Power without the grid : a self-contained renewable energy station

Abstract

would allow local citizens to use electrical energy generated from the sun, stored in batteries, free of charge. This renewable energy station is designed for use in a public space. The site selected for this prototype is the former Car Doctors site, Muncie, IN, which is being converted to a community green space. The system includes a solar panel which is run through a charge controller to a battery. The charge controller is an inline device that prevents overcharging the battery. The battery is stored in a water-tight container. A pico-grid scale system was ultimately created that is free from the local electrical grid but small enough that it can be placed nearly anywhere to provide electrical access. This presented practical problems that needed to be managed to ensure sufficient charge, battery capacity, weatherproofing, and theft-resistance as well as adhering to applicable municipal codes. Due to the modular nature of the design the station can be placed in more convenient locations than a traditional electrical outlet. This renewable energy system provides a valuable amenity for a public space. Increased amenities, and increased utility, may lead to increased usage of parks and other public spaces. The solar station shows how solar technology can be applied to the individual scale; furthermore, it demonstrates some of the common-sense ways that we can ‘green’ our lives using simple modular electrical systems.