Residential PV/Wind Hybrid Power System

[Nenad Budisavljevic]

Martin, as a new member I would like to congratulate you on your Youtube PV power series of videos...Fabulous!.  I live on Toronto, Ontario,  Canada, and have been considering a PV power system (either on or off grid, preferrably off grid).  I have followed your series and found it eye opening in general, in particualar in terms of the "power loss" potential within a system and the design/components necessary to cost effectively mitigate those loses.  My preference for off grid would be predicated on the following key business case elements;

In my jurisdiction going off grid would eliminate the ever escalating recurring monthly costs of

1/ electricity grid connection (approximately 50% or your monthly bill not including commodity usage).
2/ natural gas grid connection (approxiamtely 50% of your monthly bill not including commodity usage).
3/ Average 1500 kwh electricty usage / month based on very similar load inputs/devices inlcuding  (clothes washer, dryer, air conditioner and pool pump) to what you have used for your home.

The natural gas usage  is for household forced air furnace heat during the winter months and hot water tank heating year round which would be fairly typical in North America

Question:

1/  Would it be cost effective in this scenario to introduce roof mounted wind turbine(s) to augment PV power generation during low light/night power usage in lieu of large energy storage system?  In so doing going off grid would require a combination hydronic water to water and air heat pump with radiant floor heating.  My roof can only accomodate approxiamately 28 - 250 watt mono panels on the south sun facing exposure.

2/  Can you discuss the merits / pro's / con's  of new Concetrated PV systems coming on to the market i.e. Morgan Solar?

Thank you

[MJLorton]

Thanks very much for the message.

I certainly commend you for considering the move to go off grid as I think it holds many more benefits than may at first be apparent.

I wish I could provide some better input to your first question. I'm very keen to investigate and research the best ways of powering a home and storing energy if required. I have no experience with wind power generation and this is an area I will look at as soon as we are out of rented accommodation and in our own home....soon, I hope!

I had a good look at what Morgan is doing and it looks very interesting and exciting...if they can get it off the ground. There have been quite a few researchers (one notably in South Africa) that say they are on the verge of some break through solar technology....that never comes to pass...notably...the South African!

This should not stop folks like Morgan doing what they do...as one day one of them will bring some fine technology to the market that changes the game.

Until then there are some other "new" (ish) technologies to consider (and I hope to play with soon...):

Do a search for "solaredge power optimizer versus enphase mini inverters" on Google...this should provide so interesting reading...
 
Cheers,
Martin.