From 1990 until 2004 Christopher Barber was involved in the marine industry throughout Europe. This experience has led to a good working knowledge of electrical systems that are not grid connected. Many of the yachts managed for clients had substantial renewable resources that had been adapted to enable an almost indefinate period without the necessity for mains power. Christopher Barber is accredited with neccesary governing bodies as follows:
- Apricus preferred Solar hot water installer
- Approved and accredited part P installer
- Approved and accredited Solar Photovoltaic supplier and installer
- BPEC approved and accredited solar thermal supplier and installer
- BPEC approved water regulations
- BPEC unvented cylinder approved
- Future Energy approved distributor a installer of there wind turbines
- Mastervolt preffered supplier and installer
- Lorentz solar tracker preffered supplier and installer
With this accrediation, the Wind and Solar Shop is pleased to offer wind and solar stand-alone packages capable of supplying independent power for a multitude tasks from running a few lights to complete houses or workshops. Remote areas can especially benefit from such packages. And the most advanced solar hot water evacuated tube collectors on the market today, Apricus Solar hot water collectors come with an outstanding 10 year warranty, there are not many others that come with that!
Grid tie packages are available whereby the power generated is directed into your mains supply via an approved inverter. This enables you to use the power generated before you draw upon energy from the main grid.
We are also able to supply a hybrid package, combining both the stand alone and grid tie packages together. Many customers find that this gives them the best of both worlds.
There are however draw backs with the different systems. The cheaper of the two, the grid tie system, is a much simpler system to install and become operational. However by virtue of the fact that it is wired directly into the main grid means that should the national grid have a power failure the inverter automatically disconnects itself from the grid. This simultaneously cuts any power that you have coming back out of it. This is governed by the G83 agreement, to which all grid tie inverters should comply, enabling grid engineers to find and fix the fault with the knowledge that they are not going to get a nasty surprise when they start work.
Stand alone systems are a separate system to the national grid and are therefore not subject to the same constraints. However installation can be more complex and they require more hardware to allow you to become operational. The generated power needs to be stored in a battery bank of one sort or another. Dependant on type of battery, it can become a much more expensive installation. However, stand alones systems offer the capability to give you the power when you need it and should the national grid go down then you will not be affected.
In conclusion, a hybrid of the two systems is by far the best solution but its disadvantage is its price. You have the convenience of the grid and the back up of the Stand Alone all in one package. Furthermore any of the systems mentioned are compatible with wind turbines and solar PV panels to complement your system. In the last few years they have become viable resources and believe it or not work very well in the UK. Solar thermal water heating has increased in its popularity and is now extremely effecient with the latest evacuated tube technology.
Now available from the Wind and Solar shop are Lorentz solar trackers coupled with Kyocera solar panels for grid tied applications the Mastervoltvolt range of G83/1 approved inverters or for stand alone packages with Xantrex or Morningstar solar charge controllers.
What Next?
You can contact the Wind and Solar Shop to learn more about microgeneration.