How important it will be to generate your own energy in the future
Energy is scarce, prices are skyrocketing and winter is just around the corner. Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the necessary sanctions against the aggressor Russia, all of Europe is required to save energy. The current energy crisis results from the European, and in particular the German, dependence on Russian energy imports in combination with the no longer possible partnership with precisely this important supplier. So the more we become independent of Russia and “self-sufficient” in terms of energy, the more relaxed things are likely to be on the energy market. Alternatives are therefore required. But they have to be there anyway, regardless of the current conflict in Ukraine. The whole world has been in the middle of the climate crisis for a long time, but due to its long-term nature, it keeps getting out of focus. Promoting the expansion of alternative energy, swearing off fossil fuels as far as possible and, when importing energy, at least relying on partners who share the same free and democratic basic values as we do, not only curbs climate change, but also delivers one significant contribution to our security policy. Against this background, with all the problems that still exist regarding renewable energies, it can hardly be denied that it is not necessary to continue working on intelligent solutions in this area and to advance the energy transition.
Make-Magazine shows that these intelligent solutions are possible even on a small scale. It presents a solar table that you can build yourself, with which your own base load should be covered as far as possible.
Few know their own base load
However, when it comes to covering one’s own base load, the problem arises that only a few know their own base load. As the inventors write on the website, they asked consumers in a small survey whether they knew how high their own base load was. With a total of 204 answers, 48 percent said they had no idea. 25 percent said they knew her roughly and the remaining 27 percent would know her quite well. The base load is always ongoing electricity consumption, which is fairly constant over the year. According to heise, many small and easily overlooked things play a role here and together ensure a not inconsiderable power consumption. “Plug-in power supplies, televisions on stand-by, the heating circulation pump, automatic valves for the underfloor heating, but also the refrigerator or the freezer” fall into this category, according to heise. If you cover your needs with self-generated energy, you save money and can amortize the investment in a balcony power plant or a solar table. Make-Magazine shows how to find out your own basic load in a YouTube video.
So you can build a solar table yourself with simple means
Now it should finally be about how you can build a solar table yourself at home and which materials are required for it. Make Magazine provides information about this in a press release. The materials required for the construction of the solar table are therefore mostly available in hardware stores. Since the table should be outside in the garden, on the terrace or balcony, stable and durable wood should be used for the frame and legs. It is also advisable to ensure that all other parts are of good quality, after all, everything should withstand the weather. That’s why Make-Magazine recommends only using certified material for solar accessories. If you want to connect the solar table to the house power grid like a balcony solar system, you need an inverter. This is not necessary for stand-alone operation, for example for charging garden tools or e-bikes. You just have to make sure that the solar panel fits the power station used. Regarding the solar panel, the inventors advise using a used solar panel. This would save costs. Most examples would still have 80 percent of their original performance and would only need to be cleaned and converted to newer MC4 connectors. The panels can easily be bought on eBay or (online) exchanges for used solar panels.
If you would like more detailed information about the construction of the solar table, the determination of your own base load and the connection to the house electricity network, you should definitely watch the corresponding YouTube video from Make Magazine.
Nicolas Flohr / Editor finanzen.net
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