Out on Byneset outside Trondheim is Lars Hoem’s own wind turbine, which he bought himself for three million kroner. Next to a photovoltaic system and a hydrogen tank, which acts as a battery when there is neither sun nor wind.
– I think it’s exciting with such technical things, and then there is green energy.
Lars (58) admits that he is a real handyman, who likes to juggle a bit of everything on the two farms he and his wife Jorun own.
– WIND TURBLE FARMERS: On the Hoem family’s estate, the wind turbine stands side by side with the hydrogen tank and the container with the battery. Together with solar energy, this gives the farming family enough electricity to run two farms. Photo: Stein Roar Leite / TV 2
–
Zero in electricity bill
He procured the wind turbine himself, but both the solar cell plant and the hydrogen tank are part of an ongoing research project that the EU initiated, and in which TrønderEnergi and SINTEF participate. Together with the enthusiast Lars Hoem, that is.
– What is so nice about Lars is that he wants to try new things, says Bernhard Kvaal, senior project manager at TrønderEnergi.
– REQUIRED: Two farms with cows and pigs require a lot of electricity. Photo: Stein Roar Leite / TV 2
–
– There will be no electricity bills anymore, says Lars.
This has, as is well known, been the year with sky-high electricity bills. The farmer couple on Byneset use 150,000 kilowatt-hours annually. Now the sun, wind and hydrogen provide everything they need for electricity to the farms where they have cows and pigs, respectively.
In early January this year, the Hoem couple was able to disconnect from the mains.
– It has worked well, we can notice small “winks” from time to time, but the delivery is stable, says Lars.
– PROVEN SMART: Bernhard Kvaal, TrønderEnergi, believes that the experiment on Byneset is good proof of the interaction between sun, wind and hydrogen. Photo: Stein Roar Leite / TV 2
–
– Through this project, we have proven that the interaction between wind, sun and hydrogen production works excellently, Kvaal explains, when it blows and the sun shines, the surplus energy is converted into hydrogen. And when there are days without solar radiation and wind, the electricity is produced through the hydrogen tank.
The system thus acts as a battery.
Became windmill-inspired in Denmark
It has been a few years since Hoem drove around Denmark as a long-distance transport driver.
– I drove about 40-50 trips a year for six years, and thought it was so nice with all the wind turbines.
It inspired the farmer, who eventually took over two farms. He would think both saving and green shifting at the same time. When the EU and TrønderEnergi wanted a local partner, Lars did not mind asking.
– POWER-DRIVEN MILK ROBOT: It takes a lot of power to run two farms. The farmers have two farms, on one they have dairy cows. Photo: Stein Roar Leite / TV 2
–
– A lot of this is now over my head, then, he laughs, as he shows around where the hydrogen tank is, side by side with the battery container.
While we are standing there, white steam begins to escape from the plant. This indicates that neither the sun nor the wind is providing electricity right now, so the hydrogen is working to supply the electricity the farmer needs.
– There are only four places where this experiment takes place, the other three experiments take place in southern Europe, says Kvaal.
He believes that the many islands in Norway can benefit from this. Expensive submarine cables must be replaced as they age – then this concept may well be the alternative. In addition, Europe is full of diesel generators that pump out pollution. The concept of wind-solar-hydrogen can then replace these pollutants.
Have faith in the sun
– DOES NOT NEED TO BE SUNNY: In Trøndelag it is not particularly sunny, but solar energy can still work excellently. Photo: Stein Roar Leite / TV 2
–
Lars and his wife Jorun can currently enjoy the absence of the electricity bill. But one day, when the project is over, they have to reconnect online. They will probably keep the photovoltaic system. Because they want to be as self-sufficient as possible.
– I believe in the sun, that it will become, more and more, an energy source for us Norwegians.
–
