Better without batteries?

The new DC immersion heater is fitted into the water tank, ready to take the 48v output from the hydro-electric turbine. Having wavered from the straight path for a while and toyed with the idea of batteries, I have returned. Batteries are hassle it seems; they need looking after and replacing, contain nasty chemicals, emit potentially explosive hydrogen gas, can be rapidly ruined by an incompetent user, and are hideously expensive: nearly two grand for my small system. I have not ruled them out for good, however. But I am for now setting up with a wonderfully simple system: a cable runs from the turbine to the immersion heater. That's it. No inverters, charge controllers, or monitoring systems. Of course there is no flexibility - the power will only heat water for our domestic hot water and space heating. There are also two concerns - one is that we will be in danger of boiling the water in our tank (unlikely), and the other is that the power will hardly make a dent in this mighty task (more likely).

In either event the system will need rethinking. But for now I am delighted and excited to be getting it up and running in such a clear and simple way. Those enchantingly passionate and geeky folk at Energy Systems and Design have finished the turbine now. It is on it's way.