Anyone got an idea of the cost of off grid electricity supply systems? Having trouble getting a supply to a house site & wondering what the options are.
Cheers!
Lots.
Have you hydro?
How much sun/which orientation?
How big is the house and demand likely?
What's your expectation on having power all day, all year, without fail?
There's always the baby killer diesel option (for back up if nothing else).
Def not cheap. Hydro, solar, turbine and you'd want battery storage to give some resilience.
I went to an off-grid communities conference the end of last year. It's complicated...
HTH...
No significant hydro options
Site is flat,but trees to south which limits solar. Was wondering about diesel with some storage.
There is a supply to a house opposite, but it’s inadequate for another house. The electric co want a new supply to be undergrounded, which would be very difficult due to ground conditions. I’m not clear why the existing overhead cannot be upgraded.
I would be looking for something like a gas engined CHP with a battery for electric storage and a thermal store for heat storage
CHP = combined heat and power, heat is recovered from the engine, would need either a mains gas supply or an engine configured for propane.
That sounds expensive, and unfortunately gas is even further away!
Wood pellet CHP. Spendy.
You're probably better ponying up for the Connection tbh
You’re probably better ponying up for the Connection tbh
If it's an option, is likely cheapest ongoing.
At least that focuses efforts on getting a grid connection rather than getting diverted looking at 101 alternatives!
Cheers
The electric co want a new supply to be undergrounded, which would be very difficult due to ground conditions. I’m not clear why the existing overhead cannot be upgraded.
(Ignoring the use of the word "undergrounded" eugh!)
Electricity companies have targets for removal of overhead cables (usually by replacing them with underground cables). In situations such as this, if they can get someone else to pay for a buried cable, it counts towards this target at zero cost to them. I think the target is purely the number of metres removed (i.e. without any consideration of the cost, "aesthetic" benefit or the capacity of the supply), so the prospect of someone paying to replace a long, low capacity overhead supply is attractive to them.
I'd keep talking to them. IME they can change their position quite a bit. They may even 'find out' that the existing supply is adequate; decide to replace the overhead supply themselves, whatever. They do seem to have a lot of discretion in how they handle new connections. (Don't piss anybody off!).
That’s interesting thanks. The current supply is verging on inadequate- the lights dim when someone goes on the shower!
As with many things a diplomatic negotiation might get some results.
When we moved to this house the lights would dim when a large draw (like your shower) was switched on.
I spoke to the electricity people, something was done and the problem went away.
If6 suggest doing the same - they have a level of service they are obliged to maintain.
There's a power supply to the house already, it just needs improving.
Sorry, just read it again.... No existing supply.
If it helps the undergrounding allowance was (I think is but I’m not up to date) for National Parks and AONBs and we would expect to agree the particular lines with the relevant authorities eg National Parks people of the like.
As for discretion, I used to run the design team (about 100 white collar engineers) for an electricity company and I am well aware there are rules to be followed. It was sometimes my job to coach my staff in following them properly.
Shark bait - actually there is a house already. Our existing house is at the end of the overhead line. We want to build a new house opposite. The o/h line is barely adequate for the existing house - the lights dim when you turn the shower on, and certainly not adequate for an additional house.
Our existing house is at the end of the overhead line. We want to build a new house opposite.
Hmmm... sounds like you might be struggling on that basis :-/
As others have said you are guaranteed a certain standard of supply according to ESQCR. I'd think if you were experiencing a drop of supply quality when using a shower then it would the be electricity boards responsibility to ensure you have an adequate supply for your current house.if they have to upgrade to ensure this level is met in your current house it may also be adequate for a second home. I'd contact your local network operator and ask some questions.
Thanks, will do
