One Step Off The Grid
Solar, storage and distributed energy news
A well designed off-grid solar and battery storage system can supply most households’ needs easily, even in Australia’s tropical north. But some know-how is needed.
Columnist and cartoonist Jill Redwood had to start over after the Ash Wednesday bush fires in 1983. She explains how she lives off grid with just a very small solar system of 1kW and battery storage.
Leigh Adamson recently bought the house next door to create a rare half acre block in suburbia. He now has an alternative retirement income and is readying both homes for the oncoming energy storage revolution with small grid-connect solar systems.
The Tesla PowerWall announcement stimulated an exciting debate about how low cost batteries could create widespread defection from the electricity grid. Take it from someone who knows … alas, it’s not that simple!
This family quit the rat race more than two decades ago. They have used solar PV, a wind turbine, small hydro and battery storage to manage their power needs, with all the usual mod-cons.
How effective is a standalone solar system in areas that experience snowfall? We asked Ed and Laurie, off-gridding Americans who live, and grow most of their own veggies, at 1280m above sea level.
Former ABC presenter started off with diesel only in his off-grid home, but recently added solar and storage. And learned some big lessons.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale chose to go off-grid 10 years ago, largely because of the huge costs of connecting his then weekender and now family home to the grid. He says it’s a great feeling to be able to convert the sun into useable energy.
It’s satisfying to turn on a light or power tool and know the energy was generated only a few metres away.
91-year-old medical entrepreneur installs largest solar and battery storage array for an off-grid home. Hawaii and Australia seen as biggest off-grid markets.
