FBC - Renewable Energy Demonstrations

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Our Renewable Energy Demonstrations

The Falls Brook Centre has many examples of how renewable energy technologies can be adapted for use in homes, cabins, communities and in the workplace.

Our systems range from simple solar systems used to provide lighting at night to a wind-solar hybrid system allowing us to trade electricity with NB Power to a facility capable of producing Biodiesel to run in our Climate Change Bus.

To learn more about our systems, look at the map to the right then look below for more information or come out and visit the Falls Brook Centre.

More details on our systems:


Map of Renewable Energy Installations on our site. SEE LARGER MAP
Net-Metering Site Solar: 4 x 130 W Shell Solar = 520 W Xantrex SunTie XR 2500 Grid Tie Inverter Thermo Dynamics single collector solar thermal water heating system Wind: Southwest Windpower Whisper 175. 175” Rotor Diameter, 70 foot tower Max Power Output (@12 m/s): 3000 W Magnetek Wind Interface and 3 kW Aurora Grid-Tie Inverter Load: Refrigerator, water heater, clothes washer, lighting, TV/DVD/Stereo, misc. tools/appliances. Heat: Combination of Wood and Oil fire Note: Produces grid quality electricity which is fed into the power grid when our production surpasses our demand. See more at our Net-Metering Website.

Biodiesel Facility Reaction Small scale facility used to produce biodiesel from used vegetable oil. Includes oil storage, oil filtration and preheating, methoxide mixer, heated reaction vessel, biodiesel storage and filtration. Main Reactor: 500L Produces biodiesel from a mixture of vegetable oil, methanol and lye. See more at our Biodiesel website. Wind NPP Sprite turbine 24 Volt Max output (@ 13 m/s wind) = 450 W Batteries: 24V from 4 x Trojan TG08, 6V Charge storage (@ 100 hr): 210 Ah Load: Storage area lighting system and 24V water heating dump load.
Conference Centre Solar 9 X 50W ARCO Solar modules Total array size: 450 W Trace C40 Controller Capacity: 40 A. Wind Air X land turbine (integrated regulator) Max output (@ 12.5 m/s wind) : 400W Inverter Xantrex SW 2512 Continuous output 2500 W Batteries 12V from 2 x Surrette S-530, 6V Charge storage (@ 100 hr) = 530 Ah Load Powers the home and office of the Renewable Energy Team including laptops, lighting, projector, music.

Casa Verde Solar Domestic Hot Water Pr Tube in tube heat exchanger driven by thermo-siphoning

Outhouse Solar Sensor Light Light: 4 x 1.5V LED in series Conversion. Battery: 6V, 4Ah Manufacturer: Alpan Solar

(Strawbale) Forest Museum Solar: 2 x 25W Panels from partner organization, Grupo Fenix, Nicaragua. ASC Controller by Specialty Concepts Total array size: 50 W Inverter: Motomaster Continuous output: 500 W Battery: 12 V from 1 x Napa Deep Cycle, 12V Charge Storage (@ 20 hr): 85 Ah Structure: Timber-frame with straw bale insulation. Load: Provides electricity for lighting, and an "introduction to electricity" display, and solar mountain demo.

Sauna Solar: Module from a partner organization Barefoot College in India Size = 20W ASC Controller by Specialty Concepts Battery: 12V Dynasty Deep Cycle Load: Provides electricity for lighting.

Recreation Centre Solar: 4 x ARCO Solar. Total array size = 200 W Xantrex C35 Charge Controller Inverter: Xantrex Xpower 1700. Continuous output: 1500 W Batteries: 12 V from 2 x Trojan TG08, 6V Charge storage (@20 hr.): 210 AH Load: Provides electricity for lighting, and small electrical appliances (tv, vcr, radio, laptop computers). Hot Water: Solar heated rain water collection system for shower.

Cook House Solar: Lenbrook. 2.91A @ 17.2V: 50W ASC Controller by Specialty Concepts Inverter: X-Tech 700. Continuous output: 500W Batteries: 12 V from 2 x Trojan TG08, 6V Charge Storage (@ 20 hr): 210 Ah Load: Provides electricity for lighting, small electrical appliances, a stereo, or laptop computer.

Solar Electric Fence Solar: Custom module - FBC/Dr. Komp: 15W Inverter: X-Tech 75. Continuous output: 60 W Batteries: 12 V from Motomaster deep cycle Charge Storage (@ 20 hr): 75 Ah Load: Provides electricity for fence.