Renewable Alternative to Fossil Fuel Generators

Off Grid Solutions USA specializes in designing and building Transportable Renewable Power Systems that are a direct replacement for traditional fossil fuel generators. Frequently, generators are supplied to meet a “total load” requirement even though the “total” load is not always needed. When diesel fueled generators are run at less than full load (or less than their rated most efficient load), the heat necessary for proper combustion is not present and the fuel is not efficiently burned. When gasoline generators are not run at sufficient load, fuel is less efficiently consumed due to the governor capabilities and standard load management construction of the machine.

On top of the fuel issues is the Power Use issue. Power, by definition, is the rate of doing work, or the amount of electrical energy consumed per unit time. Most frequently, and exclusively for this discussion, fossil fuel Generators burn fuel to produce alternating current power. An amount of fuel is consumed to turn the alternator creating the electrical energy, then an amount of energy is consumed to get that power to the load (line loss). The farther from the generation point, the greater the loss. Utilities raise the voltage very high for transmission over long distance, then use transformers to “step” the voltage down to meet operational requirements for the connected equipment. This reduces but does not negate line losses (at present, it is impossible to completely negate line loss). The farther the generation is from the load, the greater the loss. These losses are relatively small, but cumulatively large, especially if the fuel is transported long distance or into hostile territory at great expense.

The voltage required for proper equipment function is another consideration when choosing an energy source for a load. Modern LED lighting uses direct current to perform it’s lighting function, cell phones and computers use direct current, most Residential air conditioners use alternating current that is 240vac split phase, and large commercial equipment most frequently uses 208/230vac 3 phase or 277/480vac 3 phase electrical connection for operation. If the power supplied is of a different voltage it must be converted (or inverted) to meet the needs of the load, and every change in voltage represents a loss in efficiency.

At Off Grid Solutions USA, we design Structure Specific power solutions that meet the power needs of the equipment in that individual structure. The Transportable Renewable Power System designed for a structure is installed directly beside the structure, installed as close to the structure as possible to minimize it’s footprint (and to maximize the use of the area around the structure), and designed to meet the electrical requirements of the equipment in the structure with the least amount of loss possible. The TRPS for a structure can be taken down, packed up as delivered and moved with the structure as necessary. Each TRPS has a design capability that can be mated to any piece of equipment that has a similar load.