Sun, 03 May 2026 09:59:15 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9454#Comment_9454 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9454#Comment_9454 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 11:45:37 +0000 geegee
Has anyone any advice on the most cost effective generator and fuel type and would such an alternative be viable and reliable for constant use? Would I need a back-up generator for the generator?! Anyone any experience of using one in a rural house/hotel or could point me in the right direction with suitable web links?

Many thanks.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9460#Comment_9460 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9460#Comment_9460 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:12:44 +0000 tony
Sounds like you should be cooking with gas or bio gas.

May be laundry could be done by hand as part of the training?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9537#Comment_9537 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9537#Comment_9537 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:55:33 +0000 howdytom https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9538#Comment_9538 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9538#Comment_9538 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:16:15 +0000 howdytom https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9589#Comment_9589 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9589#Comment_9589 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:34:56 +0000 barrywi ]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9590#Comment_9590 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9590#Comment_9590 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 12:18:52 +0000 ted
I would try to find the lowest possible energy consuming appliances and work practices that I could to try to reduce the peak demand to more reasonable levels as a first step. Can you provide any sort of breakdown of the figures?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9615#Comment_9615 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9615#Comment_9615 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:18:51 +0000 stephendv http://www.zytech.es/bg/en/index.htm]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9634#Comment_9634 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9634#Comment_9634 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:02:37 +0000 geegee
Tony - hydro (and wind and PV) power have been ruled out on practical and environmental reasons. I don't think asking guests to wash their own laundry in the river would go down well - we are more luxury 'eco-chic' than DIY 'eco-geek'!

As we are using biomass supplemented with solar HW panels for heating and hot water, if I can find a small enough biomass CHP, Howdytom, that would be ideal, although I have been told there is nothing suitable on the market as my needs are TOO small. I would hate to lose the biomass for H&HW as it is local, organic and cheap hence looking for the most cost/environmentally efficient alternative to providing electricity without a grid connection. I will check out your suggestions, though and I understand smaller biomass CHP units are being developed.

Ted and Barry, I agree 70kw seems a high electrical load, it probably is! When we did a feasibility study we arrived at this following a series of detailed calcs and breakdown of energy usage for the energy-efficient building design, appliance specification and operational efficiencies but essentially this is worst case scenario with full occupancy and sizing to meet peaks. We will not be using anywhere near this level most of the time, could probably get away with less but I prefer to have the larger capacity just in case...

Assuming I have exhausted all options and reduced demand as much as possible, but still need a generator to produce 70kw - what should I consider and what would you recommend?

Just to fill you in, I am in southern spain - up to 60% grants available for biomass and solar power but not PV, which worked out prohibitively expensive.

Regards,
Geegee.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9636#Comment_9636 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9636#Comment_9636 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:10:40 +0000 geegee https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9662#Comment_9662 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9662#Comment_9662 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:58:31 +0000 chuckey Frank]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9664#Comment_9664 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9664#Comment_9664 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:13:36 +0000 ted https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9700#Comment_9700 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9700#Comment_9700 Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:48:42 +0000 geegee
We are catering for 20-30 persons plus a house for us, so maybe the 70kw doesn't look so bad in those terms, I do trust the engineer, he is one of the leaders in sustainable engineering over here, but you guys have still got me thinking that he must have overspecified! I guess we can always consume less but we can't consume more if we undersize the kit...

Nobody mentions, so presumably would not recommend LPG as a possible gen fuel??? I hear its cleaner and quieter with easier fuel storage, BUT is it as cost effective to buy and run as bio/diesel? Woud this be worth considering?

I think the conclusion you have helped me reach, subject to any last-minute votes for LPG, is a diesel 3-phase generator, ideally bio-diesel-compatible for when the stuff finally arrives locally. At least you have answered my original question, is it feasible?! Many thanks to all.
geegee x]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9727#Comment_9727 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9727#Comment_9727 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:05:47 +0000 stephendv https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9732#Comment_9732 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9732#Comment_9732 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:41:26 +0000 howdytom take a look at this site, using CHP to generate 60kw electricty plus the by product of any electric generator.... Heat . 130kw of it free, if you need the electric use the heat !.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9743#Comment_9743 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=874&Focus=9743#Comment_9743 Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:48:43 +0000 geegee
Howdytom - thanks for the link, I just spoke to them and they told me their system is unsuitable for off-grid applications...

However, I have found a biomass CHP unit available from http://www.talbotts.co.uk/cont.htm which is. Its capacity is exactly what I need for electricity but it has more than twice the heat output I need. Providing I could put the excess heat to good use somehow this is also looking like a feasbile option:

Original plan of Grid for electricity + Biomass for H&HW: €88,600

Biomass CHP for both: €60,000

Biodiesel Generator for Electricity + Biomass for H&HW: €52,000 (possibly less, depending on final choice of gen)]]>