Without electricity, modern man is like without air, and it doesn’t matter whether he is in a city apartment with an abundance of technology, or in nature. Power outages at the dacha or its complete absence forces you to search. Humanity has not yet come up with so many of the latter: liquid fuel engines, solar panels, wind generators and batteries, if we do not take into account more exotic and sophisticated solutions. All existing methods have drawbacks, but if there is no dacha or plot of land, and construction work and simple household tasks need to be performed, then you will have to choose one, or better yet two (to be on the safe side) the most suitable autonomous options.

What to consider when choosing an autonomous source of electricity?

Many areas of the country, no matter how surprising it may sound, are still not connected to the general power supply system. Others suffer from constant power outages. If there are no power grids in the region, and it’s time to start building a house, what to do: wait until the site is connected to the network or look for alternative solutions? What to do if the electricity goes out in the evenings, sometimes during the day, and often completely unpredictably? Contemplation of the starry sky is, of course, romantic, but it’s already difficult to live without a refrigerator, a light bulb, a pump and other benefits of civilization in the countryside.

Sooner or later, everyone tries to find a way to connect electricity to the site. There is no universal formula for choosing the best source, since There are a lot of factors to consider:

• the size of the country house, the regularity of its visits, the usual and maximum number of people staying in it;
• number of devices consuming energy. It’s one thing if it’s a couple of light bulbs, a socket and a kettle. It is much more difficult to solve the issue of power supply to a country house if there are many powerful electrical appliances in it, ranging from several televisions and a refrigerator, ending with water heaters and pumps;
• features of the region. In windy regions, an expensive, at first glance, windmill will be the most economical and quickly payback source of electricity, but in the Moscow region, for example, wind will no longer be such a profitable source of energy;
• availability of electricity. If there are no power grids at all in the region, and their construction is unlikely to be expected, experts recommend using two sources of autonomous power supply. This advice can be ignored if you rarely appear at the dacha.

Naturally, before choosing the type and power of an autonomous source of electricity, you must carefully calculate the amount of energy consumed. The number of electrical appliances and the characteristics of energy consumers are taken into account. The total power is obtained by adding the needs of everyone and the equipment. It is better to add 15-30% to the obtained value in order to be on the safe side and not be afraid to turn on a new device. It should be remembered that to ensure maximum longevity, it is better for the generator to operate at 80% of its capacity.

No. 1. Generator for a summer residence: petrol, diesel, gas

The simplest and most popular way to solve the problem of electricity on a plot of land is to use fuel power generator. Essentially, this is a miniature power plant that operates completely autonomously and converts the energy of fuel combustion into electricity. Gasoline and diesel, less often gas, are used as fuel. To produce 1 kW/hour of energy, on average, 0.25 to 0.5 liters of fuel will be required.

Using generators The easiest way to organize power supply at home is: I bought it, connected it and can use it, just don’t forget to add fuel on time. This is the main thing advantage. The main disadvantage is the need to constantly buy fuel, and if the house is large and there are a lot of electrical appliances in it, then the costs will be significant. In addition, the generator itself also costs money, and the higher its power, the higher the price. But if you compare it with a windmill or solar panel, the generator will, of course, be cheaper.

When the generator is a backup energy source, it is important that it not only turns on in time, but also turns off in a timely manner so that there is no collision between two counter flows of charged electrons. To avoid troubles, an algorithm for turning on the generator in has long been developed. If there is no central power supply network, then it is recommended to use two generators: one is the main one, the second is a backup one and comes into operation when the first one runs out of fuel. Alternating operation of two generators significantly increases the service life of each.

The fuel the generator runs on determines its power, durability, noise level, and operating costs.

Diesel generator for a summer residence

Diesel power generators are best suitable for permanent work. Long continuous operation is ensured by the presence of a water cooling system. Among others his benefits:

Among the disadvantages:

Gasoline generator for a summer residence

A gasoline generator is better suited in cases where When the site is used from time to time. It can also work as a backup power source when the site is connected to the public network. In a small dacha with a minimal set of electrical appliances, a gasoline generator performs best. The power of gas generators is usually no higher than 7-9 kW (but you can find models with 15 and even 20 kW), and they cannot work longer than 8 hours continuously - they get very hot.

Advantages:

Minuses:

• low efficiency;
• high cost of gasoline.

The noise level from a diesel and gasoline generator depends on the type of housing and the speed at which the generator operates: a device with 1500 rpm will produce significantly lower noise than a similar power one with 3000 rpm, but it will also cost more .

Gas generator for a summer residence

Gas generators allow you to obtain the cheapest energy, while The efficiency of their work is the highest, and the noise is minimal. The power can reach 24 kW, the generator can operate around the clock, and gas will be cheaper than gasoline and diesel fuel. It’s just that such devices have not yet become widespread, since they cost a lot, are complicated to operate and require connection to a gas pipeline, which is not available everywhere. However, some summer residents connect such generators to gas cylinders.

No. 2. Solar panels for a summer residence

The main disadvantage of fuel generators is the need to constantly buy fuel for them. Generators that use free energy available to everyone do not have this drawback. This is the energy of the sun and wind. To generate electricity, they also use geothermal energy, as well as water energy, but these options are unlikely to be suitable for powering a summer cottage.

Quite simply, then principle of operation of solar panels consists in knocking out electrons from semiconductors located in a photocell by photons of light, and the directed flow of electrons, as known from a school physics course, is electricity. To ensure the generation of electricity from sunlight, its accumulation and further use for domestic purposes A whole range of equipment is required:

It’s better to take all the elements together – it will be much easier.

Prices for solar panels vary greatly depending on their type, size, power and manufacturer's name. Of course, everyone wants to achieve maximum productivity and energy independence for their money, so it is necessary to carefully study the nuances of the weather in the region, and also understand what type of solar cells is best suited for a particular area:

Whatever option you choose, solar panels are always a lot of advantages:

• the opportunity to obtain a full-fledged source of electricity, and solar energy is obtained free of charge. In developed countries, households sell surplus energy to energy companies. The first steps in this direction are already being taken in the domestic space, although the phenomenon is still far from widespread;
• no monthly payments for electricity;
• long service life;
• environmental friendliness.

Minuses, of course, are present. Firstly, it is impossible to use solar energy as a full-fledged source of electricity in regions with a large number of cloudy days a year. Snow can also become a nuisance, so you will have to constantly clear it off. In addition, you will need a lot of space for the entire set of home solar power plants: these are the batteries themselves and the equipment for them. As for the cost, it is initially high, but in the end it completely pays off.

When choosing solar panels, pay attention to:

• power. Depends on the needs of a particular home and the characteristics of the region;
• battery life directly affects the length of the period during which it will be possible to receive electricity in inclement weather;
• performance class. It is better to take class A batteries;
• manufacturer's name. The products of such companies as Sunpower, Sanyo, Jinko Solar have proven themselves well.

Calculation of required power– this is a painstaking task and requires knowledge of a lot of precise parameters. To estimate approximately what batteries you will need and get an idea of ​​the price, you can do a simple, but very approximate calculation:

To obtain accurate calculations it is necessary explore weather diaries in the region for the number of cloudy and sunny days in recent years in a particular month. Only after this will it be possible to judge the parameters of the batteries and the payback. In most cases, even a large reserve does not make it possible to use solar energy as a full-fledged source of electricity in winter, so backup power from a gas generator will be required.

No. 3. Wind generator for a summer residence

Another free source of electricity is wind, but, like the sun's rays, it is inconsistent. Main advantages, as with photocells, is the absence of the need to constantly purchase fuel and the environmental friendliness of the resulting energy. Minuses: high cost of construction, the need to install not only the wind generator itself, but also additional equipment (inverter and batteries with controllers).

At dachas today they install two type of wind turbines:

The main question facing those who decide to install a wind turbine is not even its type, but its power. To answer the question, it's worth take into account generated, accumulated and consumed energy. Therefore, it is important to calculate how much energy is consumed, for example, per day, what is the average and peak load. It is necessary to take into account the average wind speed, the number of days when the wind speed is above 5 m/s (the most favorable), as well as the maximum duration of calm weather.

In practice, it turns out that weak winds of 2-3 m/s do not provide enough energy. Therefore, experienced summer residents advise stocking up on high-capacity batteries in order to accumulate the energy received on windy days and use it during periods of calm and weak winds.

No. 4. Inverter batteries for summer cottages

Batteries can be used to store energy from various types of generators, but sometimes used as an independent source of energy. Naturally, you shouldn’t consider this option as a way to constantly power the area with electricity, but as a he'll go back up. If suddenly the lights are turned off, the fuel for the generator runs out, or there are no sunny days for a long time, then the minimum required set of electrical appliances will be able to be powered.

The inverter battery is connected to the general electrical system of the house, it is charged from the central power supply network, and when power outages occur, it releases energy itself.

The parameters of the battery are selected depending on the needs, taking into account how much energy the electrical appliances in the house consume and for how long a power outage is possible. For example, if you need a battery that will provide 3 kW of electricity, and taking into account the conversion losses in the inverter (10%) this is 3.3 kW, with an output voltage of 12 V, you will need a battery of 275 A*h or 2 of 150 A*h. When choosing a battery, consider the number of charge/discharge cycles (the more, the better), give preference to models with the longest service life and better not use car batteries, despite the fact that in all respects they seem to be suitable - for their safe operation you need specific conditions.

Finally

To obtain energy, mini-hydroelectric power stations are also equipped, but this requires access to a source of water, so this method has not found widespread use. If the country house is used all year round, then it’s better to invest in a wind generator or solar panels (whichever is more profitable), and insure yourself with a fuel generator. If the cottage is used from time to time, then you can only get by with a generator, and if there is still electricity at the site, but it is simply supplied according to a schedule or intermittently, then the option is a battery or a gasoline generator.

Content:

Without reliable power supply, normal operation of communications and life support systems in private homes is impossible. This is especially true for pumping systems for supplying water and other equipment. However, it is not possible to connect to a central electricity supply everywhere, so many owners prefer to use an autonomous power supply for a private home, which solves all problems. Autonomous systems are characterized by stable voltage, the absence of short circuits, and the ability to fully control the production and supply of electricity.

Requirements for autonomous power supply

One of the conditions for the normal life support of a private home is considered to be a stable, uninterrupted supply of electricity to all installed household appliances and equipment. These requirements are fully met by autonomous power supply sources that stably generate electricity, regardless of any external factors. When choosing one option or another, it is necessary to take into account the degree of influence of autonomous systems on the environment.

The final choice of an autonomous source of electricity is made in accordance with the total power of consumers in the house. These are heat and water supply systems with pumping equipment, air conditioners, various types of large and small household appliances. Regardless of the power of consumers, general requirements are imposed on the power supply network.

It is mandatory to preliminarily determine the total power, which is compared with the capabilities of the selected autonomous power supply system. It is recommended to increase this figure by about 15-25% so that in the future it is possible to increase electricity consumption.

The requirements for the system and its technical characteristics completely depend on the further use and assigned tasks. That is, it can be completely autonomous power supply or only a backup source of electricity that operates during a shutdown of the central network. In the second case, the duration of operation of the backup system during the absence of main electricity must be established.

The choice of one or another autonomous system must be made taking into account the real financial capabilities of the home owners. The project budget determines the cost of the equipment purchased, as well as the work performed. Many people try to create an autonomous power supply for a country house with their own hands, but in these cases, special knowledge of theory and practice, skills in working with tools, and some experience in installing such systems are required. Poor quality assembly will lead to unstable operation of expensive equipment and its rapid failure.

Advantages and disadvantages of autonomous systems

The advantage of most such systems is considered to be free electricity obtained in an alternative way. This results in significant savings in money and complete independence from centralized supply.

Thanks to preliminary calculations and design taking into account the total power of consumers, it is possible to achieve high quality of produced electrical energy. Voltage surges and unscheduled outages from the network are completely eliminated. The equipment of autonomous systems itself is of high quality and very rarely breaks down or fails.

There are several special programs under which part of excess electricity can be sold to the state. The solution to this issue begins at the design stage of an autonomous power supply, where possible surpluses are provided for in advance. In addition, permitting documentation will be required confirming the production of electricity of the established quality and in the required quantity.

However, autonomous systems have certain disadvantages, primarily associated with the high cost of equipment and significant operating costs. Therefore, when choosing basic equipment and additional materials, you need to take into account all factors so that the system works for the specified period and fully pays for itself. For this purpose, it is recommended to carry out regular preventive inspection and maintenance with the assistance of qualified specialists.

Each autonomous power supply system has its own advantages and disadvantages, which are most clearly manifested in specific operating conditions.

Gasoline and diesel generators

Any types of generators can be used as main or backup power sources. In the second case, they are used when there is no electricity in the central network. These units are widely used in dachas and country houses, where power outages often occur. With the help of generators, it is possible to create a reliable, autonomous power supply for a private home, allowing you to maintain comfortable conditions in any situation. The modern market presents a large number of gasoline and diesel generators, each of which has certain advantages and disadvantages.

The main advantages of gasoline units are their relatively small size, ensuring compactness and mobility. They are characterized by low noise levels, economical fuel consumption, and easy engine starting in cold weather. The relatively low price is of great importance. Some gas generators are equipped with fuel tanks with increased volume, protective covers from noise and bad weather, starters and a system.

As a disadvantage, we can note the weak power of gasoline generators, which does not exceed 15 kW. All lighting devices, household appliances and equipment must have a total power not exceeding the parameters of the generator. Gasoline units can operate continuously from 4 to 11 hours at 100% load. If the load is reduced to 75%, the operating time increases. For previously known high loads, the use of a diesel generator is recommended.

Diesel units have a higher service life and power; they can be operated continuously for a long time. One of the main advantages is considered to be economical fuel consumption. However, compared to gasoline generators, diesel generators are larger in size and are much more expensive. To start them in cold weather, mandatory preheating is required. Such installations have proven themselves well in conditions of continuous long-term operation, when significant savings in diesel fuel become noticeable.

Therefore, when deciding which generator to choose, gasoline or diesel, you must first take into account the specific operating conditions. If installation is required from time to time, you can completely get by with a gasoline unit. However, constant power supply is provided only by a diesel generator.

Pros and cons of solar panels

The use of solar panels is possible at any time of the year. However, they can work most efficiently only under clear, cloudless skies and direct sunlight on the work surface. In cloudy weather, electrical energy continues to be generated, but not in such quantities due to a sharp decrease in the performance of solar panels.

After electrical energy has been produced, it must be conveyed to the consumer. In this regard, in addition to the batteries themselves, special additional equipment will be required:

• . This device converts the 12-24 V DC generated by solar panels into 50 Hz AC, suitable for powering household appliances and equipment.
• Set of batteries. Solar energy production does not occur evenly. During peak hours there is too much electricity, and in the evening and at night no electricity is generated at all. A certain amount of electricity is accumulated in batteries during daylight hours, after which it is distributed to consumers at night. It is not recommended to use ordinary car batteries, which fail after 2-3 years of operation.
• Controller. Ensures that the battery is fully charged and prevents overcharging and boiling.

All components together form a kind of solar power plant. The selection of necessary equipment is carried out depending on the needs and the number of operating electrical appliances. Therefore, a complete list of them should be determined in advance, taking into account the feasibility of using each device and the possibility of alternative replacement. For example, instead of an electric kettle, you can use a gas stove.

After determining the minimum list of loads, solar panels with the appropriate power are selected. It must be taken into account that an autonomous power supply system at home with their help does not solve all power supply problems. Solar panels are installed not to save energy resources, but to ensure comfortable living in the absence of centralized electricity supplies. Due to the high cost of equipment, one kilowatt of generated energy is also not cheap and amounts to approximately 25 rubles. This is several times higher than the cost of electricity produced centrally. Reducing costs is only possible if prices for equipment are low, which is not yet feasible in the near future.

Use of wind generators

Until recently, wind generators in private homes were more exotic than a permanent source of energy supply. However, nowadays they are increasingly found in suburban areas.

The principle of operation of these devices is as follows: due to the wind flow, the blades mounted on the generator shaft rotate. As a result, alternating current is generated. The resulting electricity goes to batteries, where it is accumulated and stored, and then, if necessary, supplied to household appliances as power. This operating scheme is simple and very conditional, since in real conditions, devices and equipment are needed that convert electric current.

A controller is installed in the electrical circuit after the generator, which is involved in converting alternating current into direct current, necessary for charging the batteries. However, household appliances cannot operate on direct current, so an inverter is installed after the battery, which performs the reverse operation of converting direct current into alternating current, with a voltage of 220 volts. These transformations lead to losses of generated electricity in the amount of 15-20%. If the wind generator is used in conjunction with other devices, the electrical circuit is supplemented by an automatic reserve input, switching them among themselves as needed.

To obtain maximum power, the generator blades must be placed along the wind flow according to the principle of a weather vane. For this purpose, the vertical blade is fixed at the end opposite to the blades. Under the influence of wind, it ensures that the generator turns in the desired direction. Rotary electric motors are installed on high-power units.

Inverters in private homes

Inverters can only be used as an additional backup power source in the presence of a centralized power supply. In the event of a power failure from the external network, all devices and equipment installed in the house switch to operation from the batteries of the uninterruptible power supply. After the power supply is restored, all consumers are reconnected to the external network.

An integrated uninterruptible power supply is an inverter that converts the DC voltage of the batteries into an alternating voltage of 220V. The batteries themselves produce 12 or 24 volts. During the period of centralized power supply, the inverter again switches to battery charging mode from the external network. Thus, it constantly maintains standby mode and monitors the drop in external voltage. In the event of a power outage, it almost instantly picks up the load drop and prevents devices from shutting down.

Inverters can charge batteries not only from an external network, but also from other power sources - generators, solar panels, wind generators and others. Modern inverter installations are capable of providing electricity to any home appliances. With their help, the functionality of lighting, water supply and heating systems is maintained. Power and various communications are provided - Internet, telephone and others.

Inverters do not require special rooms equipped with ventilation, they do not create noise, and do not require constant maintenance. They are more resistant to overloads when switching powerful devices. All these advantages ensure stable and flawless operation of all connected equipment.

The cost of electricity supplied by central networks is growing from year to year, but its quality is not getting better. There are still power outages in rural areas. And today we will look at options for autonomous energy supply for a country house.

If within the city limits the problem of providing your living space with electricity arises only periodically, then with a country house everything is much more complicated - utility networks are often damaged as a result of natural phenomena and the actions of non-ferrous metal hunters. You can, of course, return to the decisions of the beginning of the last century, namely kerosene lamps and torches, after all, go to bed at sunset, but we are already accustomed to the benefits of civilization, inextricably linked with electricity. Let's consider the issue of energy independence of a country cottage from unreliable central communications.

Ways to power your home

Owning a house in a rural area, at a considerable distance from industrial centers, is attractive from the standpoint of silence, clean air, surrounded by natural nature. However, there are situations when household appliances in such a house refuse to work due to lower or excessively high voltage in the electrical network than the nominal (220 V) - and the differences can exceed 10%, established by GOST 13109-97.

The problem with the lack of voltage lies in the significant length of wire communications through which electric current is supplied to the houses - the further the cottage is from the transformer substation, the more the voltage drops due to the resistance of the wires. During the day, the voltage in rural areas changes relative to the nominal due to insufficient power of transformer substations and electrical networks - it is lower during the day, because at this time there are the largest number of electricity consumers, but at night it rises sharply, since at this time consumption is minimal.

Power surges can cause household appliances to fail—to put it simply, they burn out. Modern household appliances, especially those made in Europe, are designed for 10% voltage drops in the electrical network, but no more, and in rural areas 20-30% surges are quite possible.

You can compensate for fluctuations in the electrical network using stabilizers, but in the event of a critical voltage drop (more than 45%), even the best of them will not help. Devices are required that can provide power to household appliances in the absence of electricity from central networks. Their choice is determined by the purposes for which the equipment will be used - backup power supply, additional or main.

Equipment for backup power supply is activated automatically or manually by its owner when the power supply from the central network is interrupted or when there is a critical voltage drop in it - it is capable of maintaining the operation of household appliances for a limited time until the power supply is restored.

Additional (mixed) power supply is necessary in cases where the existing voltage in the network is insufficient, and households intend to use energy-intensive household appliances.

If the cottage cannot be connected to central networks, as well as when the quality of the power supply is constantly low, equipment for autonomous power supply is needed, acting as the main supplier of electricity.

To simplify the task assigned to backup and additional power supply equipment, it will be convenient to divide household appliances in the house into three groups:

1. The first will contain electrical appliances, the uninterrupted operation of which is not required and you can get by with the main source of power supply. These include underfloor heating systems or wall-mounted infrared panels, electric saunas, groups of lamps designed for different lighting scenarios, etc.
2. The second group includes household appliances that provide comfortable living conditions for household members - basic lighting, air conditioners, kitchen appliances, televisions, audio equipment. Household appliances from this group require backup power.
3. Electrical appliances included in the third group are vital - emergency lighting, security and fire alarm systems, electronic locks, heating boilers controlled by automation, well pumps, etc. Full operation of equipment from the third group is possible only with an uninterrupted power supply provided additional or backup sources are mandatory.

Grouping household electricity consumers will allow you to correctly select the power of electricity-generating equipment, assess actual needs and not overpay for an overly powerful one, or purchase a clearly weak model.

Any equipment for autonomous power supply is not capable of producing electricity from nothing - it requires initial resources, which are divided into renewable and non-renewable. We explore the types of devices that generate electricity, depending on the resources consumed.

Non-renewable energy sources

Autonomous energy supply to the home using equipment that consumes petroleum products or natural gas and generates electricity is most popular among owners of suburban real estate due to its wide popularity. However, only generators running on gasoline or diesel fuel are popular; less is known about the rest.

Gasoline electric generators. Small size and weight, cheaper than diesel ones. But they are not capable of supplying electricity uninterruptedly - their operating duration is no more than 6 hours in a row (motor life is about 4 months), i.e. gasoline generators are designed for periodic operation and are suitable in cases where the supply of electricity from the main supplier is interrupted for a period of about 2 -5 hours and only from time to time. Such generators are suitable only as a backup source of electricity.

Diesel generators. They are massive, large and expensive, but their power and service life are significantly higher than those of gasoline models. Despite the significant cost, diesel generators are more profitable to operate than gasoline generators - cheap diesel fuel and uninterrupted operation for over 2 years, i.e. this electric generator can operate for days and months on end, subject to timely refueling. Diesel fuel generators are suitable as a backup, additional and main supplier of electricity.

Gas power generators. Their weight, size and cost are close to gasoline units of the same power. They run on propane, butane and natural gas, but are more efficient on the first two types of gaseous fuel. Despite the continuous operation period similar to gasoline generators—no more than 6 hours—gas power generators have a longer service life, averaging about a year. Gas generators are suitable as the main source of electricity with great reservations, but for a backup supplier of electricity they are quite suitable.

Cogenerators or mini-CHP. If we compare them with the electric generators described above, they have two significant advantages: they are able to produce not only electrical, but also thermal energy; have a long working life with uninterrupted use, averaging 4 years. Depending on the model, cogenerators operate on diesel, gaseous and solid fuel. Having significant dimensions, weight and cost, mini-CHPs are not suitable for supplying energy to one house outside the city, since their electrical power starts from 70 kW - thanks to one such installation, the issue of year-round provision of electricity and heat to a village of several houses can be completely resolved.

Battery-based uninterruptible power supplies.By and large, theydo not belong to generating sets, because they are not capable of independently generating electricity, only accumulating and delivering it to the consumer. The energy intensity of a UPS is determined by the capacity and number of batteries in the complex; depending on this and the number of electricity consumers, the battery life of the UPS can range from several hours to several days. The service life of one UPS set is on average 6-8 years.

Renewable Energy

In the natural environment of our planet, sources of energy are constantly present or arise periodically, the production of which is not related to human activity - wind, water flow in rivers, radiation from the sun.

They are capable of converting wind energy into electricity, but at a fairly high cost, the efficiency of wind generators does not exceed 30%. The service life of wind generators is about 20 years, the continuity of electricity generation depends on the intensity of the wind. These installations can be considered as a full-fledged source of power supply only if they are equipped with a UPS, as well as a backup electric generator (gasoline, diesel) in case of no wind.

Solar panels. They absorb the sun's energy and convert it into electricity. And if the winds blow at an inconsistent speed, then the sun's rays illuminate the Earth during every daylight hours. The efficiency of solar panels is about 20%, service life is 20 years. As in the case of wind generators, solar installations must be equipped with a UPS. The need for a backup generator depends on the intensity of solar radiation in a given area - in areas with a sufficient number of sunny days, an additional generator will not be needed and they can be used as the main source of electricity.

Mini-hydroelectric power station. Water energy, compared to wind and solar, is much more stable - if the first two sources are unstable (night, calm), then water in streams and rivers flows at any time of the year. The cost of equipment for mini-hydroelectric power stations is higher than that of wind generators and solar panels due to a more complex design, because a water-based electric generator operates in aggressive conditions. The efficiency of mini-hydroelectric power plants is about 40-50%, and their service life is over 50 years. A mini-hydroelectric power station is capable of uninterruptedly supplying electricity to several houses at once for a full year.

Having read the recommendation about dividing household appliances into groups according to importance, all that remains is to figure out how exactly to select the power of the electric generator for appliances from one or more groups. The simplest way is to sum up the rated power of household appliances, for example: microwave - 0.9 kW; mixer - 0.4 kW; electric kettle - 2 kW; washing machine - 2.2 kW; energy-saving lamp - on average 0.02 kW; TV - 0.15 kW; satellite dish - 0.03 kW, etc. If we add up the powers of the listed household appliances, we get an energy consumption of 5.7 kW/h - does this mean that we will need an electric generator with a capacity of at least 7.5 kW (with a 30% power reserve) ? Not at all, because this equipment does not work all the time, i.e. you should also take into account its approximate operating time, for example: washing machine - 3 hours per week; electric kettle - 10 minutes for each boiling of water; microwave oven - 10 minutes to heat one serving of food; mixer - 10 minutes; energy-saving lamp - about 5 hours a day, etc. It turns out that to provide electricity to the household appliances described as an example, a generator with a power of about 3 kW is sufficient; you just need to not turn on the equipment at the same time, distribute the load on the generator over time.

The choice of one or another type of electric generator, especially one powered by renewable energy sources, primarily depends on the availability of initial fuel resources. For example, a gas generator requires a stable supply of liquefied natural gas, i.e., it requires cylinders or a gas holder tank, and for efficient energy supply using solar panels, a sufficient number of sunny days per year is required.

Video on the topic

The issue of independently providing your home with electricity is becoming more acute every year. Therefore, we propose to consider how to make a backup autonomous power supply with your own hands and how quickly its price will pay off.

What are the types of autonomous power supply systems?

The electricity needed to power a home must be generated endlessly and under any conditions; this is the key to normal life. The energy source should preferably be renewable and harmless to the environment or people working under it. Basic energy sources include:

1. biomass,
2. water,
3. geothermal energy,
4. wind,
5. solar energy.

Autonomous solar power supply for a country house, cottage, apartment, cottage, garage

Solar energy is often used to produce electricity. Two typical methods for converting solar energy into electricity are:

1. Photovoltaic cells, which are organized in panels and work to concentrate solar energy, using mirrors to generate sunlight in a specific direction, or to heat a liquid that passes through the steam turbines of an electric generator or heat engine,
2. Photo cells. The energy created by photovoltaic cells (placed on the roof) is direct current and must be converted to alternating current before it can be used in the household. Solar power supplies are off-grid devices that have the potential to be more cost effective than retrofitted solar power sources.

The disadvantage is that they can interrupt their work during the day and are quite difficult to repair or clean from dirt. Modern solar cells last about 40 years, making them a smart investment in many applications. This is the most profitable option for automating your home yourself, which we wrote about in detail in the article about solar panels.

Often, batteries, AC/DC welding inverters or a cogenerator are used to enable individual power and heat supply to accumulate direct current. To get the most out of a solar panel, the sun's Watt angle should be between 20-50 degrees. Solar energy passing through photovoltaic cells is an expensive way to develop renewable energy sources, but the safest and most uninterrupted.

Advantages:

1. Can be portable;
2. Easy to use on an individual basis;
3. No special documents are needed for permission to use;
4. Can be installed almost anywhere, although hot and dry areas are most beneficial.

The use of powerful solar stations is effective in large-scale production conditions. So the payback will come in the next few years. On average, to install one solar battery you need to spend up to 5 thousand dollars, to install a station - up to 15.

Wind energy

Where there is no sun, there is wind. Wind energy is taken through turbines installed on tall towers (usually from 3 meters to 6 meters with a diameter of up to 3 cm), thanks to which autonomous wind turbines use an inverter to process energy and supply electricity to the home. As a rule, they require an average wind speed of 14 km/h, but provide energy to themselves and nearby buildings for an unlimited period of time.

Wind turbines in urban areas must be installed at least 10m in the air to receive enough wind and to be protected from nearby obstacles (neighboring apartment building, garage, etc.). Installation of a wind turbine may also require permission from the authorities. Wind turbines have been criticized for the noise they make, their appearance, and the argument that they can affect bird migration (their blades can obstruct the passage of birds in the sky).

Wind-powered autonomous uninterrupted power supply is much more realistic for a private country house than for an apartment. They are one of the most cost-effective forms of renewable energy sources and rank first among similar devices in terms of return on investment.

If wind energy is not suitable, but there is a river flowing nearby or there is simply a lake, then we recommend using water energy sources for autonomous power supply. On a large scale, hydroelectricity, in the form of dams, has adverse environmental and social consequences. But given the small scope of the project, this is a fairly realistic and profitable option.

A single water turbine, or even a group of individual turbines, is not environmentally or socially destructive. On an individual household basis, single turbines are the only economically available route (but can have high payback periods and are one of the most efficient methods of producing renewable energy). It is more common for an eco-village to use this method rather than a special family. Power supply using a water generator is an autonomous supply of light and heat to any building (cottage or apartment).

Microturbines are very easy to operate; installation documents will cost $1,000; the mechanisms themselves will cost $2,000-6,000.

Geothermal energy sources

Geothermal energy production involves controlling hot water or steam below the earth's surface, in bodies of water, to produce energy. Since the hot liquid or condensate used when reinjecting into the reservoir is constant, this source is considered the most stable.

However, those planning to generate electricity from temperature changes need to be aware that there are differences in the lifespan of each geothermal reservoir. Some scientists believe that their lifespan is naturally limited—they take a period of time to cool down, making geothermal energy production ultimately impossible. This method is often used by large-scale production, enterprises that require drilling equipment.

Video: Autonomous power supply for the home

These drills have small geothermal mechanisms that sense the depth of the drill and the temperature of the Earth's crust. When heat is received and sent to the W system's geothermal heat pumps located inside the shelter or facility, the generator and energy conversion units are started.

Geothermal energy is available everywhere on Earth, especially the Philippines, Hawaii, Alaska, Iceland, California and Nevada use this energy to operate thermal power plants.

Biomass and energy

Biomass power is any biological material (W cake, biogas, manure, W straw, vegetable oil, wood, etc.) that is burned as fuel. The only drawback of the method is the carbon footprint after combustion, as well as the release of sulfur and nitrogen compounds into the atmosphere.

Previously, many power plants and boiler houses operated by converting heat energy into current, for example, diesel locomotives and hospital heat generators. In this way, with the correct selection of fuel and equipment, it is possible to effectively provide lighting to several areas of the city and production facilities.

Heat is generated because biological material, when burned, releases the same amount of carbon dioxide as it consumes over its lifetime. This is not a very economically profitable way to independently supply a home with electricity. Fuel is expensive, and so are gas generators.

Autonomous diesel and gas power supply in this case will be profitable and payable only if you use already processed waste and energy sources, say, methane, propane, humus, etc. This is the so-called hybrid energy supply. Its main advantage is that, thanks to a wide range of fuels, the generated energy can vary from 1 mW to tens of kW.

You can buy devices for creating an autonomous power supply system or ready-made devices in almost all major cities of Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Russia: Moscow, Kyiv, Kharkov, Voronezh, Yekaterinburg, Almaty, Tver, St. Petersburg and others.

Profitable or not

To accurately answer the question of how profitable the scheme for autonomous power supply at home is, you need to make a calculation. Ready-made systems (even made in China, for example by xantrex) for providing energy will cost more than a home-made device. Let's assume that we spent $1000 on everything, but we pay $30 per month for light. It turns out that on average our installation will pay for itself within almost 3 years.