Thomas,
Thank you for your input. I think you were spot on with your analysis.
The hydro on the first property would probably just keeps lights on, etc. at night. And that's why I mentioned it reducing the battery bank. Might be all it does. We should have 6 tiny houses and 3x 500-800 sqft cabins eventually. We will start with the tiny houses getting all 6 within a year or two.
We have 1 and a half tiny houses on wheels already that we have built, and will buy the rest used, most likely. Our two are wrapped in 1 inch of foam board in addition to the rock wool and fiberglass, and combined with the low square footage they are super efficient.
Solar PV may be our main source. And heating is going to be our main energy requirement. Looking to set up some awesome systems to capture some heat from the sun, but if needs be we will have lots of panels, and air or ground heat pumps. We may be able to do water storage of heat, if nothing else than to generate our heat while the sun shines. We may have a greenhouse. It all is theoretical so far until we get rolling.
I think your experience going off grid makes a lot of sense for the permie types like us. It's worth it long before it's the most cost effective.
Thanks for your experience and wisdom.
Blake
thomas rubino wrote:Hi Blake;
I'm not going to guess on how much is flowing.
But I am going to guess, that you can't make enough power from it. Enough to justify the cost.
Now your other property . That sounds like it has potential.
You need drop and you need volume. It sounds like you may have it.
The thing about hydro is its not quite as easy to make enough power as a guy thinks.
And if you can make power. Being able to get it to your home can be a problem as well.
Now Solar, if you have enough panels. Can supply all you need .With no mechanical issues.
They can be located close to your battery's.
Big choice you have ahead of you Blake.
40 years ago I went off grid with solar alone. 10 years later I developed a micro hydro as well.
I've never regretted it.
But I will freely admit I might have been $ ahead to let them hook up the street power.
