The first thing you need to rely on is number and nature of systems consuming energy. Typically, the list of such systems includes air conditioning, heating, and pumping water supply from a well. It is also necessary to take into account the number of frequently used household electrical appliances and refrigeration equipment. All of the above requires uninterrupted power supply, which can be provided by any independent source.

The second stage of selection will be the calculation of the total power. The consumption indicators of each device are added together. The final autonomous power supply for a country house, cottage or apartment should exceed the received amount by 20-30%.

There are power outages in small towns and rural areas. Let's talk about different options autonomous energy supply for a country house.

The cost of electricity supplied by central networks is growing from year to year, but its quality is not getting better. There are still power outages in rural areas. And today we will look at options for autonomous energy supply for a country house.

Your own electricity

• Not
• Renewable Energy

If within the city the problem of providing your living space with electricity arises only periodically, then with country house everything is much more complicated - utility networks are often damaged as a result of natural phenomena and the actions of non-ferrous metal hunters.

You can, of course, return to the decisions of the beginning of the last century, namely kerosene lamps and torches, after all, go to bed at sunset, but we are already accustomed to the benefits of civilization, inextricably linked with electricity. Let's consider the issue of energy independence of a country cottage from unreliable central communications.

Ways to power your home

Owning a house in a rural area, at a considerable distance from industrial centers, is attractive from the standpoint of silence, clean air surrounded by natural surroundings. However, there are situations when household appliances in such a house refuse to work due to lower or excessive high voltage in the electrical network than the nominal (220 V) - and the differences can exceed 10%, established by GOST 13109–97.

The problem with the lack of voltage lies in the significant length of wire communications through which electric current is supplied to the houses - the farther the cottage is from the transformer substation (transformer substation), the more the voltage drops due to the resistance of the wires.

During the day, the voltage in rural areas changes in relation to the nominal due to insufficient power of transformer substations and electrical networks - it is lower during the day, because at this time there are most electricity consumers, but at night it rises sharply, since at this time consumption is minimal.

Voltage surges can cause failure household appliances- to put it simply, it burns out. Modern household appliances, especially those made in Europe, are designed for 10% voltage drops in the electrical network, but no more, and in rural areas 20-30% surges are quite possible.

It is possible to compensate for differences in the electrical network using stabilizers, but in the event of a critical voltage drop (more than 45%), even the best of them will not help. Devices are required that can provide power to household appliances in the absence of electricity from central networks. Their choice is determined by the purposes for which the equipment will be used - backup power supply, additional or main.

Equipment for backup power supply is activated automatically or manually by its owner when the power supply from the central network is interrupted or when the voltage in it critically drops - it is capable of maintaining the operation of household appliances for a limited time until the power supply is restored.

Additional (mixed) power supply is necessary in cases where the existing voltage in the network is insufficient, and households intend to use energy-intensive household appliances.

If the cottage cannot be connected to central networks, as well as when the quality of the power supply is constantly low, equipment for autonomous power supply is needed, acting as the main supplier of electricity.

To simplify the task assigned to backup and additional power supply equipment, it will be convenient to divide household appliances in the house into three groups:

1. The first will contain electrical appliances, the uninterrupted operation of which is not required and you can get by with the main source of power supply. These include “warm floor” heating systems or wall-mounted infrared panels, electric saunas, groups of lamps designed for various lighting scenarios, etc.
2. The second group includes household appliances that provide comfortable living conditions for household members - basic lighting, air conditioners, kitchen appliances, televisions, audio equipment. Household appliances from this group require backup power.
3. Electrical appliances included in the third group are vital - emergency lighting, security and fire alarm systems, electronic locks, heating boilers, controlled by automation, borehole pumps etc. Full operation of equipment from the third group is possible only with uninterrupted power supply, provided by additional or backup sources without fail.

Grouping household electricity consumers will allow you to correctly select the power of electricity-generating equipment, assess actual needs and not overpay for an overly powerful one, or purchase a clearly weak model.

Any equipment for autonomous power supply is not capable of producing electricity from nothing - it requires initial resources, which are divided into renewable and non-renewable. We explore the types of devices that generate electricity, depending on the resources consumed.

Autonomous energy supply to the home using equipment that consumes petroleum products or natural gas and generates electricity is most popular among owners of suburban real estate due to its wide popularity. However, only generators running on gasoline or diesel fuel are popular; less is known about the rest.

Gasoline electric generators. Small sizes and weight, are cheaper than diesel ones. But they are not capable of supplying electricity uninterruptedly - their operating duration is no more than 6 hours in a row (motor life is about 4 months), i.e. gasoline generators are designed for periodic operation and are suitable in cases where the supply of electricity from the main supplier is interrupted for a period of about 2 -5 hours and only occasionally. Such generators are suitable only as a backup source of electricity.

Diesel generators. They are massive, large and expensive, but their power and service life are significantly higher than those of gasoline models. Despite the significant cost, diesel generators are more profitable to operate than gasoline ones - cheap diesel fuel and uninterrupted operation for over 2 years, i.e. this electric generator can operate for days and months on end, subject to timely refueling. Diesel fuel generators are suitable as a backup, additional and main supplier of electricity.

Gas power generators. Their weight, size and cost are close to gasoline units of the same power. They run on propane, butane and natural gas, but are more efficient on the first two types of gaseous fuel. Despite the continuous operation period similar to gasoline generators - no more than 6 hours, gas power generators have a longer service life, averaging about a year. Gas generators are suitable as a main source of electricity with great reservations, but they are quite suitable for a backup supplier of electricity.

Cogenerators or mini-CHP. If we compare them with the electric generators described above, they have two significant advantages: they are able to produce not only electrical energy, but also thermal energy; have a long working life with uninterrupted use, averaging 4 years. Depending on the model, cogenerators operate on diesel, gaseous and solid fuel. Having significant dimensions, weight and cost, mini-CHPs are not suitable for supplying energy to one house outside the city, since their electrical power starts from 70 kW - thanks to one such installation, the issue of year-round provision of electricity and heat to a village of several houses can be completely resolved.

Battery-based uninterruptible power supplies. By and large, they do not belong to generator sets, because they are not capable of independently generating electricity, only storing it and delivering it to the consumer. The energy intensity of a UPS is determined by the capacity and number of batteries in the complex, depending on this and the number of electricity consumers. battery life UPS can range from several hours to several days. The service life of one UPS set is on average 6–8 years.

With regard to generating sets, one point needs to be clarified - the given service life does not mean that after its depletion, the electric generator will have to be disposed of and bought a new one, it is only necessary to produce major renovation and, despite some loss of power, its performance will be restored. You should also follow the rules for the care and operation of the generator.

Renewable Energy

In the natural environment of our planet, sources of energy are constantly present or arise periodically, the production of which is not related to human activity - wind, water flow in rivers, radiation from the sun.

Wind generators. They are capable of converting wind energy into electricity, but at a fairly high cost, the efficiency of wind generators does not exceed 30%. The service life of wind generators is about 20 years, the continuity of electricity generation depends on the intensity of the wind. These installations can be considered as a full-fledged source of power supply only if they are equipped with a UPS, as well as a backup electric generator (petrol, diesel) in case of no wind.

Solar panels. They absorb the sun's energy and convert it into electricity. And if the winds blow at an inconsistent speed, then the sun's rays illuminate the Earth during every daylight hours. Efficiency solar panels is about 20%, service life is 20 years. As in the case of wind generators, solar installations must be equipped with a UPS. The need for a backup generator depends on the intensity of solar radiation in a given area - in areas with a sufficient number of sunny days, an additional generator will not be needed and they can be used as the main source of electricity.

Mini-hydroelectric power station. Water energy, compared to wind and solar, is much more stable - if the first two sources are unstable (night, calm), then water in streams and rivers flows at any time of the year. The cost of equipment for mini-hydroelectric power plants is higher than that of wind generators and solar panels due to a more complex design, because a water-based electric generator operates in aggressive conditions. The efficiency of mini-hydroelectric power plants is about 40–50%, and their service life is over 50 years. A mini-hydroelectric power station is capable of uninterruptedly supplying electricity to several houses at once for a full year.

Having read the recommendation about dividing household appliances into groups according to importance, all that remains is to figure out how exactly to select the power of the electric generator for appliances from one or more groups. The simplest way- sum up the nameplate power household appliances, for example: microwave - 0.9 kW; mixer - 0.4 kW; electric kettle - 2 kW; washing machine- 2.2 kW; energy-saving lamp - on average 0.02 kW; TV - 0.15 kW; satellite dish - 0.03 kW, etc. If we add up the powers of the listed household appliances, we get an energy consumption of 5.7 kW/h - does this mean that an electric generator with a capacity of at least 7.5 kW (with a 30% power reserve) will be required? ?

Not at all, because this equipment does not work all the time, i.e. you should also take into account its approximate operating time, for example: washing machine - 3 hours per week; electric kettle- 10 minutes for each boiling of water; microwave oven - 10 minutes to heat one serving of food; mixer - 10 minutes; energy-saving lamp - about 5 hours a day, etc. It turns out that to provide electricity to the household appliances described as an example, a generator with a power of about 3 kW is sufficient; you just need to not turn on the equipment at the same time, distribute the load on the generator over time.

The choice of one or another type of electric generator, especially one powered by renewable energy sources, primarily depends on the availability of initial fuel resources. For example, a gas generator requires a stable supply of liquefied natural gas, i.e., cylinders or a gas holder tank are required, and for efficient energy supply using solar panels, a sufficient number of sunny days per year is required. published

If you have any questions on this topic, ask them to the experts and readers of our project.

If your home does not have access to a power line, then you do not have to spend money on connecting to centralized power supply networks; there is another option - an autonomous system. This method undoubtedly involves significant costs, however, you will be completely independent of the networks, and the resulting electricity will not harm the environment.

When are autonomous power supply systems beneficial?

Laying new power lines requires significant costs, and if the installation of a substation is also necessary, then the connection cost will increase significantly. Moreover, this money will be used to purchase equipment that will not become your property, but will belong to local energy networks. Thus, an autonomous system can cost less (when taking into account electricity bills) than connecting to a power line.

It is worth noting the fact that the autonomous system will be your property; with proper care, it will last a very long time, and by regularly checking its condition, you will protect yourself from sudden power outages.

If you live in an area with suitable climatic conditions, then the cost of energy generated by an autonomous system may be lower than when connected to centralized networks.

This method of generating electricity is completely safe for the environment, so it is always “beneficial” for nature. Caring for the environment can and should be demonstrated in all available ways.

Types of autonomous power supply systems

There are different types sources of electrical energy: a generator running on gasoline or diesel fuel (GTG), a wind-electric installation, a photovoltaic (solar) battery, a small hydroelectric power station.

It is advisable to have not one, but two sources of energy, in which case you will be fully insured against blackouts. As a rule, LTG is used as an additional source. The need for it may not arise; usually this source is idle, however, it can come in handy at any time.

The second necessary element is a battery. Without it, an autonomous system cannot exist, since a renewable resource is not constant. Electricity is stored in the battery, and you always have access to electricity. Even for systems where the source is a generator, a battery is needed that allows you to turn it off for a while and use electricity constantly.

Another important part of an autonomous power supply system is an inverter, which converts direct current into alternating current. The need is determined by high losses in wires DC. In addition, most devices require 220 V AC, which you can get from an inverter.

Be sure to purchase a battery charge controller; it can be separate or built into the inverter. The controller's task is to monitor the condition of the battery and prevent complete discharge and overcharging.

The cost of an autonomous power supply system also includes all the necessary equipment: cables, circuit breakers, panels, grounding system, switches, etc. You can read more about the prices of autonomous water supply systems on the websites of specialized companies that design and install such systems.

What you need to pay attention to

First of all, you should take care of the voltage; the higher the energy efficiency, the lower the costs in the long run. So, for example, led lamps consume 10 times less energy than incandescent lamps. We are talking not only about saving energy itself, but also about saving on the system. Less power of the energy source means a significant reduction in the costs of an autonomous system. In addition, you will need a smaller battery, which will also affect the estimate.

Before choosing an automatic power supply system, it is necessary to carry out economic calculations. Even if the main goal of this installation is not economic benefit, but, for example, environmental safety, calculations are necessary. Without them, you will not be able to imagine not only the total amount, but also the final cost of each kilowatt of energy received.

Economic calculations require information about natural opportunities or obstacles. For example, wind power plants located in the Moscow region will generate only 10-15% of their rated power, this energy source for of this region would be an irrational choice. Solar batteries are also suitable only for some regions of Russia, where the number of sunny days is much higher, otherwise the profitability of an autonomous system is reduced.

You also need to read all the technical and legal literature and consult with experts in these fields. Only after this can a decision be made about installing an autonomous system with the selected energy source.

Do not forget that this installation must be maintained. When connected to a power line, all costs for replacing outdated equipment, as well as maintaining it, become the responsibility of the local power grid, and in the case of an autonomous power supply system, it is your responsibility. The easiest to maintain systems are those powered by photovoltaic batteries. You need to create a maintenance plan and follow it. Remember that the better you take care of your off-grid electrical system, the longer it will last you and the more money you can save.

Another tip that is suitable for home owners who already have a network connection is to not disconnect. You will only pay for the electricity you consume, and its quantity will be reduced to a minimum. The existing connection is your backup power source, which will only be needed when the main one does not work. In addition, some networks accept excess energy generated by off-grid systems. This way you can not only save money, but also earn money.

When building a country house, even during the design process, it is necessary to pay attention to its power supply, which will allow you to create comfortable living. Modern life It is impossible to imagine without lighting and electrical appliances. Therefore, it is very important to provide your future home with uninterrupted electricity. To do this, you will need to create an autonomous power supply by choosing an energy source option.

Requirements for an autonomous power supply system

The supply of electricity to a home depends on the total power of its consumers: refrigeration equipment, household appliances, heating systems, pumping equipment. Each type of consumer has its own power However, the requirements for the power supply network are the same for everyone.

On one's own the work done will cost much less services of invited specialists. But, it should be taken into account that it is necessary to have certain skills to work with special equipment, and to have the level of technical education of the homeowner.

Types of electricity sources

Autonomous supply of electricity to a private home is most often provided by:

• uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) in the form of batteries;
• solar panels;
• mini-power plants with wind, gas, diesel and gasoline generators.

In our country generators are most often used, which operate using thermal energy - gas, gasoline and diesel fuel.

Mini power plants or generators

Such EPS are easy to use and relatively cheap.

Advantages of generators:

The disadvantages of this installation include:

1. The need for constant maintenance. It will be necessary to regularly check the oil level and fuel availability.
2. Generators are quite noisy devices. Therefore, if it is not possible to install them away from the house, then even when using silencers, the noise they produce makes the use of the installations not very comfortable.
3. Not all autonomous mini-power plants are capable of producing a stable voltage and a pure sine wave at the output.
4. Generators require good ventilation and a separate, insulated room.

Batteries or uninterruptible power supplies

Such devices charge when there is electricity in the network and release electricity during power outages.

The disadvantages of batteries include limited operating time and relatively high cost. The battery life of a UPS directly depends on the capacity of its batteries.

Such an installation would be the right solution for apartment building with independent heating.

Solar power generators

Solar panels are special photovoltaic safe modules that have protection on the outside made of tempered textured glass, which increases the absorption of sunlight several times.

• Such electric generators can be considered the most promising type of equipment for achieving autonomous home electrification.
• The device includes a set of batteries that stores electric current and supplies it at night.
• The solar panels come with a special inverter that can convert current from DC to AC.
• Devices equipped with silicon monocrystals are the most durable modules. They can operate for thirty years without reducing the amount of energy produced and efficiency.
• One correctly selected solar battery is able to provide the entire house with the necessary amount of electricity to operate all household equipment.

Wind energy or wind power stations

If local weather conditions do not allow the use of solar power generators, then wind energy can be used.

• This energy is taken through turbines, which are located on towers three meters high.
• Energy is converted using inverters installed in autonomous wind turbines. The main condition is the presence of wind at a speed of at least fourteen kilometers per hour.
• The generator set also includes an inverter unit and batteries that store electricity.

Installation of such devices is impossible in places where there is no natural air movement. This is a significant disadvantage of wind power plants.

Portable hydroelectric power stations for home

This is a device for autonomous power supply driven by water flow. They can only be used in houses that are located near small rivers and streams. Therefore, hydroelectric power plants are the least common devices.

Scheme of autonomous power supply for a private house (SAE)

Installations must be equipped with all necessary elements, which will need to be arranged sequentially.

1. A source of electricity, in the form of one of the generators, a battery, or a solar panel.
2. A charger that will convert the voltage coming from the primary source to the values ​​​​necessary for the battery.
3. Battery for storing and releasing electricity.
4. An inverter that creates the required voltage.

Before purchasing a source of autonomous power supply for your home, you need to determine the tasks assigned to it. In addition, you need to start from your financial capabilities, since not everyone can afford windmills and solar panels.

From a practicality point of view, it is best to give preference to generators running on gas or diesel fuel. Gasoline installation not designed for continuous long-term operation. Most often it is used as a safety net during emergency power outages.

A more profitable option is to use several devices at once. For example, you can install batteries and generator device. And so that the choice does not disappoint, you should consult with specialists before purchasing.