TO RENDER A HOUSEHOLD COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT OF THE ELECTRICAL GRIDEoin RobinsonX00066779Supervisor: Brian O’Brien

PROJECT AIMS To provide a detailed spreadsheet of household

energy consumption To analyse the energy cost for an urban and rural

household with pilot energy usage patterns. Assessing several micro wind turbines currently on

the market Investigating wind patterns for turbine rotor speeds

and comparing each unit to the households energy demands

Conclusion as to whether it possible to ender a household completely independent of the electrical grid.

Is it cost effective to install a micro wind turbine generator in an urban or rural household?

ENERGY CONSUMPTION A list of appliances was compiled and listed

on a MS Excel spreadsheet with theory associated energy ratings attached.

An “average day” was constructed detailing the amount of hours utilised by each appliance

Electricity cost’s from the main energy suppliers in Ireland were created

At current levels Airtricity proved to be the cheapest, Electric Ireland most expensive!

SPREADSHEET

PEAK DEMAND - SUMMER

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(Summer)Time Peak Usage (KWHr)

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ANALYSIS Total cost (w/ VAT) 229€ Electric Ireland per

Bi- Month (summer urban). 290€ urban winter.

Total cost (w/VAT) 254€ in the summer and 321€ in the winter.

Energy consumption on an AVG Day = 22 KWhrs

Biggest Energy users identified : Electric shower 8KWhrs, Kettle 2.2KWhr ,

Dryer 2.6KWHr,Oven 2.2 KWHr, Washing machine 1.565 KWhr

REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Energy demand must be as low possible enabling the purchase of a smaller and cheaper wind turbine.

Substitute appliances were brought in to reduce electricity consumption, these substitutes cut the peak demand to 9 KWhrs per day.

TABLE OF APPLIANCES WITH REDUCED DEMAND

REDUCED DEMAND Electric cooker > Gas No Electric Shower From the spreadsheet above it is clear that

12.43 Kilowatts will be required daily for the summer and 17.32 Kilowatts for the winter. This is at a cost of 127 € in the summer and 184€ in the winter per bi month with the current energy supplier Electric Ireland.

An extra 30% will be added to the energy to cover losses, raising the total daily energy demand to 16.16 kW and 22.516 KW for summer and winter respectively.

PEAK DEMAND REDUCED - SUMMER

With the number of appliances reduced (see fig) the demand peaks at 8.1 KW at 6:00 p.m.

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WINDSPEEDS, REGULATIONS AND OBSTACLES Average daily wind speed in Dublin (urban) 3.5 - 5 m/s

and in Leitrim (rural) 5 - 8 m/s.( MET Eireann readings taken 10 m from the ground ).

Planning and Development Regulations 2007 act , was created by the Department of Environment and it stipulates that one can install turbine once it ‘the wind turbine does not in any way infringe upon neighbours curtillage’ or rise above 13m.

Since the wind turbine for this site will be large diameter of 1.8m and require a high tower 12 m – 15m and will be very close to neighbours households it will be in conflict with this act. Therefore to enable the erection of a turbine at this site the householder must apply for planning permission.

SWIFT – RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVICES

The Swift – Renewable Energy Devices costs 4872€ with a rotor diameter of 2.1m

Cost of 16 x 12 V x 100 AH batteries and wiring = 1994€* Using the electricity generated at 19.29c as an income @

a wind speed 5m/s the 56 KWhr/week. Generates 604.93€ annually.

Payback period 11.35 years

PROVEN WT 6000 The WT6000 has a 5.5 m rotor diameter with

a cut in wind speed of 2.5 m/s. At 5 m/s it can deliver 220 kWHr/week, 31.43

kWHr/day . The purchase cost of this unit is 10809.61€. Cost of 16 x 12 V x 100 AH batteries and

wiring = 1994€* It can generate 2,376.53€ annually Payback period = 5.38 years

CONCLUSION The Rural household holds fewer legal restrictions for wind turbine

sizes. In conclusion it is unlikely that a 15m high wind turbine would be

tolerated small urban back garden. If it were it is clear from the financial analysis that the Swift turbine would generate positive wealth. However it would not be large enough to generate sufficient energy to satisfy this customers needs, even with demand significantly reduced.

Thus the turbine would be placed in a supporting role for the house and not render it independent electrical grid.

The Rural house should by all means install Windpower. Depending upon the site. If the homeowner has a wide open space at high elevation with few obstructions they should consider installation. The homeowner would be under less legal restrictions to limit the size of the pitch blade diameter to a 5m turbine. Based on the average speed of 6 m/s the turbine could service this sample home’s energy needs. The power generated would make them energy independent.