Re:Remote Mexican village uses solar power to purify water
by froo on Saturday October 31, 2015 @10:53PM
(#10485244)
> At this scale, two solar panels, so something like 1200 watt hours of energy per day I don't think you'll find a wind generator and tower to beat the price.
There are many small scale wind generators that produce more than enough energy to run watermakers on yachts, much more cheaply solar panels for the energy output.
This has been a solved problem for quite a few years.
Re:Remote Mexican village uses solar power to purify water
by timonoko on Saturday October 31, 2015 @04:42PM
(#10484119)
I was also contemplating windshield wiper motor and solar panel. My tests showed I needed at least 30 watt panel, which was too cumbersome in a kayak. So my collapsible windmill equals 24*30 = 720 Watt hours of solar energy.
I had 10 liter can and I needed 3 liters/day, so I started the windmill only twice per week.
24 hour operation may not be requirement. Clean water stores just fine.
I was going to list a counter example of a place where wind would be a better idea, but all the cloudy places I can think of have rain, so they probably get water from that. It's a big world though, I'm sure lots of places have bad enough sun that the number of panels would make the cost tip in favor of wind.