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Still at it huh ?
Speaking as someone who has been around alternate energy and solar in particular for about a half a century while changing careers to engineering along the way, your situation is simple to me.
You have an application that is not suitable for solar in winter and you don 't have the knowledge - practical or otherwise about or with solar energy technology - to see that.
Yes, PV can be done as can some solar thermal applications for summer or warm(er) weather use but even those will be impractical for a lot of reasons, mostly dealing with cost and hassle for what you get out of it.
So, Suit yourself and good luck but before that get informed about the practical limits as much as the advantages of alternate energy applications such as PV.
Some of what's meant as constructive criticism: Stop using electricity for tasks that can be done better with fossil fuel (like heating and cooking). Then, find a way to get propane to your site and get a generator to provide power and light for tasks that can only be done with electricity.
Some of the hassles of energy supply will still be present but they will be easier to manage, a whole lot more reliable, easier to maintain and probably less expensive.
If you do happen to wind up with some batteries, SUPER insulate the structure around them while still providing a way to heat and ventilate that structure appropriately and safely - check local codes even if you won't be following them.
Solar is not suitable for every application. IMO only, other ways of meeting your energy demand are much more appropriate for this application, starting with learning about where it's used and how to use less of it.
Speaking as someone who has been around alternate energy and solar in particular for about a half a century while changing careers to engineering along the way, your situation is simple to me.
You have an application that is not suitable for solar in winter and you don 't have the knowledge - practical or otherwise about or with solar energy technology - to see that.
Yes, PV can be done as can some solar thermal applications for summer or warm(er) weather use but even those will be impractical for a lot of reasons, mostly dealing with cost and hassle for what you get out of it.
So, Suit yourself and good luck but before that get informed about the practical limits as much as the advantages of alternate energy applications such as PV.
Some of what's meant as constructive criticism: Stop using electricity for tasks that can be done better with fossil fuel (like heating and cooking). Then, find a way to get propane to your site and get a generator to provide power and light for tasks that can only be done with electricity.
Some of the hassles of energy supply will still be present but they will be easier to manage, a whole lot more reliable, easier to maintain and probably less expensive.
If you do happen to wind up with some batteries, SUPER insulate the structure around them while still providing a way to heat and ventilate that structure appropriately and safely - check local codes even if you won't be following them.
Solar is not suitable for every application. IMO only, other ways of meeting your energy demand are much more appropriate for this application, starting with learning about where it's used and how to use less of it.
). Still going with solar for summer but a smaller system backed up with a petrol generator for the rest of the time.
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