I want to replace my electricity with solar and wind. I live just right outside the city, the roof about 000 square feet. How many windmills/solar panels would it take to get me off the power grid?
If you are in the desert and near the equator you will need fewer panels than if you live in a rain forest or Alaska. If you live in a wind tunnel with consistent strong wind, you will have better results than if you live where there often is a lull in the wind and changes of direction of the wind. If you already pump your water by hand, generate your own electricity by cycling using your legs, and go to bed whenever it gets dark out, you might make it. But if you tend to cook and launder on the grid, run a refrigerator, perhaps heat your house or air condition it, own various gadgets you plug into outlets to use, like lamps, puters, toaster, shaver, blender, dishwasher etc, you may not be able to get off the grid.
I live in the Southwest where the sun shines almost every day. I got a quote for Solar system to produce about enough to cover my annual usage. My annual average electrical usage costs about $2300, or about $90/MO. The system costs around $30,000 but I can get rebates and some of your tax dollars in subsidies to bring my cost down to under $20,000. I can borrow $20,000 for 3 years at 7% and pay $95/MO, so in 3 years I will have the system paid for. As you can see, I don't start Saving any money for a long time. Maybe the rates will go up in later years which will help, but My friends that have solar systems tell me things like controllers go bad over time and they cost like $3000. Will it ever pay for itself? Maybe. Please note. This still does not get me off the grid. This system will not support things like an electric stove, air conditioning, Pool pump running, etc. so I still need the grid for when these operate and my usage peaks. If I installed a system that would totally support everything 24/7 the cost would be astronomical. If you live in the east, midwest, or NW where you have cloudy days, your economic calculations will be much less favorable I would think, unless your power costs are much higher than mine..
Insolation, okorder okorder /... that are 420x420x25 mm so each unit is about .764 m3. If you used these to cover 500 sq ft then you would need (46.45/.764=) 263 of these panels at a cost of ($09.95 x 263=) about $28,953 plus wiring, plus brackets, plus an inverter, plus batteries, plus a battery management system and any labor or your time. Best of luck with it.
