Enmax pilots personal wind plan

[Azure]

http://www.pinchercreekecho.com/News/412297.html

“We have a pilot program to bring micro generation to the mass market,” said Rob Falconer, director of distributed generation with Enmax.

“Essentially what we’ve found is a 12-foot diameter (referring to the length of the blades) turbine system that would sit on a 33-foot tower, about the size of a flag pole, with a little unit about the size of a two-drawer filing cabinet which weighs about 300 pounds,” Falconer said.

The Skystream ‘residential power appliance’ will “produce two kilowatts per hour with good winds and we expect that in your locale you would get about, on average, 500 kilowatt hours per month which is about two thirds of the average home consumption in Alberta,” he said.

Skystream does not replace the current system for a consumer, but is designed to be hooked into the home’s existing electrical panel and store any excess energy on the grid.

In fact, under the new micro generation regulations that come into effective Jan. 1, 2009 in Alberta, homeowners can be paid for any excess generation they put into the grid, Falconer said.

Enmax already has selectively placed the Skystream units around the southern part of the province.

Could be a major, major breakthrough. Especially in my area, where there is a ton of wind. Rather than using a windfarm that is unable to 'store' electricity, each household could generate their own electricity. Of course, the cost would have too off-set the price of electricity. The government should get involved, and provide tax breaks, or incentives to the people who buy these generators.

[Frequitude]

I really don't like seeing the director of distributed generation for Enmax refer to the unit's output as "two kilowatts per hour". The kilowatt is already a per-time unit (amount of energy per unit of time). That's like saying "this car can go 100kph per hour".

Also, the grid isn't exactly a storage device like a battery. But when combined with a credit system whereby you earn them for exporting power, the grid is big enough that you can consider it a storage device. I wonder what Enmax's plan is - a credit system, or actually paying a customer for exporting power.

[RougeUnderoos]

Now unless I read that wrong, which is entirely possible, people are going to be paying the same amount for electricity, it'll just happen to be generated in their yard by a giant windmill.

Is that right?

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Now unless I read that wrong, which is entirely possible, people are going to be paying the same amount for electricity, it'll just happen to be generated in their yard by a giant windmill.

Is that right?

No, they will pay for the electricity that they use, minus the power they generate.

So, if the system generates half the power that you would use, then you will only pay for half as much power.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

No, they will pay for the electricity that they use, minus the power they generate.

So, if the system generates half the power that you would use, then you will only pay for half as much power.

I read it that way too.

So now, the only 'problem' is the cost of the windmill.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

No, they will pay for the electricity that they use, minus the power they generate.

So, if the system generates half the power that you would use, then you will only pay for half as much power.

Aah, okay, thanks. That makes sense. The way I read it was that the windmill would generate power, it would go into the house, and they'd pay for what it was generating. Sounded like a hell of a deal for Enmax, but I guess that's not it.

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by Azure

I read it that way too.

So now, the only 'problem' is the cost of the windmill.

Exactly. Although I think "problem" is the wrong word. It's like paying an upfront fee to save money in perpetuity going forwards. Consider the time value of money. Is the price of the windmill unit worth it to you considering you will save, say, $20 every month for the next 10+ years?

[arsenal]

I think what they will do with these, as well as with other distributed generation technologies, is rent the item to the consumer, off-set the rental cost with any energy that enters the main grid. If that happens to be more than the rental, then I believe the consumer will then be able to apply that extra towards their bill.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Also, the grid isn't exactly a storage device like a battery. But when combined with a credit system whereby you earn them for exporting power, the grid is big enough that you can consider it a storage device. I wonder what Enmax's plan is - a credit system, or actually paying a customer for exporting power.

I've heard from a high school teacher who had installed solar panels on his home... and he generates enough electricity that the electric company (I am betting its Enmax since he is in Calgary) actually pays him a check of the energy that he puts into the grid.

[V]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

I really don't like seeing the director of distributed generation for Enmax refer to the unit's output as "two kilowatts per hour". The kilowatt is already a per-time unit (amount of energy per unit of time). That's like saying "this car can go 100kph per hour".

A kilowatt has nothing to do with time. You would be right if he had said "two kilowatt hours per hour."

[BlackArcher101]

I don't get it... I thought homeowners that produced electricity already were reimbursed for it. I've known people that get paid for years now. What's so new about these regulations on Jan 1?

[MRCboicgy]

In other news, Taco Bell announces they have had a personal wind plan for years.

Am I right?

Anyone?

ah forget it.

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by V

A kilowatt has nothing to do with time. You would be right if he had said "two kilowatt hours per hour."

Yes it does. 1 watt = 1 Joule of energy PER second.

An analogy:
Joule (amount of energy) = kilometer (amount of distance)
Watt (rate of energy) = KPH (rate of speed)


A kilowatt-hour is a measure of energy (absolute number, not a rate). It is the amount of energy produced (consumed) by a 1 kilowatt source (load) over the period of an hour. Going by the analogy, it's like measuring a distance in KPH-hours (which is odd, but valid)...the amount of distance covered by something going 1 km/h over the period of an hour.

That's why you pay for your energy in kilowatt-hours. It's a measure of the total amount of energy consumed in your house, not the rate at which you consume it.

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

I've heard from a high school teacher who had installed solar panels on his home... and he generates enough electricity that the electric company (I am betting its Enmax since he is in Calgary) actually pays him a check of the energy that he puts into the grid.

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I don't get it... I thought homeowners that produced electricity already were reimbursed for it. I've known people that get paid for years now. What's so new about these regulations on Jan 1?

Interesting. I know that Alberta has net billing, but I thought Enmax only credited you for what your produced more than you needed and let you draw against that balance when you're using more than you produced. But if you have any credits left over at the end of the year, you don't get paid for them.

This is different in Japan, where you have two separate accounts and meters. One measures what comes in (they bill you for this), the other measures what is produced (they pay you for this).

[Hack&Lube]

in germany, most houses and many farms all have solar panels. Excess energy goes back into the grid and you actually get paid for the surplus

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

No, they will pay for the electricity that they use, minus the power they generate.

So, if the system generates half the power that you would use, then you will only pay for half as much power.

Ideally, that would be nice.

However, the power companies already know what people are willing to pay so I am sure you'll see prices increase so that people would still be paying the same. It probably wouldn't happen overnight, but it would eventually.