wind turbines and solar panels

[fenwoman]

After suffering yet another powercut. The 3rd this month I am getting a bit fed up. Each time it happens I lose an incubator full of fertile eggs as the temperature plummets. This year because of dozens of power cuts I have only hatched about 30 birds and end up throwing away 60 dead in shell chicks each time. The pwer company refuses to acknowledge fault and say that I should get a generator to use and they are not obliged to offer a smooth interuppted service.
To this end, I am planning on installing a wind turbine next year when I have a bit of cash. We get plenty wind here in the fens so if I can guarantee my own supply and give the lekkie company a poke in the eye at the same time, all to the good. Does anyone have any advice as to where I should buy one from , what will it power, are there grants avaialbe?
As to solar panels, I have a good south facing roof which would be fine for the hot water, but I presently have no hot water tank as I have an oil combi boiler. I take it I'll need to have loads of plumbing done (no water upstairs) and then put a hot water tank somewhere? Again, are grants avaiable?

[Martin]

basically, forget grants for renewables, they're a farce! (you end up paying twice as much, even after the grant )
If you're contemplating windpower, I'd first suggest "sounding out" your local planners because you will need consent!
I could spend hours writing reams, but as we're rushing to get off on Monday to the Big Green Gathering I'm a bit pushed for time at the moment, so if you'd like to pick our brains, just get in touch, and we'll be happy to help in any way we can - the advice comes free, and we don't have salesmen, just enthusiasts!
In short, on a good site, windpower is an excellent technology, but you must get the siting right, and choose the turbine to "fit the site". As far as solar hot water goes, yes you will need a new thermal store (well-insulated hot water tank) with coils for the boiler/solar/woodburner etc. I would suggest that any heating work is done "all together" then all the various parts will work well together, and it's cheaper to do it all in one go
Before you do any of the above, I reckon the only grants worth having are those for insulation - insulate to the gills first!

[fenwoman]

basically, forget grants for renewables, they're a farce! (you end up paying twice as much, even after the grant )
If you're contemplating windpower, I'd first suggest "sounding out" your local planners because you will need consent!
I could spend hours writing reams, but as we're rushing to get off on Monday to the Big Green Gathering I'm a bit pushed for time at the moment, so if you'd like to pick our brains, just get in touch, and we'll be happy to help in any way we can - the advice comes free, and we don't have salesmen, just enthusiasts!
In short, on a good site, windpower is an excellent technology, but you must get the siting right, and choose the turbine to "fit the site". As far as solar hot water goes, yes you will need a new thermal store (well-insulated hot water tank) with coils for the boiler/solar/woodburner etc. I would suggest that any heating work is done "all together" then all the various parts will work well together, and it's cheaper to do it all in one go
Before you do any of the above, I reckon the only grants worth having are those for insulation - insulate to the gills first!

Thanks for the info. I don't think there will be a problem with planning as a house just down the road from me has one. I am already insulated as much as possible which is why my cottage is lovely and cool in a heatwave and cosy on the coldest day. I will have to think hard about where I could put a hot water tank and it may be that the solar panels aren't a viable option for me. I'm still in the 'finding out' stage now as I won't be finmancially in a position to do anything until next year.

[Thomzo]

Fenwoman
I might have a temporary solution for you. I am closing an office and we have a UPS system to find a new home for. It is basically a big bank of batteries, designed to "smooth" the power supply to computers. You plug your equipment in to it and then plug it into the mains. It charges up as you use it and then, if the power goes off, it keeps powering your equipment.

The only downside is that it's set up to take the sort of plug that goes into a computer, like a kettle lead, not a normal 3 pin plug so you'd need to adapt the lead to your incubator.

I need to work out how to get it to you as it's quite heavy. PM me, if you are interested.


Zoe

[Muddypause]

I presently have no hot water tank as I have an oil combi boiler. I take it I'll need to have loads of plumbing done (no water upstairs) and then put a hot water tank somewhere?

As Martin says, you will need a hot water tank (or cylinder) with at least one extra coil in it (the coil is a coil of pipes inside the tank that is connected to the solar collector - or boiler - and transfers the heat into the water in the tank).

You have a couple of options beyond that - traditionally, you will need a cold water tank high up in the house that will supply water to the hot water tank. The hot tank can go anywhere as long as it is below the cold tank. Water pressure at the hot tap is dependent upon how high the cold tank is.

Recently, mains pressure hot water systems have been approved for use in the UK, and this dispenses with the need for a cold tank, and usually has the added benefit of better water pressure. But technically these systems have to be installed by suitably qualified plumbers - DIYing is against some bureaucratic regulation (though actually there is nothing mysterious about the installation). With the hot water at mains pressure, you can put the tank pretty well anywhere - it doesn't need to be high up. I've never costed up such a system, so don't know how they compare, but this could be a good option in your situation.

[Martin]

its certainly an option, but it does tend to cost quite a lot more for the pressurised tank, and we try to avoid them because they do require an annual inspection and test of the safety valves, and you can't connect an "uncontrolled heat source" like a woodburning stove to them!
We've just done an installation where they had a Megaflo pressurised system, which was jettisoned in favour of a good old-fashioned vented system as they wanted solar and a woodburner.
In view of the widespread recent floods, the other thing about pressurised systems is that you have no reservoir of water in the loft - if you're cut off, there's no tank in the loft to supply a reserve of water in emergencies

[camillitech]

lots of good advice so far fenwoman, re grants hot water etc but unless you have a large battery bank and an inverter capable of supplying your electrical needs a normal grid tie system will shut down in a power failiure anyway. this is a safety feature to protect anyone working on the grid. the cost of a system that will provide lekkie in a power cut is much more expensive.

good luck, paul