January 2020 - Powerguard

Living off-grid is a deliberate choice for some, whereas, for others in rural areas, it’s an absolute necessity. Even in a country as small as the UK, the National Grid doesn’t reach everyone – and getting your home connected can be a very costly proposition.

In this piece, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about the power systems that are used to achieve this.

How Does the System Work?

An off-grid power system is an economical and cost-effective solution for delivering electricity to domestic or commercial properties that are outside the reach of the National Grid.

There are two options for delivering electricity to premises not connected to the grid:

You could either pay the distribution network operator in your area to connect you to the grid, which, depending on the complexity of the project can cost anywhere between £10,000 to £250,000. This could include obtaining permission to lay power cables across land owned by someone else, which could increase costs.
You could efficiently generate your own electricity at an upfront cost of between £9,000 and £18,000 depending on the size of the land.

These kinds of systems are designed and built to provide electricity to a property 24/7. The system will power all of the equipment and appliances running on the standard mains power, and in the case of the Powerguard PS System, the system will operate efficiently for 25 years or more.

The system will control any form of auto-start generator by providing efficient use of electricity. This control system will also control the battery charger, inverter and the battery bank to ensure that every drop of fuel is converted as economically as possible.

In a typical scenario, where a system needs to provide electricity to a variable load, such as a private dwelling or business premises, the generator will usually be required for between 8 and 12 hours a day.

Our intelligent PS System starts the generator to power the property when electricity use is heavy and will use any surplus power to recharge the battery pack. The system will also automatically adjust the battery charge rate to fit the load on the generator.

Once the demand for electricity within the property increases, the system will reduce the electricity flow to the batteries and divert more energy into the property and vice-versa. This is designed to ensure that the generator is providing the best fuel economy.

When demand is light, the system will switch off the generator and supply the energy exclusively from the batteries through the inverter.

By reducing the run-time of the generator, you can increase the life cycle by more than three times, which also reduces fuel consumption, pollution and maintenance work needed.

On average the PS System or something similar will pay for itself in less than three years when used in a typical mixed load application.

When the generator is in operation, it moves power via the changeover contactor; simultaneously diverting energy to the charger which recharges the batteries.

Once the generator has been powered down, the inverter starts and directs power to the load via the changeover contactor.

Generators

Systems like the PS System will be able to control any auto-start generator, which will activate when a relay contact is closed and stop when it is opened again.

If you don’t currently have a generator or your current solution is on its last legs, then it’s certainly worth considering the Powerguard PS Generator.

These generators are designed and constructed with fuel economy in mind, which make them more efficient than the standard standby generators on the market, which use multi-phase alternators, which are 20% less efficient than single phase.

Renewables

Selecting the right renewable inputs for your off-gird system is absolutely crucial. Currently, solar is the most popular renewable solution in the UK, and the Powerguard team are happy to assess the opportunities for solar power in your location.

Wind and hydropower are less common at the moment, but demand is starting to increase. Our systems have a dedicated input specifically for wind or solar panels, while our work in the marine sector has grown over the last few years.

The control system monitor included with the equipment assesses what power levels are being drawn into the system and will adjust the engine power accordingly.

For instance, a 1kW wind turbine can make a useful contribution to fuel efficiency and towards reducing your carbon footprint. The system will monitor the energy it’s producing, and if the battery has been charged, it’s capable of switching to the immersion heater to produce the energy needed for hot water.

System Maintenance

In the same way that you would service a car, it’s worth noting that any off-grid power system will need to be checked and serviced every so often.

The highly sophisticated battery storage unit at the heart of each system needs to be charged, thus distributing power where necessary – this can only be done so when the batteries are functioning efficiently, which is why they require a clean to prolong battery life.

Any solar panels will also need a clean-down occasionally to ensure optimal performance, and your generator will need a service as per manufacturer recommendation.

How We Work

At Powerguard, we know what it takes in terms of investment from both a financial and time perspective to have power equipment installed. Which is why we’re committed to providing a positive experience for those who are considering our services.

We have considerable experience in the industry, and we’ve worked with some of the biggest names in sectors including, banking, broadcasting and health care, as well as organisations such as the MOD.

Our Engineers

Our engineers are highly trained professionals who strive to create an open and informative relationship, during every stage of the installation.

Every customer will be given personal contact with an engineer, which enables the customer to communicate with them, which gives the engineer an idea of the time scales they’re working with to ensure minimum disruption.

Site Surveys

We know that in order to ensure a project is completed smoothly and within the requisite time frame, it can be helpful to establish necessary information at the outset.

By doing this, we can create a better experience and deliver maximum value for the money the client has paid.

Installation

We offer a comprehensive installation service, for sites in the UK, Europe and further afield. All equipment is delivered ahead of time, so the engineers can get straight to work upon arrival.

Once the installation is complete, our engineers will run through a full list of safety checks to ensure the system is safe and working correctly. The engineer is also more than happy to liaise with the customer to explain the operation instructions, and how to extract the best from the system.

After Care & Support

We provide thorough after-sales care, which includes optional bespoke maintenance contracts, servicing, and engineering support.

If you’d like to learn more about what we’ve covered in this piece, or you’re interested in our off-grid power systems or any of our other products or solutions, then why not contact us today for more information?

If you’re building a new home, it really is beneficial to install electricity onto your site as early as you can, whether that’s by utilising a generator or mains electricity.

In this blog, we’re going to explore everything you need to know about bringing electricity to your property.

How can I get connected to the National Grid?

You’ll first need to ask for a quote for a new connection from the distribution network operator (DNO) who is responsible for the electricity in your area. It’s best to do this as soon as your building plans and proposals are ready.

However, it’s worth pointing out that this won’t be cheap, so you need to think about this from the outset of your project. Once you receive an initial quotation, you need to be aware that this only available for a limited time, so bear in mind that nothing will happen until you’ve paid the quote in full and you’re able to work around the DNO’s schedule.

How much is it?

There isn’t a definitive answer to this, as no two sites will be exactly the same. However, you do need to assess your situation before you make an estimate with respect to costs.

For example:

Scenario One: A new bungalow on the edge of a town or village where the supply runs overhead, and the pole is situated on the plot.

Solution: The supply will be brought down the pole and directed through trenches underground.

Cost: Around £450

Scenario Two: Needs a single-phase supply routed from the mainline which already runs across the owners land.

Solution: This would involve installing a new pole with a mounted transformer attached, on the land with 35 metres of cable running to the property.

Cost: Roughly £7,000

Scenario Three: Landowner requires an electrical connection in a rural location.

Solution: Will require the DNO to perform a 60-metre road dig, which goes up as far as the landowner’s boundary.

Cost: Up to £10,000

There are countless other scenarios, but this just gives you an idea of how different costs can be for different situations.

Which DNO will install my connection?

Various DNOs exist across the country, each responsible for managing the electricity supply in different areas; these are as follows:

Northern Island Electricity Networks – Northern Ireland
UK Power Networks – East England, London and South East England
Western Power Distribution – East and West Midlands, South Wales and South West England
Electricity North West – North West England
Northern Power Grid – North East England and Yorkshire
SP Energy Networks – Central and Southern Scotland, Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and North Shropshire
Scottish and Southern Electricity Network – Northern Scotland and the Islands, along with a great deal of Central Southern England

If you require more information, visit nationalgrid.com, if you need help finding your DNO.

What is a wayleave & will I need one?

The network companies are well within their rights to cross public land to bring your electricity supply, but they don’t have rights when it comes to crossing private property or land owned by public bodies, such as:

Forestry Commission
British Waterways
Network Rail

If this is the case, a wayleave will be required, which will involve a fee which is paid to the owner of the land – think of it as a landlord, tenant kind of scenario. If the wayleave is agreed, the energy company will quote you for the work.

The cost of the wayleave will depend on whether there are other alternatives to crossing the land owned by someone else. In the worst case, you could be rejected entirely, as the landowner has every right to reject the proposal.

How is the supply brought to site?

The DNO will provide you with a quote for routing the electricity supply to the meter box on your property. They will need a lockable or meter box (which you will need to supply at your own expense) to terminate the supply. This can be fixed to a pole or built onto a wall.

If the supply is coming from overhead supplies or across private land, expect the quote to include the road dig that we mentioned earlier. You will, however, be responsible for digging or arranging any trenches on your property to the meter box yourself.

The DNO will provide and lay the cables from the main box to your meter box, where the supply will terminate in the meter box.

What about off-grid power?

More and more people these days are considering off-grid power as a viable alternative to DNO installed electricity solutions, for the following reasons:

Power Cuts

Power cuts can occur for numerous reasons when connected to the national grid, and any outage can stretch for just a few minutes to a few weeks, in some cases. A solar off-grid system is capable of storing energy within the battery pack, which is utilised during outages.

Cheaper

Going off the grid means you have no costly electric bills to pay. And while the system does require a sizeable upfront investment, the long-term savings far outweigh this investment.

No Complex Infrastructure

Having an off-grid system may seem complicated, but with Powerguard, we take care of everything for you, like the solutions we implemented at Otmoor Farm, for instance. The other benefit is that you don’t have to worry about contacting a DNO, which could set you back thousands if you need a wayleave and you live in a remote location.

If you’d like to learn more about what we’ve covered in this blog, or you’re interested in our off-grid power systems or any of our other products or solutions, then why not contact us today for more information?

Month: January 2020

Off-Grid Power Systems Explained