This research project investigates the viability of using renewable energy sources and passive solar design in Saskatchewan, with its harsh climate, abundant energy resources, and absence of financial incentives for residential renewable energy systems. <p>An experimental Ready-To-Move (RTM) house, using passive solar design and stand-alone solar and wind power with gas generator backup, was designed and built and has been tested for a one year period from January to December, 2006.<p>The design methodology was based on well established design procedures for passive solar homes and renewable energy systems that are documented in the literature. A data collection system was used to record solar and wind charging currents, and battery status and temperature data was recorded on a daily basis. Average household loads were estimated from this data. <p>For 2006, the power generation of the solar array was 990 kWh, which was better than the expected output of 927 kWh. However, the wind generator produced only 475 kWh, which was substantially less the expected output of 1430 kWh. Average wind speeds were lower than the normal for 2006 and power production was less than the manufacturers projections for the specified wind speeds. Financial analysis showed that the lack of incentives and net metering made an off-grid system economically feasible only in remote locations where the cost of grid connection is over $20,000.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:USASK/oai:usask.ca:etd-04022007-130049 |
Date | 03 April 2007 |
Creators | Ortlepp, Angelika |
Contributors | Dodds, David E. |
Publisher | University of Saskatchewan |
Source Sets | University of Saskatchewan Library |
Language | English |
Detected Language | English |
Type | text |
Format | application/pdf |
Source | http://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-04022007-130049/ |
Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Saskatchewan or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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