Saving Green By Going Green
The cost of electricity is high here on Maui because the fuel to run the power plant has to be shipped in from at least 2300 miles away. Last I checked, we were paying something like 41 cents per kilowatt hour. That translated into monthly electric bills that typical ran between $240 and $260 a month … a heavy hit, especially since we have neither heat not air conditioning in our house.
Ah, but six months ago, we put in a photovoltaic system … thirteen panels up on the roof, facing south and not visible from the front of the house. (The two large solar panels in the photo are for heating our water.) On sunny days, it provides power for the house. When it provides more than we need, it sends electricity back into the grid and, when that happens, our electric meter literally spins backwards.
The cloudy, rainy weather is behind us now, and our new system is really starting to pay off. My most recent electric bill was for $27 – almost one tenth of what it used to be – and with lots more sunny days between now and December, the solar guys say there should be three or four months when it’ll net out at zero.
Based on recent bills and an educated guess, the system should pay for itself in seven years. So we’re saving money and doing our bit to help Maui Electric cut down on the fuel they need to generate electricity. It’s a very modest effort, but it feels good.
Kevin, gotcha now. I thought you meant the individual homeowner type.
Mike,
I was referring to public utility geothermal power production. One example is Iceland, where electricity is cheap due to geothermal and hydroelectric sources. To quote from Wikipedia at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_power_in_Iceland
In 2006, 26.5% of electricity generation in Iceland came from geothermal energy, 73.4% from hydro power, and 0.1% from fossil fuels.
…snip…
The Svartsengi Power-Plant, situated in the south-west of the country, near the International Airport at Keflavík on the Reykjanes peninsula. As of December 2007 it produces 76.5 MW of electricity, and about 475 litres/second of 90 °C hot water (ca. 80 MW). Surplus mineral rich water from the plant fills up a nearby lake and popular tourist bathing resort Bláa Lónið (Blue Lagoon).
The Nesjavellir Power-Plant, situated in the south of the country, near the lake Þingvallavatn and Hengill volcano. It currently produces 120 MW of electricity, and about 1800 litres/second of heating water (ca. 300 MW).
The Krafla Power-Plant, situated in the north-east of Iceland near lake Mývatn and the volcano Krafla – hence the name. It produces 60 MW of electricity, with an expansion to 210 MW on the drawing boards.
The Reykjanes Power-Plant, situated in the south-western tip of the country (to the west of Svartsengi), went on line end of 2006, two turbines are producing 100 MW. Further expansion is in progress (50 MW by 2010).
The Hellisheiði Power-Plant, to the south of the Hengill volcano is being built, two turbines with together 90 MW went on line end of 2006, one 34 MW low pressure unit end of 2007 and two 45 MW turbines end of 2008. Rated power is now 214 MW. Further expansion is in progress.
One of my co-workers here in the Virginia Tidewater area was given an estimate of $30,000.00+ to install a geothermal system for his residence.
That kind of price is going to have to come down for it to become widely accepted.
There have been several attempts to start serious geothermal production here over the years, but – for whatever reason(s) – it hasn’t been successful.
Why don’t you do geothermal power? Last time I checked, Hawaii had plenty of volcanos.
Geothermal is cheap. Power should be far cheaper in Hawaii than on the mainland.