Camp Electrics

In this document the terms off-grid, electrics, power and alt-tech are synonymous.

Overview:
At the Climate Camp in 2007, all electricity used on site was produced from solar and wind energy. Electricity was provided to the ‘central infrastructure users (medics etc)’ by large solar powered electricity providers. These connections were made and managed by the site working group. Neighbourhoods were generally self-sufficient (using wind and sun) but were helped and monitored by the site working group.
The same system was used at CC 06, although a back-up generator was provided for the computer server.

General approach:
1.Employ power providers for the ‘central’ users – workshops, medics etc.
2.Ask users to minimise power needs as much as possible. Explain that power is VERY limited when off-grid. Make this clear throughout the organising process.
3.Team up power providers and users so that they can work together to share responsibility for equipment and maintenance work.
4.Ask neighbourhoods to be as self sufficient as possible.
5.As electrics are specialised work, offer training to neighbourhoods without specialists and/or equipment

We recommend using a Needs and Wants systems so that electric energy is used sustainably and usefully for the length of the event. It’s amazing how many people confuse their needs and wants.
If there is lots of Sun, Wind and Power Providers then once the ‘needs’ are satisfied the 'wants’ can also be satisfied. If there is not much Power, create priorities! Be aware that you may need to be strict in rationing Power. Be as strict as the situation requires.

In preparation:
Even before date and location are set, secure £3k budget for booking power providers – they get booked long in advance.
Identify main power users and ask for likely amount of power needed, educating about limitations implicit in off-grid systems.
Book power providers as soon as dates and location are known. Some providers may be reluctant to bring expensive equipment to a squatted site with heavy police presence, although we never have had any equipment seized yet.
Pair up power providers with users, to minimise battery movements, encourage cooperation and shared responsibility.
Arrange training for neighbourhoods who do not have their own electric system with sessions on how to choose, set-up & maintain off-grid technology.
Check access – especially turning circles and access on site, as large lorries are used to move the equipment.
Discuss Plan B with site team and power users in case of no power on site (due to police pressure, technical hitches or other unforeseen circumstances), or no vehicles on site.

On site:
All central equipment will probably be lent and maintained by (and be the responsibility of) the power working group - this is a demanding task and is best taken on by a group of people.
Equipment can be installed in one place (due to its value) and batteries moved, or equipment can be placed where it is needed if it is going to be secure. Batteries need to be checked twice a day.

Heavy power users such as computer servers may need generators – can biodiesel from ethical sources be used? The use of generators is contentious – informed discussion is needed early on.

If possible, have separate charging points for mobile phones, to prevent their users disconnecting other equipment. If you find that they use up too much charge and power is running low, only mobiles essential for running the site and vital for its functions. It's a great way of reminding people that a life without mobile phones is possible.

Power supply delays happened at CC 07 due to police intimidation tactics. After prolonged negotiation via police liaison, vehicles were granted access to the adjacent car-park (electricity providers were required on health & safety grounds for people in electric wheelchairs). Luckily smaller vehicles managed to get through the gate (an issue for large non-articulate HGVs).

Delayed access meant that vehicles arrived on site up to 24 hours later than expected and therefore alternative plans had to be instigated (including for entertainments).
Make sure the site is planned with solar and wind in mind – solar panels need to face south un-obscured by marquees and wind turbines need to be clear from obstructions such as hedges and marquees.
As access to the field was not possible, power had to be run further than anticipated; this had losses and safety issues as well as requiring more cable than expected.

Fridges:
12V fridges eat batteries and don’t work – they can ‘cook’ medicine! If there is a fridge, have a thermometer to check temperature regularly within the fridge.

Case Study: Climate Camp 06, Drax Maximum population 600

Work done:
Identify and contact alt tech off-grid technology providers (3 person days)
Liaise with alt tech providers (1 person day)
Liaise with users (workshops, medics, neighbourhoods etc) to establish needs and wants – make a clear distinction between the two
(6 person days inc monthly meetings)
Match users & suppliers /neighbourhoods & do calculations (1 person day)
Create shopping list & buy cables etc (1 person day)
Train and advise users prior to camp and prepare guidance notes (1 person day)
Set-up all site electrics (2 persons x 3 days = 6 person days)
Maintain all site electrics (1 person x 6 days = 6 person days)
Take-down site electrics (1 person day)

Equipment used

Power generation:

Medics – 3 x 60W PV, 150Ahr batteries
Comms - 1 kW? Wind, 3 x 200 Ahr batteries
Central battery charging – 3 x 60W + 3 x 20W PV, 10 x 100 Ahr batteries
Toilet lights - 4 x 10W PV, 4 x 50Ahr batteries
Safety & Wellbeing + entertainments + some use in Indymedia - 4 x 75W PV, 400Ahr batteries
Westside (lights) - 10W PV, 1 x 70Ahr battery
Nottingham neighbourhood - 20W PV, 1 x 70Ahr battery – (light & sound)
Cinema (cinema + Indymedia) – 6KW diesel generator set, (2-3 hours / day)
Indymedia - 3kW diesel generator set – (not used)
Yorkshire neighbourhood - 3 x 75W PV

Users:

Gate: 8W light bulb (night - occasional)
Comms: 8W lightbulb + 20W charging (24 hour)
Medics: 50W fridge (24 hour)
Westside: 8W bulb (evening occasional)
Notts: 20W lights + 12V sound (evening occasional)
Yorks: 30W lights + 12V sound (evening occasional)
Indymedia: 600W up-link + 400Wpcs (2-3 hours / day)
Entertainments: 100W – 200W PA + light (2-3 hours / day)
Workshops: 300W projector (occasional)
Toilets; 4 x 5W bulbs

Case study Climate Camp 2007, Heathrow Maximum population 1,200

Loads:
The following power users were connected to the solar powered 240V ac mains supplied by Steve (Generator X), Raymondo and Colin (Coltek) during the event (shown in red at the photo at the bottom):

1. Site office (light, wheel chair charging, power tool battery charging and phone charging)
2.Communications (Lights, radio communication, phone charging, printing press)
3. Legal (phone charging, lap-top charging)
4. Medics (Light)
5. Cinema (projector, computer and sound system)
6.Main marquee (roving microphones, sound system, lighting, projector)
7.Indy media (up-links, computer suite and assorted lap-tops / cameras etc)

Power ratings of generators and loads:

Generator X:
1.2kW peak PV array
2 x 900W + 1 x 500W inverters
supplying typically 5kW/day power supply?

Raymondo:
1kW peak PV array
5kW inverter (with synchronised outputs)
supplying typically 5kW/day power supply?

Coltek:
Due to transport problems, Coltek brought a limited PV array, battery bank and sound-system.
1kW inverter
600W sound system?

Loads:
Site office: wheel chair charging 150-300W for 3 -5 hours / day (per wheel chair x 2 average)
Power tool battery charging: 50-100W for 2-3 hours / battery (3 charges / day)

Comms: 20W typical (short range radios charging x 24hours), up to 100W with phone charging, medium range radios: 360W (not used), printing press – 150W (20min for 1,000 copies, 1hr/day)
Legal (also site-office and comms) – laptops (50-70Wx12hours/day average)

Main marquee: projector (200W) and roving mikes used for some talks. (several hours / day)
12V (400W) sound system used for talks and for first nights entertainment

Cinema: projector (300W), DVD player (20w), power speakers (130W) x 2hours / night
Indymedia: up-link and PC suite (700W), lap-tops and cameras (300W) x 12 hours / day

Jobs undertaken:

Cables to be run from the power suppliers to the users. Place the cables so as to avoid trip hazards. Preferably cables should be dug in or run high to prevent damage to them. At CC 07 they were secured by fixing to pegs and poles to avoid trip damage and labeled to avoid accidents. To further minimize hazards, cables were placed under carpet or boards at roadways to prevent damage from vehicles or snagging.
Label plugs
Measure .power use by individual appliances
Gaffer-tape plug sockets were to prevent accidental removal of plugs or extra loads being plugged in without permission.
Cables may have to be moved to supply demand from the available power sources during the event (eg. At CC 07 we moved Indymedia to Generator X once the original battery bank feeding the supply ran low).
Liaise between power users (such as wheelchair users, entertainments and workshops) and power providers to ensure uninterrupted power use.
CC 07 had one coordinator working full-time with assistance from several people on 240V, and two people working full-time on 12V with some support from others.