18 Months with OFF GRID Solar - Worth It? - #29
2024 ж. 22 Мам.
59 846 Рет қаралды
We've been off-grid on solar for a year and a half. Has it worked? Have we had to change our behaviour? Do we use more or less power than we used to? How much do we need to use a backup generator?
We'll answer all these questions and discuss some of our future plans for upgrades and expansion.
Our Solar Setup:
2400kW of solar panels
3-string DC combiner box
Victron MPPT Solar Charge Controller 150V | 60A
Victron Multiplus II 48V | 5kVA | 70A inverter / charger
Victron Cerbo GX communications system
4 Pylontech US2000 batteries | 9.6kWh of battery storage
Total system cost: €6250
MOSA GE-4000 3kVA generator | Honda petrol engine - additional €770
The supplier of solar kit we used in Portugal: www.solarshop.pt
I have absolutely no intention of living off-grid but I am thoroughly enjoying your video presentations. They are so very educational.
I agree. It rains about 366 days/year where I live so unfortunately solar just isn't much of a thing here. Doesn't mean I don't enjoy these types of videos.
same!
Victron , expensive but awesome stuff.
You can be paid by the eletricity you inject in the grid im Portugal. I have a setup that was instaled ~1.5 years. The process to get that contract is not Simple but it's possible.
Hi we have lived in Portugal for 3.8 years and we worked out with our average bill of €35 a month it would take 14 years to break even 🤔 I’m enjoying your journey 💫
Love Victron products. Been using their solar system for 8 years now. Only have grid tie-in for electric geyser and oven when needed and a generator. I use gas for stove and water heating. 19kg gas bottle lasts 5 months with daily cooking and boiling kettle. Pump system for water via 5000lt tank. 20 x 250w panels, Victron Quatro 8000w Inverter, 2 charge controllers and 3 x 6.3Kwh Blue Nova batteries. South Africa is known for it's load shedding and water problems.
A few things to consider about solar. In your case you are not restricted by a roof or other structure, so you can look at all kinds of interesting things before installing them. For example : The optimum tilt angle is calculated by adding 15 degrees to your latitude during winter, and subtracting 15 degrees from your latitude during summer. For instance, if your latitude is 34°, the optimum tilt angle for your solar panels during winter will be 34 + 15 = 49°. But this is then only valid on a south-facing setup. Also, it can make sense to orient the panels east/west rather than south-facing. East-facing panels will produce more energy in the morning, and west-facing more energy in the late afternoon. With respect to energy autonomy, the goal is not to produce the maximum but what is needed. Or in your case, you could orient part of the panels in all 3 directions. Or even better if your setup is flexible, you could experiment with orientation, if you have the tools to really measure production.
Off grid solar is the best thing ever. Keep extra parts, learn to use it, and keep expectations real and its great. Over build if you can afford to and enjoy it as a hobby.. thats what i do and i love it
Hi! I also live in Central Portugal. In your idea of the Pergola for cars, I advise you that the entrance is opposite to the solar orientation of the panels. Thus, your parked vehicles have more shade. All be well.
Are you considering a dump load water heater? With so much excess solar during the day that would allow you to have free hot water for most of the year which will be a big help. Much cheaper than a secondary solar thermal system or using battery power with an on demand heater
Yep, the air source heat pump (powered by solar) will heat our water, for domestic hw as well as underfloor heating. It’ll also have smart tech so it knows not to run in the night unless the tank hits some absolute minimum temp
It only takes 1/5th the energy to heat sand as it does to heat water. The 500c sand battery will be the heat source for the in-floor radiant heating home, swimming pool and water heater.
I heat all my water with PV resistive as a dump load. There are always moments when you can grab excess power and use it. HPWH is not a dump load. I even have a 40 gallon tank in the garage just for laundry, all cycles use hot water. This is technology you can't currently buy, but it is super cheap to do. Why buy bigger inverters and batteries just to heat water. It is amazing just how much power solar systems waste each day. I have hot water and I didn't have to increase my array to do it.
@@sunworksco how does that work ? Surely the only significant factor is energy density and the relative usefulness of the operating temperature ? And how are you going to heat anything to 500C from a heat pump ?
@@yangtse55 We don’t use heat pumps
Suggestion; don't make the carport open to the south. If you don't get much ice, it would be better to have the shade in the summer. Your panels won't care which orientation they are on. Love this - looking at solar power to run a heat pump - moving to a place that has constant power outages in winter.
KYLIE & GUY, YOU BOTH ARE TWO OF THE MOST HARD-WORKING, DILIGENT & DEDICATED (CAN I USE THE WORD) 'EXPATS' ON YT...KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK ON YOUR LAND & QUINTA...ALL THE BEST...🙏;)
In the first seconds of this video we have a sighting of the famous almost extinct Central Portugal Leopard!
In the first few seconds...actually. I am looking, 👀 . Help me out please😃PS. Thanks! Got it, far left, almost off screen. How close was that to Guy!!
😂 it's their cat!
@@happycamper4329 🤣🤣
Regarding the hemp walls. There is a KZhead channel called "de hoeve Old Belgian Farm". Episodes 83, 84 and 85 show the hemp wall installation instruction by the manufacturer's rep, and then homeowners Marina and Ilia installing the walls. May be of interest.
At the end of a bulgarian village, it feels different. No more flickering lights, no more power outages :-)
You could increase your solar production by getting the best angle for panels, your latitude 34.999, add 15 degrees for summer and subtract 15 for winter. Just curious what your angle is now. Martin from sunny South Africa.
This series of videos would be very valuable for anyone who is planning to relocate to Portugal or any similar place. You have detailed everything that you have done, including all the things you've purchased and built to make independent living not only possible but actually comfortable. You've shown us your experiments, including the things that didn't work as planned! There are others who have posted videos in the same vein, but they've glossed over a lot of details and raise more questions than they answer. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I sit here in a very different part of the world, far beyond the age where I could do what you're doing, but these videos allow me to work along with you!
MAKE. DIG? DO. GROW.
My suggestion on solar would be east-west orientation on dual tilt stands with the angles to maximize sun in early hours and later daytime in winter. Use the very good european union PVGIS tool to calculate your needs (PHOTOVOLTAIC GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM). So two (or multiple of that) strings - one MPPT to the east...one to the west. With direct south you have so much overproduktion in portugal that you can't store or use. I'd rather overpanel a little bit east/west (panels and rigs are "cheap") instead of investing in even more battery storage. You can always add that later. Second tought...with you panels on the "carshed" that is a long DC run (big cables and lots of voltage loss due to resistance) to you new victron "hempcrete" shed. AC runs are much cheaper and safer...but that would mean skip the house shed...make a carshed addition. Its also further away from the house (think quieter) although hempcrete is excellent for sound isolation.
I agree entirely with with this observation , orientation and minimizing the distance of DC lines. Also your idea of DC pumps for irrigation et al close to the 2nd set of solar panels is excellent because you are removing the inefficiencies of conversion from DC to AC.
DC pumps close to the solar arrays
I fully agree, south might be good for feeding in but for off-grid you should consider East-West to maximize the morning and evening production.
Very good! But why not make use of the roof? That would take longer dc lines out of the equation.
@@MK-co6xc or have the conversion station in the car shelter. The house has a tile roof and it would not be easy to install or service. The best location for the electrical solar utility room would be near the solar in a lean to adjacent to the car park.
I love the use of solar power, it is so right for the planet.
Such a great video!! So valuable. First time somebody explains from A-Z just everything about solar. You will really make a good salesmen for all us analytical people to whom it is very difficult to sell anything to. Thank you so much for the time you took to explain so well. I have for the first time the full picture of the whole solar option. The mathematical and stats were just great to understand it all. Looking forward to the next video.
Red poppy farm & wonderful life off grid run family homes solely on solar, their setups are huge with 20+ panels.
Love the plans, finally someone who recognises the benefits of mechanical ventilation and to a lesser degree heat pumps as they are getting more common. But I haven't seen any off grid or similar projects do mechanical ventilation and imo it is an absolutley massive benefit for very little power usage and cost can be very low as well, so many 2nd hand systems for sale.
Given the prevalence of damp, mould and condensation here it was one of the first things we researched to see how possible it would be in this house. There lots of work to do in order to get the ducting right but it should be worth it. The system we’re looking at also has an add-on to provide aircon through the same system for the summer
Love the idea of a car port. I would suggest that you sell the panels that you currently have and invest in the new duel cell panels. These capture the light that goes through the panel and bounces of of the roof (or what ever backing you have). For simplicity if you got some tin sheet and painted it white (for maximum reflection) you can increase the solar panels output by 10% for no extra effort. Thanks for posting
Great show.
Great video again guys.
Can’t wait for the power shed and the upgrades.
Brilliant, what a set up. Great forward thinking, it is going to be great.👏👏👏
Congratulations on 50K
You always have the most enjoyable content in your videos.
Thank you all your great tips and knowledge 👍😊👍 You are amazing!
You guys are doing great content - congrats on knocking on the door of 50k!
You doing a fantastic job on that beautiful property. Thanks for sharing.
Great graphics! I even recognized Guy with his ukulele in the carport drawing.
Absolutely fantastic vlog well done guys
Love the wee geezer with the holey troozers.
I love your Elvis look. Your hair looks awesome. 😍 How does Kylie feel having Elvis around.
Thank you for the video. Great information and easy to understand. Off grid is not so scary now....obrigado!
Brilliant how you can push all this info into a video that is great to watch. Looking forward to the hemp blocks
Enjoy hearing all your future plans and look forward to seeing them come to fruition. The car port is a great idea with the thermal panels on top. Each week there is progress on something whether they be working on or planning. Have a good week ahead xx
I lost you guys and just found you again! Love your videos, so real and informative. I have been trying to get my family to Portugal for ten years now but still not been able to. When we lived off grid in SE Asia we used to cook our main meal in the day or even late morning and then just reheat for evening meal. That worked quite well
Great stuff thanks 🙏
Very useful info. Thank you.
Thanks for your thought-provoking and educational video. Solar energy is still mysterious to the average person and your content helps give more clarity. The viewers comments are equally informative.
*Kylie & Guy, wow very informative and also lots to take in re Solar and then setting it all up for the long term for you both. Yep they are costly to set up... but in the long run it will work out great for you both.*
Some thoughts from someone who hasn't done solar power and is not expert. I believe it would be worth considering putting all your solar gear, panels, batteries, inverter ++ in a building over where the panels are going to be mounted. The reasons are 1. voltage drop on low voltage cables that you have to deal with if the panels are far removed from the rest of the set up 2. it keeps it away from the house should something go bang. 3. it is more central on the property for future, as yet unknown, projects. It is much more efficient to send electricity in high voltage than low voltage. Having said all this, it is your property to do absolutely as you think is best for your needs. 🙂
This solar pannels look so nice in your garden, add more 😉
Remembering the winter I spent in Lisbon... I was like 2 weeks without seeing the sun. Central Portugal has sure a different weather!
dear. you are amazing! from last videos I got the idea about your previous start and my congratulations. you are rightfully awarded for courage and talent and patience. inspiring story.
So jealous of that big orange thing you have in the sky there in Portugal 😎
Found this very interesting!
Thank you for sharing this valuable information re solar energy.😊
Congratulations, very good video and practical indications. But also quite important, you did emphasize clearly that solar power must be together with a change in routines.
Obviously the heat wave is over!! Interesting and somewhat overwhelming! Hugs from 🇨🇦
Love your vlogs, I like that now you are getting more into the back ground of every thing you are doing, I’m no techie but the way you both explain it all makes it interesting, I’m enjoying your journey so far, I like the way Kylie describes what and how she does things, where as you guy just go with the flow or is that what you want us to believe, hope I spelt your names correctly, anyway more of the same please. Jason from Staffordshire in the UK 🤓
I agree with Jacki Cammidge to have the opening of the carport on the north side and having the panels still oriented to the south. As the distance from the panels to your power shed is quite large, I suggest to oversize the wire gauge several sizes to minimize losses due to cable resistance. To lower the current through these wires (while processing the same power) you should connect panels in series. Do mind that the DC to AC converter has a type dependent maximum input voltage (80V to 480V) which should not be exceeded when a string of panels produce their maximum voltage under ideal sun conditions.
Nicely explained
Very well thought out , the Belgium Farm are using Hemp blocks you could have a look in on them and get some tips .Pros and cons.😀👋👋👋🧡🧡
Hi guys, love your videos as usual. I’m sure you thought about it, but I’d like to remind you of the changes in the way we’re actually having storms in Europe. Make sure you have a safe , extra secured structure that will prevent to have your panels flying miles away. During a strong storm All the best xx
Love the hemp ideas 👌 I'd replace the old fridge, you're right 24/7 it's probably using more power.
Hi Guy, I'm catching up on all your videos from the start and I think all the work you're doing is amazing. Your wife is an incredibly impressive lady!! Does she has previous building experience? Amazing stuff 👍👍
I’m moving to CP next year. I’ve been in the green tech business since 1977. I’m going to build a PV solar panel system, sand battery system and a repurposed Tesla battery pack.
Great video just a quick thought if you do lots of dehydrating mostly in summer there's lots of videos on solar dehydrator set ups.
I did design a small backup solar system for our 70 square metre house a few years ago to counter the frequent storm related power outages we get locally. It was only intended to supply the lights and power outlets for entertainment, internet etc. We only have a 30 Amp supply anyway so it wasn't going to be to difficult or expensive to achieve but Covid and other life issues put the entire project on the back burner where it remains.
Several years ago using 2 45w solar panel kits my friend and I were doing some experiments with what could be operated using 1 12v auto battery. In the middle of the afternoon (about 14:30 local) the sky got rather dark. Later we found out that a tornado had passed within 10 miles of us but we hadn't heard the warning sirens. However during that time we were still generating 14+ volts while operating a small air-conditioning unit with the battery. With your panels which are a newer generation of tech it should be able to generate even under rather cloudy conditions.
Very interesting, will follow the complete renovation activities. Did same in DK , SK and Austria ( beside Job and Family ...) But next time I first will build a Tiny house. Incl. Shower and Sewage System. All the rest will be much less Stress and pressure. However still like to learn especially interested in Hemp Crete handling.
Interesting to see your 6 panels arranged in an arc. I also have 6 panels but all facing south and I’ve wondered if your arrangement might be better.
Good install-- u can put freezers on a timer so the work during day only
on carport you can do a ladder and small walkways to clean the solar panels
Is there a way you'll be able to make your setup relatively bushfire safe at all? I remember you talking about fire risk and bushfire plans at some point, the rising temps round the planet seem to render this an even more crucial topic nowadays... Best of luck for your future endeavours! Watching your videos gives me so much inspiration and the idea that a lifestyle like yours is actually attainable. Thank you for sharing your thought and learning processes so openly, too - so much research and planning! Almost unbelievable how you seem to fit all of this into your already busy bee days...
wow Portugal really should get back to paying people feeding renewable energy into the grid. Really unfair that you produce energy for which other people pay a lot of money at the moment but dont get anything for it. I think here in Germany it is not allowed to be fully off grid in a house so your kinda forced to use as much energy as possible from your solar by yourself before it feeds into the grid. Here you get some money for it, but its very little. So battery storage is the way to go here as well. Im really looking forward to this system moving to the house. Ventilation and especially heat pumps use a lot of electricity, but they work best in houses with good insulation. No problem in newly built houses here in Europe thanks to the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, but in such an old house this might be challenging. All in all I think this currently the best way: solar energy combined with battery storage and heat pump+ventilation. Only passive solar building design principles missing but those are hard to add when the building is already there. Will you opt for electric cars in the future? You can view these as additional battery storage if they can do bidirectional loading.
Muito informativo e útil. Obrigado!
Have you thought of using /building a cellar? Underground for food storage? Are you going to get energy saving appliances? Have you thought of people power washer? Hang the clothing to dry? Thank you for all your videos
You can of course keep your inverter and batteries near the solar panels and just run the 240v power cables to connect into the house (you dont necessarily have to dig a trench :-) ) rather than having to move the plant. I would suggest rather than simply pointing all the panels due south to point some south and some south west to extend the hours the sun is available. Excess power can be stored in hot water tanks for use in heating at night. I would suggest adding extra insulation around the fridge/freezers to reduce power use. Feeding hot water into the washing machine from stored hot water will reduce the amount of power a washing machines uses when working.
I'm currently shopping around for solar for my place (here in Aus) - starting off with putting it on the shed and then, when house is (eventually!) built, covering the whole length of the roof of the house. Big system - and the (recurring) comment from the solar people I speak with is that, because of our climate (Mid North Coast NSW), for safety reasons they've suggested having two inverters for that size setup. If one fails, then you have the back-up of another.
Love it I got 60kw of battery backup. even in winter I only need to charge from grid/generator every 10 days(that is for 2 months) then its back on full eletric off grid. I need to get 5k more solar and another inverter then I am off grid. Love how you show what you are doing.
Thank You! 🌀💚🌀
I'm planning an on-grid solar installation mostly because my new home country, North Macedonia, has to import a lot of electricity from neighbouring countries. They do have some compensation for people who produce excess solar, but even without that I would prefer to give something back to the community where I can.
One idea for your refrigeration is to get a larger chest freezer and add a controller to run at refrigerator temps not freezer temps. It holds all the cold air in it when open and will kick on and run a fraction of the time a upright fridge does. Great job and look forward to seeing your continued growth.
since you are digging, run water to the car port for use as required and to clean the solar panels when needed
Sounds marvellous. Solar gives lots of options, that heat pump will be the hardest to manage into the system even though it is wonderful technology. One thing to consider in your evaluations is how often and how long your system is in float as that is when you have excess production that never gets used so solar is use it or lose it. Storage can be in other forms other than battery ie hot water, sand etc and maybe recoverable with the heat pump the applications are limited only by your imagination. Victron makes great gear but expensive. That old well could be converted into a heat source for both heating and air conditioning using a water based heat pump. Cheers
Someone mentioned using a "solar oven" to get hot water off grid. Instead of putting cakes in, put a ceramic container with water and lid in the "oven. It's amazing how many people are using creative thinking to deal with issues like washing, showers, etc. There are mini turbines "plug and play " that plug straight into the house circuits in the US, $2000 or so each. I don't know how much wind your property gets, but it's an alternative source if necessary, to keep away from getting the generator going. I enjoy seeing how you each plan out, research, and then implement all the plans. It's not quite as simple as parking in some place and just "winging it ".
I do believe this is the best u both ever lived. But it don't seem off grid enough for most. Now 100 - 300 yrs ago that's off Grinders. 🤙
I'm currently looking to expand my current solar array and I've noticed that many panels are producing a lot more Wp than my current panels. But if you look into the sizes of the new panels, they have grown enormously! You can calculate the Wp/m2 and how much they cost in order to find the best efficient panels for a reasonable price. I'd love to go off-grid for electricity but in the Netherlands that will probably be too difficult in the wintertime...
Great video as always. Thank you both.... My only observation is to get your plans checked with your solar company. I'm not sure but it may be more efficient to transmit AC from the car port to near your house and outbuildings than DC from your panels. Voltage drop is greater for DC than AC for a given cable size. That is,, it may be better to site your charge controllers, inverters and batteries near your panels rather than an enclosure next to the house. If that makes any sense? I have no real perception of distances nor the voltage from your existing or any new panels you may add. Lots to consider. All the best....
Great video, thank you for the tour. One detail you might want to research further is regarding selling excess energy via the grid. This is very common nowadays in Portugal and easy to setup, and there are several companies operating that buy it. If it is not expensive to connect your old house to the grid it may make sense to leverage that as part of your future solar system upgrade.
They touched on selling back in the video
@@delphine88313 Sure, but the video stated that it is not possible to sell the energy if connected to the grid. This is not accurate, nowadays you can sell the excess energy to the grid and usually has better ROI than a battery system
@@xffb8563 oh ok
A solar powered water garden would help your well! basically one of your panels, would power a 12v water pump from the well, filling a pond or reed bed, then into pond! the overflow from the pond, or series of ponds,then returns oxygenated back to the well.. to provide shade and grow extra food use foam rafts with grow pots cut into the foam and grow lettuce.. just a thought and would take a bit of planning, but use just a solar panel and pump no battery!.. when the sun shines the pump moves water.. great informative video guys.. keep it up..
Question. Why don’t you guys mulch more? Like around the trees and inside the veggie patch where you have to mow? It will reduce time/money (gas), it will retain water and it’s great for (microbial life in) the soil. And it seems like you guys don’t have very much top soil. You might be able to get it for free from tree felling companies in the area. 🙂
We also quit veloutés and opted for chunkier soups.
Recommending Mitsubishi's ZEN series of minisplit AC systems. Running off-grid solar myself and the small units in the series only use around 300w when cooling. Consider 5-6000w panels and double up on your battery capacity that you have now. When you are in the house and it rains for a week in winter you will need the batteries.
Hi guys, you could use a Bruetti generator with its own solar panels for your power tools, just a thought.
Having panels on a car port is an excellent location to put an electric car charger that will charge the car off the excess solar. So as well as filling the batteries there are some charger units that will communicate with the whole system and then trickle charge a car as well with the left over that would be going back into the grid. This would reduce you outgoings for fossil fuel on your car. The unit will also charge the car at normal speeds if you needed it but you don’t travel much in the car so I feel this would be a great option for you in the future. Currently in the uk there are two manufacturers making chargers like this. Zappi and Evios although the Evios charger is still in between testing I’m sure there will be lots of options when you get to that point and you are ready to change your car.
As you increase the electrical draw and number of electric motors, consider investing in some soft start devices for some motors. Would lower the surge current and may allow you to keep your current inverter. As far as solar, consider finding a way to get 1 or 2 axis directional solar array. The current 2 axis setups are expensive, but I think an E/W single pole pivot setup (Frame that pivots around a single cental N face pole with lower edge of frame rolling on a curved track with wheel driven by motor controlled by solar tracking device) might work for you if you don't get snow. The N/S tracking using an automated system is a bit more complicated, but a mechanical way to adjust frame angle every 2-3 months is simpler.
I am impressed how little power you use. I just checked my usage for the last month and in a small 1-BR apartment, where I live alone, have one small fridge and barely cook, my power consumption is... 5 times higher than yours. Granted, I have AC on half of the time, but still...
Here in Aus we put in solar panels and haven’t had an electric bill for 2 years. That’s in Melbourne too. Build up credit in summer and use some of that in winter. Use appliances mostly during daytime.
I'm in Melbourne too which is nearer the equator (Sun angle) than Lisbon.
Quite interesting. :) Good episode! Regarding the MV system with air con add-on that you're looking at, can you shed some light on the system make that you're considering?
Question....Have you calculated power loss for extension cords? Slightly under sized cords can cost quite a few watts while appliances are operating. Good luck, love what your doing. Thanks for all your time.
My advise is to house the inverter and batteries close to the solar panels. Running transmission cabling between the two is far cheaper and more efficient at 220V than at 24V or 48V. The consumer unit can still be by (or in) the house.
Modern technology is great.
I really love your videos. Thanks for making them. I have some experience with DIY PV plants, so here is something I learned. For a self-consumption off-grid system south is not necessarily the best option. Of course it will give you the highest potential result but you won't probably be able to use that much at that time. A semi-circle as you have now is way better, because it gives you solar power all day without the big peaks you will miss anyway. And maybe one day you will DIY your own battery.
Hi, maybe you have seen the solution: One neighbour is using mirrors left and right the panels and claims he is getting 50% more power? Can this be possible?
solar tracker
@@glenn65 Thanks, Looks interesting. Will investigate more
@@karlheinzbauer4132 yw 👍
Guy, you mentioned that your frig doesn't seal well. My freezer didn't and I had a lot of frost. I read on line to put a coating of Vasoline around the open that the door presses against and it completely seals the freezer.