A power shed provides a secure power unit, optimally positioned, for the cottage, the off grid home, or remote fishing or hunting lodge.
It also provides a means of keeping your investment in energy generation mobile enough so you can take it with you should your situation change.
Security of this investment can be further enhanced if a sea-can is used as the main housing for the alternate energy equipment.
The sea-can steel walls are designed for protection of contents, as their initial purpose was overseas shipping.
Practically a power shed design can also be incorporated into a cargo van or wooden garden shed.
The main intent is keeping the alternate energy equipment compartmentalized away from the main building, and positioned in the best area at the site for energy collection.
This allows the DC generated by the photovoltaic array and wind turbine to travel the shortest distance possible and the AC current to efficiently traverse the longer distance to the home or lodge.
Optionally a vertical axis wind turbine can be mounted to the skid frame of the power shed, which is built heavy enough to sustain loading the whole shed on a trailer with a winch, as well as providing a strong base for the wind turbine.
The solar array can either be mounted on the wall of the shed, or on a tracker frame mounted to the side of the power shed and extending out far enough to provide a full range of motion for dual axis tracking of the sun.
For transport the array can be either removed or folded flat against the wall depending on option used and distance that the unit has to travel.
The power shed has two compartments one houses the inverter, solar charge controllers and wind interface equipment as well as the battery bank, the second houses the generator.
The control section of the shed is insulated and heated to a maximum 68° F or 20°C as this insures optimal battery operation.
The generator employs a propane block heater for starting assistance in winter operations. The generator room is well ventilated by opening the double doors to provide optimal cooling in summer, with thermostatic shutters controlling ventilation in winter.
A propane tank is mounted to the extended skid frame of the of the power shed, to supply the generator, block heater, and control room furnace.
Size of tank is determined by the remoteness of location and time period the equipment is going to be in operation.
Advanced technology is available for almost total power independence; where regular fuel has to be brought in long distances, an optional hydrogen conversion kit can produce fuel for the generator and any other heating or transportation equipment that has been converted such use.
Hydrogen generation equipment increases the initial cost because the equipment has to be imported; it adds to construction time and requires a second unit to house it.
In the future, with oil prices continually rising, utilizing this technology will become commonplace.
Lorne Oja is an energy consultant, power engineer and a partner in a company that installs solar panels, wind turbines and energy control products in Central Alberta. He built his first off-grid home in 2003 and is in the planning stage for his second. His column appears every second Friday in the Advocate. Contact him at: lorne@solartechnical.ca