bil

No. For a domestic person, the dribble of power from a photo source is useful to use, but worthless to store. If they are linked in to the grid, all those dribbles add up to something of value.

Bear in mind, there is no realistic way to store energy.

Domino

Most Eu countries started initiatives for people installing PV or wind powered generating systems. The Uk "feed-in tarriff" was designed to deliver pay something like 40p per unit generated, irrespective of whether it was used by the generator or fed into the grid. There have been full colour full page ads from companies who want private people to have these fitted with various incentives, providing they sell the electricity to the installer.

However, this is potentially under funded in some areas, as I think bil has indicated a min of £25k for a basic system is a lot of pennies to pay back over 25years. And when you sell to move to Spain, will buyers want to take on that commitment.

Because of El Crunch governments are cutting back on new agreements and ISTR the uk is now stopping all funding. Has Spain still got a scheme running ?
Only a few months ago the owner of a large wind farm turned off the machines because there was no call for the output. Perhaps that will change as winter gets here, but it isnt cost effective to install if it will only reach a max of 50% output. As bil said You can't store it, like you can with gas.
rgds

bil

You want a truly intelligent system that will give power 24/7? That will work in light or day, wind or calm, hot or cold? That you can get power out for nothing, effectively?

Plough money into fuel cells, and create one that can work on dilute ethanol.

Simple, brilliant, effective, non polluting, and you can make the alcohol from potato peelings etc.

Domino

understand the theory bil, but like many things life is too short to expend all that personal energy into one arena where there is so much else to do.

although the making of alcohol from potato peelings looks like an interesting hobby.
used to make a very mean real ale a few years ago, one of my best friends is a VAT Inspector who couldnt get enough of it. since moving in the Uk havent made any.
wonder if my new Spanish neighbours would want some...........

fionamw

Isn't that poteen?

bil

No, it's the first stage. If you distill it it is then illegal, which is why I stressed the importance of it being able to be run on dilute solutions, as by fermentation you can only get to 12% or a bit more.

All those stories about granddad's cowslip wine being as strong as brandy....bullsh'it.

fionamw

Ok so you're saying the future is in fuel cells powered by weak hooch (and I'm not taking the p!ss, I actually spent the entire Stansted-Malaga flight about six weeks ago sitting next to a student of Imperial College who was working on them) ??

Domino

well oim no oirish so

lets just call it POTENT, sounds like a good label to put on the bottles.....
although the poles and others call it vodka

but of course I will have to brew it with Thermal Solar Energy to get my accreditation correct

Domino

you get all the fun, the best I can get is an accountant who wants to sleep

bil

Oh yes. Look at it like this. An electric car can run on one, your house can run on a big enough one. You can be anywhere on the planet and have a decent power source. If you like, of a night, the car's one can be connected into the house circuit if you need more.

fionamw

That's probably my OH!!!! Actually if you re-read my post it was a bit of a senior blonde moment. Of course I was next to him the entire flight... it's not exactly spacious enough for musical chairs on EZY What I should have said was we spent almost the entire flight talking about such stuff. I made no bones that most went over my head but he was complimentary that I seemed to understand at least some of it

...bil, I was just questioning the weak liquid bit, not the fuel cells. I'm convinced the principle of them is genius. It's all in the detail, though. My new found knowledge

EsuriJohn

Remember WATER Trwasfynod(?) is being dismantled as we speak what a waste.

bil

Was that the reservoir on top of a hiil that they pumped water to when they had surplus power, and dropped it thru a turbine to boost power at maximum need?

Fredbargate

Trawsfynydd

bil you beat me it's Dinorwig Power Station

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinorwig_Power_Station

bil

Why in god's name are they demolishing it?