house uninterruptedly, the wind farm is equipped with a storage battery. This measure helps to accumulate energy in windy weather and use it during calm periods.

An alternative to installing a battery at a wind farm is to convert energy into heat. It is used for both heating and hot water supply. In this design, the battery is replaced by a water storage tank. Using a wind farm in this way can reduce its total cost by 25%. The cost of a wind farm with a battery is on average $10,000, without a battery - $1000-2000.

Among the not-so-pleasant aspects of using a wind farm is the need to build a foundation for the equipment. It is strengthened especially carefully so that during strong winds the mast along with the windmill is not torn out of the ground. The second nuance is the possibility of icing of the blades in winter, this reduces the efficiency of the station. During operation, this equipment generates noise and vibration, which is why it is mounted away from residential buildings.

Use of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is a fairly new source of energy for a private home. In this case, the heat that is generated in the bowels of the planet is used. The Earth's core has a high temperature, which comes to the surface in volcanic areas, sources of water and steam, and is also contained in the deep layers of the planet. Geothermal heat is used as an energy source for current and heat.

The principle of operation of a geothermal energy source in a private house is quite simple - they drill a well into which a heat pump is installed. The installation pumps hot water from the deep layers; when cooled, it generates energy, which is then converted into electricity. During operation, this installation consumes electric current, but for each kW spent it produces 5-6 kW of current. The average installation cost for a 150 m2 home is $30,000. Advantages of use - an inexhaustible source of energy that does not depend on the season, time of day and weather conditions.

Disadvantages of using the Earth's energy - thermal water is often highly mineralized and contains toxic impurities, therefore it cannot be sent to ordinary sewers. The waste water is returned to the deep horizon from which it was pumped. Some scientists believe that this type of energy production leads to an increase in seismic activity in the earth's crust.

Biomass energy use

Many people have already heard about biofuel. A lot of controversy and conflicting reviews flare up around this type of hot dish. As a fuel for cars, it has an attractive price, but its effect on the engine and its power is not fully understood. But combat fuel is used not only as fuel for vehicles, but also as a source of electric current. This fuel replaces gas, gasoline and diesel when refueling equipment for generating electrical energy.

Biofuel is produced by processing various plants. To produce biological diesel, fats from the seeds of oil crops are used, and gasoline is produced by fermentation of corn, sugar cane, beets and other plants. Algae are recognized as the most optimal source of biological energy, since they are unpretentious and easily converted into mass with oily properties similar to oil.

This technology also makes it possible to produce biological gas, which is captured during the fermentation of organic waste from the food industry and livestock. In this case, methane is produced. By capturing the gas in landfills, cellulosic ethanol is produced. 1 ton of useless garbage produces up to 500 m3 of useful gas.

As for the domestic use of biofuel to generate electrical energy, an individual biogas plant is purchased for this purpose. This device produces natural gas from waste. A standard IBGU-1 installation produces from 3 to 12 m3 of gas per day, which is then used to heat the house and refuel various equipment, including a gas power generator. The average cost of a biogas plant is $9,000.

Miniature hydroelectric power station

Another type of alternative energy that is successfully used in private homes is individual hydroelectric power plants. This type of electricity generator is one of the most difficult to install, but its efficiency is significantly higher than that of wind and solar sources. Hydroelectric power stations are constructed with dams and without dams; the second option is the simplest and most accessible. Such installations are also called flow stations. According to their design, they are divided into stations with a wheel, a garland, a Daria rotor and a propeller.

• A water wheel station has a central round part with blades, which is mounted perpendicular to the water surface. As the water moves, it presses on the blades and spins the wheel. The principle of operation is the same as in a wind farm, but the source is water. More complex designs of wheeled water power plants are a wheel-turbine, which has special blades for a water jet.

• A station with a garland is a cable on which the rotors are rigidly attached. The cable is attached to opposite sides of the water flow, the rotors are immersed in water. When moving, the water rotates the rotors, and they transmit this movement to the cable.
• Station with a Darrieus rotor - the design is similar to the previous one, but here the rotor is located vertically and rotates due to different pressure levels in its blades. This indicator is created due to the complex shape of the surface.

• Propeller station - an underwater installation with a vertical rotor. Externally, this installation is similar to a windmill with small blades.

Among the presented types of hydroelectric power stations, the garland installation is considered the most inconvenient. It has low productivity, the design itself poses a danger to surrounding people, and installation of the station requires the consumption of a large amount of materials. The Daria rotor is more convenient, since the axis is located vertically and its installation is possible above the water. But it is quite difficult to install such a station and the rotor must be spun up when starting. The best option for making it yourself is a station with a propeller or wheel. The average cost of a 6 kW station is $8,000-10,000.