Off grid wind turbine repairs

Off grid wind turbine repairs

by | Oct 23, 2017 | off grid, renewable energy

When we heard that a hurricane was coming to Ireland, we were convinced that we were terribly well prepared. As seasoned off grid people we really should be. In the event, the wind here wasn’t as bad as we expected. Unfortunately we still didn’t get away...
Wind turbine first proper test

Wind turbine first proper test

by | Nov 8, 2015 | renewable energy

The windy weather we normally get in October didn’t put in an appearance, but finally it is here, and today’s weather perfectly illustrates the need for a mixture of generation to keep the lights on all winter. At 10m on an overcast day the PV is producing...
Energy independence

Energy independence

by | Oct 7, 2015 | renewable energy

For those who can’t already claim some form of payment for generating their own energy, or who will face vastly reduced incentives from 2016, there would seem to be few reasons to invest in renewable energy such as solar PV.  Recent coverage of the Tesla home...
Wind power at the farm

Wind power at the farm

by | Aug 3, 2015 | off grid

Solar power is wonderful but here in Northern Ireland sun is often in short supply, especially in winter when the days are short. Hence the need for an alternative – in this case a wind turbine. Bornay, who make this particular model have been building turbines...
Energy freedom

Energy freedom

by | Apr 8, 2015 | renewable energy

So the end of a sunny spring day, and although it is only April, we are finding that our 4kw solar pv (which is the most common pv installation size in Northern Ireland) has supplied our needs all day, including a couple of loads of washing, running a regular fridge,...

What next?

by | Aug 24, 2012 | the farm

The work on the house is barely complete and already our thoughts are turning to other (and equally important) things. Because we have a waterless loo, any waste water from the house is relatively clean greywater, which can be put through a reed bed system, before it...

Dead wind turbine

by | May 13, 2012 | off grid, renewable energy

We returned home today to discover that the wind turbine had suffered a catastrophic failure and lost all three blades. 2 of them were embedded firmly in the ground below the turbine, and one has yet to be found. I repaired one of them a week ago, and straightening...

Learning the hard way..

by | May 5, 2012 | buildings

Part of the joy of doing everything yourself is what we politely call ‘learning from experience’, or more commonly, ‘f**king it up’. Yesterday was a ‘learning’ day. First, I discovered just how close to a hot stove flue you can put...

Wind generator ups and downs

by | Mar 12, 2012 | renewable energy

For a seemingly simple setup, the wind turbine certainly involves a lot more that I ever thought it would. A lot of folk with ‘big’ turbines certainly view the small, chinese made end of the market as very suspect, but my view has always been that at least...

Testing testing…..

by | Aug 25, 2011 | renewable energy

The ever helpful Philip from Leisure Batteries Ireland has kindly lent us a Victron 750W Inverter, so that we can get a comparison with his new budget range of inverters that are coming soon.Our cheap and cheerful modified square wave 500W inverter works pretty well,...

Making it up as I go along

by | Aug 14, 2011 | renewable energy

This wind mullarkey is definitely harder than the solar. With solar you just fit it, point it in the right direction, and screw it down so it doesn’t blow away. Wind power is a whole different kettle of fish. The turbine comes with 3 lumps of angle steel to use...