Energy

Energy

Avalon believes that energy will play a key role in our society in the coming years. Our philosophy of Energy is based on the realization that all key forms of Energy currently used by humans, such as electricity (mostly coming from coal, nuclear, and gas), liquid fuels (petroleum), solid fuels (coal and wood), and gaseous fuels (natural gas, propane, LPG) will go through a profound transformation in the coming years as the world is forced to switch to clean renewable alternate sources of energy derived primarily from solar, wind, and hydro.

We believe that nature has already provided us with these three sources of energy in unlimited abundance and the challenge and opportunity for humankind at this time is to re-invent our infrastructure and technology to focus on these three clean, natural sources.

In this respect, at Avalon we plan to take a phased approach where over time we become self sufficient and a model demonstration site where all our electricity and fuel will be generated using these three natural clean abundant sources.

There is also a clear financial reason to build and install a private clean green electricity production system at Avalon. While the consumers paid an average of $0.116 per kWh for electricity in 2006 across the U.S., efficient private systems' production cost is approximately $0.03-0.04 per kWh. For a project such as Avalon with fairly substantial electricity usage needs, there is a pure financial justification to reduce operational costs; not to mention the desire to use clean green renewable energy instead of electricity provided by the current U.S. grid which is currently 99% from toxic non-renewable sources (coal 59%, nuclear 20%, gas 20%, renewable sources less than 1%).

Integrated System
The potential for independent energy production systems on the Avalon land is very good. By taking advantage of existing energy resources and adding new ones in stages, there will always be energy to harness.

A fair amount of sun (at least 8-9 months of the year), moderate micro-hydro and moderate wind power are available throughout the year at this site. Therefore, we plan to develop a mixed integrated system of photovoltaic panels, perhaps solar concentrator lens/dish based systems, micro-hydro turbines and low-wind compatible wind turbine(s). We plan to start the system with just solar and then further develop, in phases, additional sub-systems, all managed by an automated control system that provides utility grade reliable power at all times.

At this site we see solar as the strongest possible energy-generating source, except during the winter months when, fortunately, our hydro/wind potential is highest with maximum rain, flowing water, and higher wind available. The integrated system will also be backed by the grid and generator(s) powered by Avalon produced clean fuels in the future.

Solar & Wind
For this project, our Design Team has recommended using high quality photovoltaic panels (typically 14%-17% solar to electricity conversion efficiency) with roof mounting kits on some of the large roof structures such as the barns, water reservoir, and the lodge buildings, with ground tracking frames for additional large arrays as needed. We are also exploring concentrator systems that float on ponds to produce electricity while also reducing water evaporation losses from ponds. Solar Panels

Our Design Team also recommends solar concentrator lens/dish based systems that are leading the market today with 30-35% efficiency as Avalon has a large scale system need and ample land available for such systems for a net lower cost per kWh produced.

Traditionally, horizontal axis wind turbines have not been justifiable in areas with less than 10-15 mile per hour average winds. Avalon land does not have such high average winds. Fortunately, latest developments in vertical axis wind turbines have lowered the justification threshold down to 4-10 mile/hour winds. Avalon is already researching and exploring the latest high efficiency vertical axis low cost wind turbines and we plan over time to include such low-cost, low-wind compatible wind turbines in our system.

Micro-Hydro
For Micro-hydro, Avalon's system has two main potentials.

Firstly, to use some micro-hydro turbines in Big Canyon Creek, which flows all year, and especially in the winter when micro-hydro is needed to supplement the solar system the most.

Secondly, we have the potential of creating a “lake battery” system to produce electricity when solar and wind systems need additional support. The viability of Lake Battery systems has been proven over the last 20 years, especially by Beacon Energy in the UK in a setting very similar to Avalon. In this system, excess solar energy is used during high solar availability times to pump water into a high altitude water storage (usually ponds). At Avalon, excess spring water could be stored in one or more ponds at a high altitude, such as those proposed for the Temple Complex site. At times of need, the automated control system would open, allowing water to flow down from such pond(s) and drive micro-hydro turbines to produce electricity again.