Solar power systems, long thought to be the domain of the so-called ‘green movement’ have become commonplace in so many settings and applications as to be almost invisible to anyone not paying attention.
Solar-powered walkway lights and motion sensor floodlights are everywhere you look and for the most part are looked upon as a novelty item.
However, solar is employed to provide power for remote well site controls, which enable communication with a centralized control room.
Solar panels are used by many people for keeping the batteries charged in their RV units, and ranchers are seeing solar-powered watering systems as a more economical way of meeting the water requirements of their herds.
And yes, people are even powering a complete home with solar.
For the homeowner in town, the viability of solar power is not so cut and dried.
Solar can provide backup for when the grid goes down, and also can help reduce the power bill when the system is grid tied, but the payback is often too slow for the economics to justify the expenditure.
Other Canadian jurisdictions subsidize the investment but here in the coal-rich province of Alberta, alternate energy not exactly touted by government.
Presently where solar is most useful is in providing power for the normal residence in the off-grid situation.
Where a new home has to have the grid brought in and that cost has exceeded $25,000, then off-grid becomes very economical, and generally it is for this reason that people look to a hybrid alternate energy system as an alternative for their remote location.
So what kind of person can install an off-grid system?
In essence, anyone who has a modicum of mechanical skills, an awareness of electrical systems and a little familiarity with a computer is a good candidate for running a system.
But people from all areas and walks of life, with a little effort, can operate a solar system or a hybrid solar and wind system.
It has been my experience that quite often it is the lady of the house who shows the most interest in the technology.
The day of the so-called ‘green radical’ is gone.
Ordinary people with ordinary lives are becoming more interested in living with alternate energy.
There is a certain satisfaction and independence in generating your own electrical need, without adding to the problems the world faces now.
More and more people are willing to invest the time and effort into this technology; if not in their main place of residence, then in their cabin or RV.
Solar and wind technology has come into its own and is here to stay.
As time goes on and the technology improves and becomes more economical, we will see more of the green movement.
It is all around us and no longer considered weird sci-fi magic and the domain of the techno-geek.
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