MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

• 

  DennisA

  “combined capacity of 1029MW” less 75% for when the wind doesn't or blows too hard.

  Aug 19th, 2011 - 05:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  -+

• 

  rylang23

  I have lived off-grid for over 10 years with solar PV panels, a wind generator, and a propane backup generator. I feel that I am like a microcosm of the energy picture. Here is how my system works over a yearly cycle: (01) the solar and wind are high producers in the summer with excess production, (02) during spring and fall there is either increasing or decreasing solar with the wind still playing a large role, (03) in the winter, the solar is diminished and the wind takes over the dominant role, with the propane back-up generator filling in the gaps when wind and sun are lacking.
  
  Each region of the world has variations of the same cycles that I experience. By focusing on renewables during the times of the year when they produce the most, and filling in the gaps with non-renewable energy, a balanced energy strategy can be developed. And that doesn't even include conservation, that can include more efficient appliances, doors, windows, insulation, etc.
  
  Then we can move on the attacking the looming water crisis by doing things like returning to having rain catchment cisterns at every residence, and by stopping the clear cutting of all forests around the world.
  
  We can do these things.

  Aug 20th, 2011 - 01:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  -+

• 

  Think

  (2) rylang23
  
  I’m still waiting for that hassle-free, individual Solar/Wind energy generation package, including a high-yield battery to go off-grid.
  A never ending wait, it seems……………………..
  
  Every year a little bit better but still too clumsy, too feeble, too unreliable, too ugly and/or too expensive.
  
  In the meantime, I did away with the unnecessary and optimized the rest.
  Simple changes as LED lighting, fewer, highly-efficient appliances, adequate insulation, convective ventilation and a clever designed wood burning, secondary combustion multifunction-stove have reduced my personal carbon footprint to Burkina Faso’s levels…………………
  
  Yes we can.
  El Think

  Aug 22nd, 2011 - 06:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  -+

• 

  rylang23

  Good job, Think! Yes we can.

  Aug 22nd, 2011 - 03:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  -+

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!