One of the biggest challenges of living off the grid is how to generate your own power. Two of the major concerns are actually producing enough electricity and doing so safely. This can seem impossible to some. But luckily there are several options open to you.
1- SOLAR
Firstly, and most popular is using solar panels to create power. This is safe and relatively hassle-free once you’ve set up all the equipment.
In order to do this, you need solar panels which capture the sun’s energy using photovoltaic cells. This is then converted into electricity which needs to be stored in batteries.
An essential benefit of this method is its diversity. You can use traditional cells, or specialized solar tiles which can be used to cover your roof. Solar panels for water heating are also popular. Besides this, there are even ovens which harness the sun’s light and heat to do all your cooking for you.
Another benefit is that you can use this virtually anywhere where there is sunlight.
PROS:
Low maintenance cost
Renewable energy source
Variety of uses
Accessible
Small carbon footprint
Can produce enough for all your power needs
CONS:
Expensive setup
Depends on the weather
Storage batteries are expensive
Needs space
2- WINDPOWER
Another of nature’s forces which you can harness is wind. Therefore, it’s also a renewable source of energy.
If you have a piece of land, you could install your own wind turbine. There are ones that you can mount on poles and others on buildings themselves. Sometimes, however, there are zoning laws which restrict or completely prohibit their use in residential areas.
As long as you have space to install one large enough, you can generate enough electricity to power all your appliances.
PROS:
More stable than solar power
Small maintenance
Renewable energy source
Low carbon footprint
Can produce enough for all your power needs
CONS:
Zoning laws could forbid it
Needs space
Noisy and unattractive
Weather dependent
Expensive setup
3- HYDROPOWER
One more potential source of power is using water. This is often used on a large scale at big dams and lakes.
In its basic form, hydropower requires diverting water to flow over a turbine which generates power. The amount of electricity it can produce depends on the amount of water and vertical distance that it falls over the propellers.
Of course, the most significant downside of this type of production is that it is location dependent. You need to have access to a stream or some kind of running water.
PROS:
Stable source of power
Renewable energy
Low carbon footprint
A continuous source of power
Can produce enough for all your power needs
CONS:
Difficult to set up
Location dependent
Needs access to running water
Expensive setup
Might need professional help
4- FUEL BASED GENERATOR
A fourth method to generate electricity for your mobile home is using generators which run on fuel. They primarily produce AC power which is used as it is being produced. But there are some units which allow you to store energy too.
One downside is that they need to be continuously refueled. For example, most of the models run on gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, or propane. Therefore, it can be costly to maintain.
However, as long as you keep it full, it is a reliable method.
Overall, it will work better if you use it as a supplement to other power sources. As a matter of fact, people most commonly use it as a substitute when their electricity goes off.
PROS:
Useful as a supplement to other power sources
Reliable costs
Inexpensive setup
Easy to use
Accessible
CONS:
Noisy
Needs fuel to run
Expensive maintenance costs
Not renewable
Higher carbon footprint
Not all have storage capabilities
5- BIOMASS
In addition to these, you could also produce energy using biomass. Biomass is an organic material. Manufacturers typically use industrial byproducts to make them. For example, you can find wood pellets which are made from sawdust.
Most people consider it to be renewable as it is sometimes made from materials like agricultural waste and manure.
It has a variety of uses. You can use it to produce electricity by burning it to produce steam. This steam can then turn turbines to generate power. But this can be a complicated setup. Otherwise, you could burn it to heat your home or run stoves.
The main downside is that you will always need biomass to keep it running. That is why it is typically only used by farmers who have access to excess organic waste.
PROS:
Renewable energy source
Variety of uses
Produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions when compared to fossil fuel use
Works well for farmers
CONS:
Difficult setup
Expensive maintenance costs
Needs biomass to run
LIVING OFF-GRID
Generating your own electricity is typically the first step on your road to becoming self-reliant. However, there are many other steps to the process. Luckily, mobile homes are very versatile, and many would say they are the ideal type of property to help you achieve an “off the grid” way of living.
Comments