Off-Grid System

What kind of tools and appliances can I operate with a Xantrex off-grid electrical system?

Most appliances, entertainment systems, hand and stationary tools will operate with no difficulty depending upon the size of the individual inverter and battery bank.

Can I run electric stoves or hot water and space heaters with a inverter powered electrical system?

All electric heating devices including those mentioned above use large amounts of electrical power for extended periods of time. While it would not be difficult to power these loads with an inverter, virtually any reasonably sized (and priced) battery bank will not be capable of providing the necessary power.

Can I power my entire home with a Xantrex off-grid system?

Yes, thousands of people round the world use Xantrex inverters for the full-time supply of electric power to their homes and businesses.

My utility bills are very high, and I want to switch to off-grid solar power to save money, how much money can I save?

You likely will not save any money. A solar and off-grid electrical system designed to be large enough to off-set high utility bills would be prohibitively expensive. Reducing your energy consumption is the single most effective way to lower utility bills. The typical off-grid home uses well under 10 kW/h of power per day. If your consumption can be reduced to that level you are a good candidate for an independent electrical system.

Are these systems difficult to operate and maintain?

No, they are very simple. You do need to monitor power usage and ensure that your batteries are receiving adequate recharge, this is done with the aid of a simple-to-understand system status meter. Batteries require some maintenance, water must occasionally be added and connections cleaned and retightened. PV modules may also require annual washing.

Grid-Tie System

Why should I become an Independent Power Producer (IPP)?

The IPP investment plans for the future of continuing the standard of living we presently enjoy. Becoming a solar, wind or hydro IPP will make a statement on your position for preserving the environment. Ultimately, the collective stance of IPPs prevents the construction of new power plants and assists the preservation of our natural resources. Becoming an IPP is a personal choice on how you impact the environment in which we live. Plus, if you have a battery based system, you can protect yourself against power outages while producing clean, green renewable energy!

How much power must I produce to offset 30% of my electricity bills?

For the sake of an example, consider that you use 30 kWh per day in your home. (Check your monthly energy bill to confirm your actual daily energy consumption). If you were to produce 10kWh per day (30 kWh x 30% = 10 kWh) then you would, in fact, offset 30% of your daily energy consumption. To produce 10 kWh per day in a location where you receive an average of 4 sun hours per day would mean you need a 2.5 kW system (10 kWh / 4 hours = 2.5 kW).

How much will a 2.5kW IPP system cost?

Typically, a direct coupled (non-battery based) grid connect system will cost $10 per watt installed. Total system cost for a typical direct coupled system would be approximately 2500 W x $10/W = $25,000. This is a general estimate and costs will vary. In many states, a rebate, buy down or tax incentive is possible.

What is the payback of a 2.5 kW IPP system?

The payback of a grid connected system is not the primary choice for becoming an IPP, also it is difficult to determine since these systems are estimated to last 20 years plus. Estimating the costs for future energy is uncertain with all the factors of population growth, energy resource depletion and inflation involved. Independent power producers find value in producing electrical energy and protecting their homes against power outages. The value a person places on protecting against utility outages or the value placed on contributing to clean energy production is what should be used to determine the payback period. Simply said, the payback of a 2.5kW IPP system is about equivalent to the payback of your refrigerator. What is your value of having cold drinks, preserved foods and fresh vegetables on demand? The point is: we should not be evaluating the payback of a grid interconnected PV system because the return on investment is not the primary reason for choosing a grid connected PV system.

Net Metering

What are the benefits and costs of net metering?

Net metering provides a variety of benefits for both utilities and consumers. Utilities benefit by avoiding the administrative and accounting costs of metering and purchasing the small amounts of excess electricity produced by these small-scale renewable generating facilities. Consumers benefit by getting greater value for some of the electricity they generate, by being able to interconnect with the utility using their existing utility meter, and by being able to interconnect using widely-accepted technical standards.

The only cost associated with net metering is indirect: the customer is buying less electricity from the utility, which means the utility is collecting less revenue from the customer. That’s because any excess electricity that would have been sold to the utility at the wholesale or ‘avoided cost’ price is instead being used to offset electricity the customer would have purchased at the retail price. In most cases, the revenue loss is comparable to having the customer reducing electricity use by investing in energy efficiency measures, such as compact fluorescent lights and efficient appliances.

The bill savings for the customer (and corresponding revenue loss to the utility) will depend on a variety of factors, particularly the difference between the ‘avoided cost’ and retail prices. In general, however, the difference will be between $5 - $10 a month for a residential-scale PV system (2 kW), and between $25 - $50 a month for a farm-scale wind turbine (10 kW).

Moreover, any revenue losses associated with net metering are at least partially offset by the administrative and accounting savings, which are not included in the above figures.

Can I really use my existing meter to take advantage of net metering?

The standard kilowatt-hour meter used by the vast majority of residential and small commercial customers accurately registers the flow of electricity in either direction. This means the ‘netting’ process associated with net metering happens automatically—the meter spins forward (in the normal direction) when the consumer needs more electricity than is being produced, and spins backward when the consumer is producing more electricity than is needed in the house or building.

How can I be sure that these small-scale generating systems are safe?

During the last decade there has been tremendous technological progress in the design o f the equipment that integrates small-scale generators with the utility grid. Called ‘inverters’ because they were originally designed only to ‘invert’ the DC electricity produced by solar arrays and wind turbines to the AC electricity used in our homes and businesses, these devices have evolved into extremely sophisticated power management systems. Inverters now include all the necessary protective functions needed to synchronize safely and reliably with the utility grid, to protect utility power quality, and to prevent ‘islanding’ by preventing backfeeding during a utility power outage. Moreover, this protective equipment operates automatically, without any human intervention needed. Most new inverters comply with all nationally-recognized codes and standards, including those developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL 1741) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE 929-2000). These systems are now operating safely and reliably in every state in the nation.

What is the current status of net metering?

Currently, most of the provinces in Canada have some form of net metering.

Specifically, in Nova Scotia net metering is an approved technology. There is a clear application process that an individual can go through with Nova Scotia Power Inc. to start a net metering arrangement. If the application is complete and meets certain criteria and regulations, the utility must allow the customer to hook up a net metered renewable energy system.