Back to Garden for Nutrition Index

Self Sufficient Energy Production

Concentrate on maximizing your use of the low tech solutions first.

**********************************************************************
GREEN HOUSING

The best way to be self sufficient is to require as little energy as possible.

Solar Drying Barn
Solar Heating
Technologies
Solar Greenhouse
Natural Home Building

******************************************************************
WOOD

ADVANTAGES
1. Low tech and reliable

DISADVANTAGES
1. Deforestation

A wood burning stove is till the cheapest and most reliable 
source of energy.

Renewable Resources

******************************************************************
BEASTS OF BURDEN

ADVANTAGES
1. Still very efficient as pack animals, pulling small carts, 
   kinetic energy generation, vineyard weeding, and local transportation.
2. A mule is the most versatile.
   A donkey is ideal in warm or temperate climates.
   An ox is better suited for very cold climates.

DISADVANTAGES
1. Not efficient for large loads, plowing, harvesting, or long distances.

DONKEY LINKS
Oklahoma State University - Breeds of Livestock
The American Donkey and Mule Society

OX LINKS
Tillers International

******************************************************************
ANIMAL FAT AS DIESEL FUEL

ADVANTAGES
1. Animal fat is easily obtained on the farm.
2. Can be used to drive most old style diesel engines.
3. Can be used for home heating.

DISADVANTAGES
1. Moderately technical
2. Moderately dangerous

In cold weather climates, animal fat is better converted
to diesel.

Animal fat
Biodiesel - getting started
How to Make Biodiesel Fuel

In warm weather, fat, oil, and even water can be burned directly:

How to Convert Your Car to Run on Vegetable Oil
Convert your vehicle to run on fat

******************************************************************
WATER WHEEL

ADVANTAGES
1. Proven method.

DISADVANTAGES
1. Not many farms have access to water with kinetic energy potential.

******************************************************************
WIND ENERGY

ADVANTAGES
1. Usually available during the time of year when it is needed most.
2. Can be used to make hydrogen.
3. Can be directly converted to kinetic energy instead of electricity
   or hydrogen.

DISADVANTAGES
1. Scars the landscape and can be noisy if not properly maintained.
2. Summers are usually low wind periods.
3. Electrical field contamination:
Less EMF
Gauss Meter

HYDROGEN GENERATION LINKS
Windmill Hydrogen Production
NREL partnership with Xcel Energy

******************************************************************
SOLAR ENERGY

ADVANTAGES
1. Perfect in the desert or outer space where there is lots
   of room not better used for something else.
2. Small isolated agricultural applications often work well.
3. Feed and sell energy back into the grid.
4. Can be used to generate hydrogen.

DISADVANTAGES
1. The sun is often clouded when energy is needed the most.
2. Cannot be converted to kinetic energy directly.
3. A solar storm or electro-magnetic burst would render this useless.
4. Uses up valuable solar space on a farm. 
5. Best placed in unused areas away from electromagnetic contamination of 
inhabited areas.
6. Direct solar energy may be better used by a drying barn.
7. Batteries are not very efficient and are expensive.
8. Electricity cannot be used by combustion engines for torque.

UCSUSA - Solar energy and agriculture
Honda Solar Hydrogen Station

******************************************************************
HYDROGEN / BIO-DIESEL VEHICLES

ADVANTAGES
1. Clean emissions. No expensive long term consequences.
2. Bio-diesel has longer ranges.
3. Long term renewable.
4. Locally generated so more secure.
5. No expensive disposal of toxic batteries.

DISADVANTAGES
1. Expensive in the short run.
2. Inefficient. This is a meaningless argument if the source is wind or sun 
since this energy is under used without this technology. 
It is far more efficient than NOT using the energy of the wind and sun.
3. Electric vehicles are available now as a short term solution 
until this long term solution comes along.

Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles
North Dakota State University - hydrogen tractor

******************************************************************
ALGAE BIO-FUEL

ADVANTAGES
1. Yield of fuel oil is many times higher than any other biological crop.
2. Can also produce hydrogen.
3. By-product can be used as animal feed.
4. Can be used to convert CO2 and/or sewage.
5. Can be grown in areas not suitable for traditional agriculture.

DISADVANTAGES
1. Requires substantial infrastructure investment. 
3. May not be feasible on a small scale, but medium scale for 
   local community consumption might be possible.
4. More suitable in warm high sun light areas.

ALGAE LINKS
Wikipedia Algae Fuel
Oilgae
Algae Biodiesel
Algae startups

**********************************************************************
BIO-FUELS

ADVANTAGES
1. If manure accumulation cannot be prevented, 
   methane from manure is a profitable local alternative.

DISADVANTAGES
1. Methane is very dangerous since it can cause asphyxiation and is explosive.
2. Methane generation requires a large farm to provide adequate manure for the 
   benefits to exceed the costs.
   Avoid methods that allow manure accumulation in the first place,
   such as dairy operations. 
3. Growing food crops specifically for fuel alcohol is often not a good long term 
   solution. It usually uses up agricultural resources which could be used 
   for food.

Back to Garden for Nutrition Index