Homemade Electricity: An Introduction to Small-Scale Wind, Hydro, and Photovoltaic Systems.

This report consists of three parts. The first part provides advice (in the form of questions and answers) to prospective individual power producers who are considering investing in electricity-producing systems and in generating their own power. A list of Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) regulations is included. This legislation requires utilities to buy electricity from small power producers (or qualifiers as they are called). The second part presents (in separate sections) discussions on the use of wind energy, flowing water (hydro energy), and photovoltaic systems to generate electricity. Each section includes background information, a case study, recommendations, and a list of selected grant projects from the Department of Energy (DOE) Appropriate Technology Small Grants Program. Most of the information and recommendations in this part is based on the final reports from and interviews with individuals who received DOE Appropriate Technology Small Grants Program awards. The third part provides sources for additional information, suggested readings, and a glossary of key terms. (ML)