alternative energy for permaculturists. choosing the right alternative energy technologies for your...

Alternative Energy for Permaculturists

Choosing the right technologies for your climate, biome, and context

By Troy Martz

Permaculture Design Principle: 2

Catch and Store Energy

What is Energy?

What is Energy?

• Energy is a property of objects

What is Energy?

• Energy is a property of objects• Transferable via fundamental interactions

What is Energy?

• Energy is a property of objects• Transferable via fundamental interactions• Convertible into many forms

What is Energy?

• Energy is a property of objects• Transferable via fundamental interactions• Convertible into many forms• Can neither be created nor destroyed

What is Energy?

• Energy is a property of objects• Transferable via fundamental interactions• Convertible into many forms• Can neither be created nor destroyed• Energy is potential work

What is Energy?

• Energy is a property of objects• Transferable via fundamental interactions• Convertible into many forms• Can neither be created nor destroyed• Energy is potential work practical view

Forms of Energy

Forms of Energy

• Kinetic Energy Baseball flying through air

Forms of Energy

• Kinetic Energy Baseball flying through air• Potential Energy Book on a shelf

Forms of Energy

• Kinetic Energy Baseball flying through air• Potential Energy Book on a shelf• Thermal, or heat energy Hot coffee

Forms of Energy

• Kinetic Energy Baseball flying through air• Potential Energy Book on a shelf• Thermal, or heat energy Hot coffee• Chemical Energy Your body (ATP)

Forms of Energy

• Kinetic Energy Baseball flying through air• Potential Energy Book on a shelf• Thermal, or heat energy Hot coffee• Chemical Energy Your body (ATP)• Electrical Energy Light bulb

Forms of Energy

• Kinetic Energy Baseball flying through air• Potential Energy Book on a shelf• Thermal, or heat energy Hot coffee• Chemical Energy Your body (ATP)• Electrical Energy Light bulb• Electrochemical Energy Basic battery

Forms of Energy

• Kinetic Energy Baseball flying through air• Potential Energy Book on a shelf• Thermal, or heat energy Hot coffee• Chemical Energy Your body (ATP)• Electrical Energy Light bulb• Electrochemical Energy Basic battery• Electromagnetic Energy Light from the sun

Forms of Energy

• Kinetic Energy Baseball flying through air• Potential Energy Book on a shelf• Thermal, or heat energy Hot coffee• Chemical Energy Your body (ATP)• Electrical Energy Light bulb• Electrochemical Energy Basic battery• Electromagnetic Energy Light from the sun• Sound Energy Bass drum (wave)

Forms of Energy

• Kinetic Energy Baseball flying through air• Potential Energy Book on a shelf• Thermal, or heat energy Hot coffee• Chemical Energy Your body (ATP)• Electrical Energy Light bulb• Electrochemical Energy Basic battery• Electromagnetic Energy Light from the sun• Sound Energy Bass drum (wave)• Nuclear Energy The sun

Energy Transfer

• Heat– Conduction– Thermal electromagnetic radiation

• Work– Electric power transmission– Mechanical water lift

• Mass– Mass movement from one system to another

Energy Transfer Losses

• No transfer of energy is 100% efficient, and usually around 75%– AC DC conversion– Electrolysis Hydrogen

• 3 mechanisms– Conduction– Convection– Radiation

Energy as Work

Energy as Work

• Man power Hunting & gathering

Energy as Work

• Man power Hunting & gathering• Animal power Plow, Chariot

Energy as Work

• Man power Hunting & gathering• Animal power Plow, Chariot • Nature power Waterwheel, windmill

Energy as Work

• Man power Hunting & gathering• Animal power Plow, Chariot • Nature power Waterwheel, windmill• Steam power External combustion

Energy as Work

• Man power Hunting & gathering• Animal power Plow, Chariot • Nature power Waterwheel, windmill• Steam power External combustion• Hydrocarbon power Internal combustion

Energy as Work

• Man power Hunting & gathering• Animal power Plow, Chariot • Nature power Waterwheel, windmill• Steam power External combustion• Hydrocarbon power Internal combustion• Nuclear power Steam turbines

Energy Builds Empires

Worldwide Energy Consumption

kWh/Year Energy Consumption

The Cost of a Watt

US Household Energy Allocation

Heat Solutions

Heat Solutions

• 70% of the total energy needs is in heating air and water. How is this best addressed?

Heat Solutions

• If you need heat, keep it! Insulation is key.

What about the other 30%?

Mechanical & Electrical

Engines, Generators & Motors


• Engines: Use some kind of energy to produce mechanical force



• Generators: Use mechanical force to produce electrical current



• Generators: Use mechanical force to produce electrical current

• (Electrical) Motors: Use electrical current to produce mechanical force

Power: Mechanical & Electrical


• Mechanical Power:– Engine


• Mechanical Power:– Engine

• Electrical Power:– Engine + Generator– Photovoltaics

Energy Storage

Energy Storage

• Batteries Electrochemical

Energy Storage

• Batteries Electrochemical • Alcohol / oil Chemical / Molecular

Energy Storage

• Batteries Electrochemical • Alcohol / oil Chemical / Molecular• Steam / compressed air Pressure

Energy Storage

• Batteries Electrochemical • Alcohol / oil Chemical / Molecular• Steam / compressed air Pressure• Carbon Molecular

Energy Storage

• Batteries Electrochemical • Alcohol / oil Chemical / Molecular• Steam / compressed air Pressure• Carbon Molecular• Flywheel Kinetic

BatteriesNiFe• Very long life• Superior

discharge• Expensive

Lead-Acid• Cheap• High energy

density• Short life

LiFePO4• High energy

density• Light-weight• Expensive

Common Alternative Technologies


• Solar panels (photovoltaics)


• Solar panels (photovoltaics)• Wind turbines


• Solar panels (photovoltaics)• Wind turbines• Micro hydro


• Solar panels (photovoltaics)• Wind turbines• Micro hydro• Steam (Combustion | CST)


• Solar panels (photovoltaics)• Wind turbines• Micro hydro• Steam (Combustion | CST)• Anaerobic digestion (bio gas)


• Solar panels (photovoltaics)• Wind turbines• Micro hydro• Steam (Combustion | CST)• Anaerobic digestion (bio gas)• Gasification (biomass or charcoal)


• Solar panels (photovoltaics)• Wind turbines• Micro hydro• Steam (Combustion | CST)• Anaerobic digestion (bio gas)• Gasification (biomass or charcoal)• Ethanol


• Solar panels (photovoltaics)• Wind turbines• Micro hydro• Steam (Combustion | CST)• Anaerobic digestion (bio gas)• Gasification (biomass or charcoal)• Ethanol• Bio-diesel | SVO | WVO

Solar PV

Solar PV

• Photons excite electrons into becoming charge carriers for an electric current via semi-conducting materials.

Solar PV

• Solar Energy Direct current electricity• 1.36 kW per square meter solar potential• Extremely efficient at 12-20% (38.5% Sharp)– Photosynthetic efficiency of sugar cane: .38%– 6H2O + 6CO2 + energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2

• Some additional equipment may be needed– Inverter needed for AC power– Charge controller needed for charging batteries

Solar PV

Solar PV

Advantages• Very Renewable• Very low maintenance• Not dependent on a

generator• Longevity (30+ years?)…

No moving parts• Quiet

Disadvantages• Sunlight needed• Expensive (now)• Additional equipment

needed• Not a storage of energy• High performance with

dual-axis tilting is expensive

Wind Turbines

Wind Turbines

• Converts kinetic energy from the wind into electrical power

Wind Turbines

Wind Turbines

Advantages• Freely captured• Zero emissions• Cost effective• Low impact*

Disadvantages• Not predictable• Can be noisy• Not a storage of energy• Turbine blades may harm

wildlife

Micro Hydro

Micro Hydro

• Converts kinetic energy from flowing water into electrical power

Micro Hydro

Advantages• Freely captured• Zero emissions• No fuel reservoir required• Not as sporadic as wind

Disadvantages• Not a storage of energy• May be seasonally affected• Distance from site• Energy expansion not

possible

Steam

• A heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid

Steam

• 200 BC: mechanical motion but impractical• 1606: Ayanz y Beaumont patented the first

steam engine• 1712: Newcomen's atmospheric engine was

first true steam engine• 1781: James Watt produced continuous rotary

motion• 1883: 10,000 hp had become feasible

Steam

Advantages• Less wear and tear vs. ICE• Can be used as CHP• Any form of biomass or

solar radiation can be used• Massive energy when

compressed

Disadvantages• Very slow start• Lower efficiency• Higher start up cost• Can be very dangerous*

Ethanol

Ethanol

• Microbial fermentation, distillation, and dehydration process to produce alcohol fuel.

Ethanol

Advantages• Renewable• High energy storage• Works on nearly any

modern gas engine• Clean gas*• Carbon neutral*

Disadvantages• Preparation time• Low storage longevity

(hygroscopic)• Large land area needed for

feedstock (usually)

Biodiesel / SVO / WVO


• Biodiesel is made by chemically reacting lipids with alcohol producing fatty acid esters

• WVO is atomized for direct combustion


Advantages• Renewable• High energy storage• Can be repurposed from

food industry (WVO)

Disadvantages• Preparation time• Large land area needed for

feedstock (usually)• It takes energy to make

biodiesel• Thickens in cold weather

(SVO and WVO)

Anaerobic Digestion (Biogas)


• Microbial process of breaking down organic material in an oxygen-starved environment to produce methane.


• Performs best at 85-95 °F (30-35 °C)• C/N ratio 25:1• Water is 90% by weight• pH 7-8.5• CH4 60-70%• CO2, H2S, N2, CO, trace hydrocarbons


Advantages• Renewable• Steady production of gas

from biomass waste• Accessible technology• Powerful gas• Clean gas (no smoke)• Spent effluent is a great

fertilizer

Disadvantages• Limited storage of energy• Production drastically

slows in cold climates• Some corrosive elements• Low portability

Gasification

Gasification

• The production of synthesis gas from biomass

Gasification

• Ideal for woody biomass• Some biomass gasifiers can run on pellets• Charcoal gasifiers can use the pyrolyzed

version of any dense biomass (i.e. wood or pellets)

Gasification

Gasification

Advantages• Renewable• High storage of energy

(C type)• Massive power availability• Clean gas• Can be used as a catalyst• Wood or pellets • High Portability

Disadvantages• Feedstock preparation• Tar (biomass type)• Char dust (charcoal type)

Simple Biomes

Are Really Complex Biomes

Context (HM)

• House / condo• Homestead• Large farm / ranch• Remote village / community• Intentional community• Transition town / suburb• Country / region

Energy Context (HM)

• What is the objective?• Who are the stakeholders?• What are the energy needs?• Energy type? Electrical, mechanical, CHP?• How critical? Cold room failure, fish pond, etc.• Force Majeure / Act of God ?• Diversification / Back-up / Community?• CHP… Do you need heat AND power?

Example #1: Jackman, Maine

Questionable Plan• Solar Panels• WVO• Biogas

Solid Plan• Gasification• Wind Turbine• Micro hydro

Example #2: Yuma, Arizona

Questionable Plan• Gasification• Wind Turbine• Micro hydro

Solid Plan• Solar Panels• WVO*• Biogas

Find & Use Superior Genetics

• Black locust • Algae• Sugar palm• Bamboo• Leucaena• Switch grass• Cattails

• Elephant grass• Paulownia• Hybrid willow• poplar• Honey locust• Miscanthus• Hemp

Stacking Functions (Ben Falk)

Stacking Functions (Ben Falk)

• Biogas digester inside house (thermal mass)• Gas collection outside (colder = denser)• Rocket mass heater style retort / stove … Get

all the heat + charcoal for power• Hydronic heating from generator tailpipe

Key Points

• Reduce excess energy usage if possible (be Nigerian)• Leverage man, animal, and nature power• Reduce energy transfer (DC AC) & line distances• Know your climate & biome (biomimic) and take

what Mother Nature is giving you• Have a realistic energy context (surplus)• EROEI Time horizon• Stack Functions as much as possible

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

—Benjamin Franklin

alternative energy for permaculturists. choosing the right alternative energy technologies for your...

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