alternative energy for permaculturists. choosing the right alternative energy technologies for your...
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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
• 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, Generators & Motors
• Engines: Use some kind of energy to produce mechanical force
Engines, Generators & Motors
• Engines: Use some kind of energy to produce mechanical force
• Generators: Use mechanical force to produce electrical current
Engines, Generators & Motors
• Engines: Use some kind of energy to produce mechanical force
• Generators: Use mechanical force to produce electrical current
• (Electrical) Motors: Use electrical current to produce mechanical force
Engines, Generators & Motors
• Engines: Use some kind of energy to produce mechanical force
• Generators: Use mechanical force to produce electrical current
• (Electrical) Motors: Use electrical current to produce mechanical force
Power: Mechanical & Electrical
Power: Mechanical & Electrical
• Mechanical Power:– Engine
Power: Mechanical & Electrical
• 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
Common Alternative Technologies
• Solar panels (photovoltaics)
Common Alternative Technologies
• Solar panels (photovoltaics)• Wind turbines
Common Alternative Technologies
• Solar panels (photovoltaics)• Wind turbines• Micro hydro
Common Alternative Technologies
• Solar panels (photovoltaics)• Wind turbines• Micro hydro• Steam (Combustion | CST)
Common Alternative Technologies
• Solar panels (photovoltaics)• Wind turbines• Micro hydro• Steam (Combustion | CST)• Anaerobic digestion (bio gas)
Common Alternative Technologies
• Solar panels (photovoltaics)• Wind turbines• Micro hydro• Steam (Combustion | CST)• Anaerobic digestion (bio gas)• Gasification (biomass or charcoal)
Common Alternative Technologies
• Solar panels (photovoltaics)• Wind turbines• Micro hydro• Steam (Combustion | CST)• Anaerobic digestion (bio gas)• Gasification (biomass or charcoal)• Ethanol
Common Alternative Technologies
• 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
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 / SVO / WVO
• Biodiesel is made by chemically reacting lipids with alcohol producing fatty acid esters
• WVO is atomized for direct combustion
Biodiesel / SVO / WVO
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)
Anaerobic Digestion (Biogas)
• Microbial process of breaking down organic material in an oxygen-starved environment to produce methane.
Anaerobic Digestion (Biogas)
• 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
Anaerobic Digestion (Biogas)
Anaerobic Digestion (Biogas)
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
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
EROEI
Stacking Functions (Ben Falk)
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
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