Nova Scotia is one of the best wind locations in the world. Click here to view the Nova Scotia Wind Atlas http://www.nswindatlas.ca/
 
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Yes. Solar energy and other forms of renewable energy (such as geothermal) will become cheaper as people continue to invest in them. When people invest in them, this will drive down the cost-- as it already has over the last few decades. This has a snowball effect: the technology becomes increasingly usable, cheaper and convenient.
Look at changes in satellite dish technology: twenty years ago, they were gigantic wieldy things only people in the country bought. As more people invested in these, though, the cost went down, the technology got more compact and now they are everywhere-hardly noticeable. Recent developments indicate that this is becoming true of solar energy, too.
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There is no single or simple answer, even if you are only talking about one kind of energy, such as solar. Some short answers we can give here:
- They are all definitely in the thousands.
- Solar and renewable energy rebates as well as other incentives can reduce the cost of any RE system.
- The size of the system is of course a factor.
- For solar thermal and solar pool heaters, you have to consider the price of the fuel used to back up the system.
- The price of other sources of energy will continue to rise, so who knows how much money you will save in the future?
- It also depends on how much you pay your utility for electricity or natural gas, and how much your utility will pay you for any excess power (with net metering) that you generate with your solar system.
- You can ask your renewable energy system provider how much your new system will produce on an annual basis and compare that number to your current annual electricity or hot water demand to get an idea of how much you will save.
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Most of the renewable energies we profile in The Solar Guide can be said to be both solar and renewable. Most of our "renewable energies" get their basic energy from solar radiation. Wind is caused by the heating action of the sun; hydro relies on the hydrologic cycle (which relies on the sun); and geothermal is technically "stored solar energy."
In a more general sense, "renewable energy" is any energy that is self-replenishing. For example, we do not need to find new 'reservoirs' of wind, solar or geothermal energy. The energy is always there, though critics note that these are usually "limited flow."
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Energy conversion efficiency is an expression of the amount of energy produced in proportion to the amount of energy consumed, or available to a device. The sun produces a lot of energy in a wide light spectrum, but we have so far learned to capture only small portions of that spectrum and convert them to electricity using photovoltaics. So, today's commercial PV systems are about 7% to 17% efficient, which might seem low. And many PV systems degrade a little bit (lose efficiency) each year upon prolonged exposure to sunlight. For comparison, a typical fossil fuel generator has an efficiency of about 28%. (from EERE.gov)
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Absolutely yes! It is all about your power requirements & budget.
Many renewable energy systems can be compatibly blended with the regular electricity provided by your local utility. This is called grid integration and it is increasingly popular around the world and in the USA.
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Right now, at least in North America, nuclear and fossil-fuel-based energy is still quite inexpensive compared to solar and wind energy. However, the price of fossil fuels is continuing to rise and the price of solar and renewable energy continues to decline. Peak oil production is right around the corner, and people are increasing their demand for clean energies.
In Japan, Germany and some developing countries, renewable energies are already competitive due to a number of market forces. These same market forces are becoming increasingly relevant to consumers in North America (i.e. the high price of fossil fuels, increasing government incentives and concern for global warming, to name a few).
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Every kilowatt-hour of electricity produced by a renewable energy system displaces the same amount of electricity produced by conventional power generation stations that are using fossil fuels that contribute to CO2, SO2, NOx and smog. Clean renewable energy production reduces suspended particulates we usually call smog, which are a significant health problem on the same hot sunny days when (for example) a solar energy system can produce electricity at its peak level.
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The biggest disadvantage and the only truly significant one remains the cost. For example, solar energy technologies require a significant initial outlay. Still, in nearly all cases, this high initial cost is recovered through substantial fuel savings over the life of the product (15-30 years), and solar energy systems can last much longer than this. But in areas where there are no hydro wires, choosing solar is as obvious as the sun in the sky.
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Solar thermal and other solar water heating systems (solar pool heating) are easy to install and can work year round to heat water for your home. These systems pre-heat your water before it enters your hot water tank or pool. Free heat of the sun (year round) gives you significant savings on your energy bill.
Many Nova Scotians are installing in-floor Hot water heating systems. Solar systems can efficiently heat this water.
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The technology exists for everyone to live a normal life with green energy. Today's off-grid home can utilize all the modern appliances and conveniences available. Net-metering allows those that are tied to the grid an affordable opportunity to invest in green energy.
If you have the desire, it can work for you.
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There are products available that range from small panels (to keep batteries from losing their charge) to entire wind/solar systems (to power a large off-grid home). Wind turbines start at small 200w cabin or boat sized units to large business or farm sized units 10, 20 even 50kw.
Most homes use around 500-1000kwh per month and can easily be powered by wind, solar or wind/solar hybrid systems.
There is a product or system for every requirement. We would be pleased to discuss this with you in more detail.
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System pricing is dependent on system size. Larger systems tend to be more cost effective per kilowatt hour. Off-grid systems tend to cost more than grid-tied systems because of the storage requirements, (batteries, etc.). Systems can be sized for your budget and they can be expanded in the future due to their modular nature. All systems are more affordable than you might think.
Registered farms have the opportunity to receive up to $20,000 rebate through the farm incentive fund.
If you have the interest and desire, we can provide you a quote to fit your budget.
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Whether you want to power your marine batteries or build a house far from the power lines, we can design and build a system that will meet your requirements.
Cabins, farms, businesses or your home, there is a green energy solution available. Even houses, farms, businesses or municipal properties can use green power systems to produce most or all of the electricity they use.
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If you have a wind resource greater than 9mph and your area is free from obstacles then a wind turbine will likely be a good match. An important reason to have a wind turbine is because of the seasonal variations of your solar and wind resources.
A hybrid system that uses both solar photovoltaic panels and a wind turbine will make the perfect compliment that provides minimal interruptions in power. If you have any questions please call or email.
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The ideal location for a wind turbine is 20’ above any surrounding object (trees, roof tops, hills) within a 250 foot radius. This generally means your property should be at least ½ acre or larger in size.
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Green energy is the term used to describe sources of energy that are considered to be environmentally friendly and non-polluting, such as geothermal, wind, solar, and hydro.
Green energy sources include natural energetic processes that can be harnessed with little pollution. Anaerobic digestion, geothermal power, wind power, small-scale hydropower, solar energy, biomass power, tidal power, and wave power fall under such a category. Some definitions may also include power derived from the incineration of waste.
-wikipedia
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Sustainable energy is the provision of energy such that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. A broader interpretation may allow inclusion of fossil fuels and nuclear fission as transitional sources while technology develops, as long as new sources are developed for future generations to use. A narrower interpretation includes only energy sources which are not expected to be depleted in a time frame relevant to the human race.
Sustainable energy sources are most often regarded as including all renewable sources, such as biofuels, solar power, wind power, wave power, geothermal power and tidal power. It usually also includes technologies that improve energy efficiency. Conventional fission power is sometimes referred to as sustainable, but this is controversial politically due to concerns about peak uranium, radioactive waste disposal and the risks of disaster due to accident, terrorism, or natural disaster.
- wikipedia
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