total energy independence!

[irie-i]

this stirling generator genrates 3.5kw from WOOD, sawdust, virtually any combustible materials.

http://www.stirling-tech.com/stirling/total.htm

how much $$ ? if you have to ask you cant afford it. it actually doesnt say how much on the website, so i presume its very pricey

 

[Allusive]

Dunno, but that isn't energy independence (kind of an oxymoron, pipe dream IMHO) you are completely dependent on wood, sawdust, or other combustible materials. Sounds cool though, because it is so versatile.

Thanks for the link.

 

[Buzzsmirk!]

the item looks great !!!
but "independance" ? NO WAY!!
that thing only gets one to four hours of run time on a full "woodtank"

that means the thing owns your ass cuzz you gotta "feed" it quite often!!!
you would be sick of it all within days if not hours!!!
nice product though!! would be nice if u had NO other options but you have many!!
so be glad about that fact!!
Diesel gensets are the best way to go "off grid" and the diesels are about 35% as efficient as the "GRID" in terms of dollars spent per kilowatt/hr.

there was a guy on O.G. who was seriously lookin at building his own private DAM and generate power that way (hydroelectric) but he was just dreaming
in all likleyhood cuzz a DAM would be a mammoth task and the permitting requirements are probably prohibitive if even obtainable IMHO

the "grid" still has the market cornered and the most convenient too (just pay the bill!)
once diesel fuel went up and stayed there the generator option
became much less attractive!!!
BUZZ!

 

[irie-i]

it would be pretty easy to design an automatic hopper that drops wood fuel in when necessary. and perhaps the thing could charge a battery bank so it doesnt always need to be on.

where i live i could have trucks drop off sawdust or woodchips for free all day long.

i realize the st-5 isnt for serious commercial growers, but it is a viable alternative to grid power imo

one doesnt need a dam to run a pelton wheel, just "head". a pipe far enough upstream (depending on the slope) could run it. its just a water wheel generator.

 

[Buzzsmirk!]

IN THEORY!!!!

IN THEORY!!!!

it would be pretty easy to design an automatic hopper that drops wood fuel in when necessary. and perhaps the thing could charge a battery bank so it doesnt always need to be on.

where i live i could have trucks drop off sawdust or woodchips for free all day long.

i realize the st-5 isnt for serious commercial growers, but it is a viable alternative to grid power imo

one doesnt need a dam to run a pelton wheel, just "head". a pipe far enough upstream (depending on the slope) could run it. its just a water wheel generator.

yes i pondered the "hopper" idea in my head too but didnt post it, as how would u automate the ash removal prior to the hooper droppin in a new load is what hung me up.

we own some mountain property and we tapped a stream as you stated about hydro electric and w/ about 100 feet of drop from our holding tank the pressure/flow is phenomenal!!! but we use a TANK with a stream tapp hundreds of feet above it, i doubt continuous flow would be sustained for long enough to make more than a few hours worth of power dailly as our stream is just too small.
a trout farm with terraced ponds with water flow cascading from one pond to the next one a few feet of grade below might be feasable for enough water to do it.

battery banks are expensive and the batteries have a limited lifespan so
replacement must be factored in to operational costs also.

i agree that a small scale grow might be possible but think of the initial outlay in terms of dollars spent vs return
u gotta buy the woodburning unit $$$$$ and then modify it more$$$, buy a DC charging apperatus $$, buy a battery bank $$$, buy an inverter$$$ and u gotta engineer it all to work right ( gonna have BUGS to t-shoot fo shure).

u will need a substantial amount of space to hold all that stuff too.

sounds great in theory!!! but the actual "ways and means" of doin it wouldnt be worth it unless u went to a large scale and cut the storage option out just use the A/C power output directly IMHO

just take a pencil and do the math and you will be "enlightend"

id rather spend the money on ways to get sunlight to the grow like
"solartubes" ROWS OF EM!!!!!!!!!
just my .02
peace!
BUZZ!

 

[irie-i]

fair enough buzz! i guess i was a little over excited when i discovered that such a thing even exists.

 

[vhGhost]

it is an interesting generator

 

[nukn futz]

diesel generators are still the way to go right now, you can run them on waste vegetable oil, which can be had for nothing, strain it and away you go. even if you decide to make biodiesel out of it it may cost 50 cents a gallon to produce.

 

[Buzzsmirk!]

diesel generators are still the way to go right now, you can run them on waste vegetable oil, which can be had for nothing, strain it and away you go. even if you decide to make biodiesel out of it it may cost 50 cents a gallon to produce.

oh yeah!!!! i smell fried chicken and chronic kickin!!!
BUZZ!

 

[bush@crackhouse]

diesel generators are still the way to go right now, you can run them on waste vegetable oil, which can be had for nothing, strain it and away you go. even if you decide to make biodiesel out of it it may cost 50 cents a gallon to produce.

took the words out of my mouth..
might as well and take this damn drought too... hehe
yes, biodiesel is the way to go