{ "id": 37031, "slug": "2018-04-30_off-the-grid-working-on-100-renewable-energy", "url": "https://agents.willem.com/en/posts/2018-04-30_off-the-grid-working-on-100-renewable-energy/", "source_url": "https://willem.com/en/2018-04-30_off-the-grid-working-on-100-renewable-energy/", "language": "en", "date": "2018-04-30", "published": "2018-04-30T00:00:00+02:00", "created": "2025-06-26T22:10:25.731000+02:00", "updated": "2026-04-03T14:34:57.714000+02:00", "title": "Off the grid: Working on 100% renewable energy", "subtitle": "Collecting, storing and using solar electricity to power my phone, computer and wearables", "summary": "For the past 10 days I have powered my personal electronic devices (phone, computer, wearables) using nothing but energy collected using a small solar panel. I disconnected all grid-connected chargers. I hoped that by going off the grid, even in such a small way, I would gain insights that enable me to save energy (and money).", "topics": [ "Amsterdam", "Circulair", "Durable", "Renewable", "creating", "environment", "experiment", "hacking", "howto", "iPad", "lifestyle", "minimal", "office", "work" ], "author": { "name": "Willem L. Middelkoop", "url": "https://willem.com" }, "translation": { "language": "nl", "url": "https://agents.willem.com/nl/posts/2018-04-30_off-grid-werken-op-100-hernieuwbare-energie/", "source_url": "https://willem.com/nl/2018-04-30_off-grid-werken-op-100-hernieuwbare-energie/" }, "image": "https://willem.com/global/images/0f46ad50642e.webp", "image_width": 2560, "images": [ { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/07792197e4e3.webp", "description": "Gomadic portable Solar Charger - 15W - 330 x 305 x 38 mm", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-1.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/7a2cc4297f11.webp", "description": "Finding a way to fix the panel in a way that the weather would not harm it", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-2.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/e61a7a1df7e1.webp", "description": "The solar panel directly placed behind the glass", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-3.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/b0fffae0fbe3.webp", "description": "Placed behind glass the panel works, but its performance is not optimal", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-4.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/e00f28a308cd.webp", "description": "Placing the solar panel is direct sunlight for optimal performance", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-5.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/976569f35eff.webp", "description": "Rack mounted server chassis (1U), with rail kit", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-6.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/6c54e8b2470e.webp", "description": "Engineering a solar panel mounting kit", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-7.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/34030d6f7112.webp", "description": "Clamping the solar panel using server parts ", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-8.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/a6de5ca038cd.webp", "description": "Once the front of a server, now part of the solar panel mounting fixture", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-9.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/88d647bf806f.webp", "description": "Achieved a nice angle with three legs, suitable for fixture on my balcony", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-10.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/cdc12deb5e57.webp", "description": "Solar panel fixed on the balcony", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-11.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/9b5cd3693dfa.webp", "description": "Measuring energy usage with an in-line USB power monitor", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-12.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/b66f751e9780.webp", "description": "Charging Biostrap using solar energy from the Anker power bank", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-13.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/641b478c9069.webp", "description": "Charging AirPods using solar energy - note the higher amperes compared to the Biostrap", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-14.jpg" }, { "url": "https://willem.com/global/images/5f1acc81fe28.webp", "description": "The Tesla PowerWall is a large battery pack that can be used to power an entire house ", "manager_file": "148-bf2d6faf6057f115dc72e82d984e71359f16b48d8c42b4b41c2ee918cf46b556_ContentAsPost_37031_images-15.jpg" } ], "text": "Solar Panel\nFew weeks ago I dramatically decluttered my office by getting rid of many things I did not use anymore. While going through my stuff, I found a small solar panel, a Gomadic Solar Charger. It fits in a bag so that you can use it on the go, like on your boat, camping, etc.\nI got this panel from Kickstarter and used it a few times while camping on a festival and during a rare power outage in Amsterdam. It felt like a missed opportunity that I used it so infrequently. I wondered if I could use this panel to generate enough energy to power my electronic devices.\nPersonal electronic devices\nFor this experiment, I expected that I would learn the best if I would put my mostly used devices in the experiment:\n- iPhone: My smartphone is probably the most important device I use regularly. It's my main communication device (phone, messaging, email) and I use it as camera, music player, ebook reader, navigation system, bike computer and internet browser.\n- iPad + Pencil: My tablet_is_my_primary_computer (http://willem.comhttps://willem.com/en/2018-03-07_tablet-as-main-computer/) and together with the Apple Pencil I use it to work, write, read, design and get things done. It's my main work computer.\n- Biostrap: On my wrist I wear an health_and_fitness_tracker_that_collects_biometric_data (https://willem.com/en/2017-11-15_collecting-health-data-with-biostrap/) like my heart rate, HRV, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and sleep patterns.\n- AirPods: Used in combination with either the iPhone or iPad, the AirPods have replaced my stereo system and double as handsfree headset during conference calls.\nThe experiment: going off the grid\nBy taking my electronic devices off the grid I hoped find an answer to the following questions:\n- How much power can I collect with one small (330x305x38MM) solar panel in Amsterdam, where the sun is not always shining?\n- How hard is it to store energy collected by the solar panel?\n- How practical is this \"off the grid going\"?\n- Is it possible to do this on a larger scale, like the entire office or my house?\nCollecting energy\nUsing a solar panel to collect energy is simple: you just need to make sure it is facing the sun for as long and directly as possible. While the portable solar panel is great, it is not suitable for usage in rain. So, one of the first steps was to find a way for the panel to be (semi)permanently fixed so that I could collect energy regardless of the weather.\nMy first idea was to place the panel directly behind the glass. That way, I would not require any special mounts, it would be protected from the weather and its power output could be directly connected to my devices.\nThis worked, but charging my devices was notably slow. I suspected that both the angle (90º) and the position behind double glass caused performance to be suboptimal.\nBy directly placing the panel in sunlight, under an angle of about 40º, I achieved a much higher charging speed on my devices (under the same sunshine). Charging speed went up by 200-300%. If only I could find a way to achieve this optimal position more permanently...\nMounting the solar panel on the balcony\nMy portable panel did not come with any mounting materials. Luckily I had unused rack mounted server chassis with rail kit laying around. I figured that I could take it apart and make a solar panel mounting system from it.\nI designed the mounting kit in such a way that it would be possible to refit the panel back in its bag. I clamped the panel using parts from the server, I used some plastic to prevent damaging the glass.\nThe panel performs best if it's placed under an angle. Depending on your location on the globe, the season, this angle differs. You can find commonly used angles for your location on the internet. In Amsterdam that is around 30-40º, an angle easily achieved by repurposing parts of the server chassis.\nStoring and distributing energy\nNow that the panel is fixed in an optimal and permanent position it collects energy. Obviously I am not always near the solar panel, I need a way to store and distribute the energy collected by the panel.\nI use a standard USB power bank to store and distribute the solar energy. I have two power banks that I connect in turn to the panel. It's easy, while one is being charged by the solar panel, I use the other one to power my devices. This way I am able to use electricity whenever and wherever I want.\nThe panel easily charges a standard USB 5V, 5000mAh power bank in a day. That kind of power bank can charge an iPhone multiple times. I also have a much larger capacity Anker 20100mAh USB power bank that can charge my devices even more times.\nDifferent devices charge at different speeds. It's interesting to see (and understand) the differences in power between your devices. Using an in-line power monitor I learned about the actual power needed to charge my devices.\nConclusion - insights gained so far\nDuring the past 10 days I have successfully powered my devices using nothing but the solar energy collected with the small panel mounted on my balcony. It's really possible to take my devices off the grid.\nThe panel generates enough power to keep my power banks charged, and in turn my devices. Power banks are surprisingly practical as they are mobile and easily connect to multiple devices; one power bank can replace a number of chargers and cables.\nThe experiment also created awareness that small changes, like turning down the brightness of your phone, limiting the frequency of polling for new emails (during the night), can have great structural effects on your power needs.\nThis is just a small experiment, but already its changing my perspective on collecting, storing, distributing and using energy.\nGreat things come from small beginnings, or sic parvis magna in Latin. If this works on a small scale, I will be eager to try this on a larger scale, like my entire office or house. Time will tell!\nNote: this blog post, photos, image editing, writing, uploading and publishing was done entirely using solar energy!", "word_count": 1036, "markdown_url": "https://agents.willem.com/en/posts/2018-04-30_off-the-grid-working-on-100-renewable-energy/post.md" }