July 6-13, 2012

Northern British Columbia, Canada

This is NOT your usual renewable energy training seminar!

If you are considering moving off the grid, or if you want to expand your electrical contracting or grid-tied solar business to include off-grid solar, wind and hydro power systems, this could be a dream workshop for you to attend! There is no other off-grid workshop like this offered anywhere in the world that we know of. It will give you crucial hands-on experience in renewable energy work for remote villages in developing countries, disaster aid, remote fishing and hunting lodges, repeater stations, off-shore oil platforms, and more. But even if your off-grid plans simply include a residence far from the nearest city, you can learn from the ground up from folks who have been there and done that...for decades now, and still counting.

When transport costs can exceed power system component costs in remote areas, the entire renewable enegy system design and installation process changes dramatically, and that is a big topic during this seminar. However, all off-grid basics are covered in depth. Your questions and system design concerns are as much a part of this workshop curriculum as what we have planned. It costs over US$25 per gallon to bring gasoline for generators to this remote location by float plane and helicopter. Winter survival of these systems (cold temperatures, snowpack, wildlife damage) is also a critical part of their design. You will be part of the solution to these problems.

This program is not for everyone. The cost is CAD$4,500 from Smithers, British Columbia, and class size is limited to 4 students. A large portion of this cost is for chartering a float plane to get you into and out of this remote river basin--the nearest road and power line are 75 miles away, and your flight from Smithers is 135 miles each way. This is truly pristine wilderness. There also happens to be an exclusive destination fly-fishing lodge located here, the Damdochax River Lodge. In the 2010 class, we installed two solar energy systems at two camps. In 2011, we inspected / maintained / troubleshooted two PV systems at two different camps, upgraded the PV system at one camp, performed a detailed hydroelectric site evaluation at one camp, and designed and built a pre-packaged power system for a fourth camp, to later be transfered there by helicopter. For 2012, the agenda is (subject to change at the last minute):

• Upgrade power systems at two locations;
• Deploy and commission portable power system at another location;
• Begin pre-installation of hydroelectric system at one camp;
• Deploy data acquisition equipment to monitor systems during winter.

A very busy schedule, but there will also be ample classroom time to cover every aspect of off-grid renewable energy. Because of the remote setting and low number of students, you will have the opportunity to be one-on-one with the instructor answering your questions for your entire 6 days in the wilderness.

You will need to be in decent (but by no means excellent) physical condition for this seminar, as access to the more remote system locations is by foot only (4-8 miles). Balance of system components, PV modules, batteries, wire, and other heavy items will be moved to the site via helicopter sling load before your arrival, but you will need to carry your own (fairly heavy) backpack with sleeping bag, warm clothing, bad weather gear, camera, fly fishing gear, and so on. We will not have regular helicopter service during your stay, and a helicopter town run (for forgotten gear, etc) costs over $1500. You will carry bear spray (provided) on your belt 24/7, as this area is a seasonal grizzly bear migration corridor. Black bears, wolves and moose are also very common, but your safety is our top priority. Again -- this is not your usual renewable energy seminar.

We can provide more detailed information on request, but remember:

• Bear spray, not hair spray, for this workshop! We'll be backpacking; wading streams, crossing rivers on big fallen logs, etc. all with a full pack. But with a very comfortable place to stay each night! (4 camps over 12 miles, spaced 3 miles apart)
• NOTE: If watching the video below disturbs you, this is probably not the workshop you want to attend! The video shows a few clips of our trip into the site for a class, October 2011. The clouds were too low for the float plane, so we went in by helicopter. It's unlikely we'll have to do this in July -- but it's possible.

Education AND incredible scenery go together well. Fishing, too.

Workshop Information

Prerequisites:
None.
If you have experience in residential electrical wiring or renewable energy (either grid-tied or off-grid), so much the better. If not, you will learn it all in the classroom and on the jobsites.
Price: CAD$4,500.
What's included:
Private vehicle transport within Smithers, including the airport, your hotel, and the float plane base. Private float plane charter transport from Smithers, BC, to and from the main jobsite. All lodging and three gourmet homecooked meals a day when on the jobsite. Classroom time and hands-on experience. Classroom course curriculum materials. Re-booking of your commercial airline flights back home from Smithers if bad weather forces a delay in your flight out of the jobsite. Wireless internet and phone service from the Lake Lodge.
What's NOT included:
Your travel to and from Smithers, BC, and your hotel and food costs the night before and the night after your float plane trips to and from the jobsite. Personal toiletries. Alcoholic beverages (bring your own). Fishing licenses and tackle if you plan to fish in your off time. Fishing licenses can be purchased by the day from the lodge. Note that fishing here is flyfishing only, single barbless hook, catch and release only. Also note that it is some of the best flyfishing for trout on Earth due to the remote location and low angler pressure!

Upon registration, you will receive detailed information regarding air transportation, hotels in Smithers, and items you will be required to bring with you. Ask us in advance if you have ANY questions, we are happy to help.

Classroom Topics:

• Solar, wind, and hydro site assessment
  • hands on solar pathfinder practice
  • hands on wind and hydro assessment practice
  • site assessment computer software
• System sizing
• Off-grid System Basics
  • Loads
    • DC
    • AC
    • Intermittant
  • Input
    • Solar Electric
    • Wind
    • Hydro
    • Solar Hot Water
  • Power conversion
    • DC systems
    • AC systems
  • Storage
    Battery banks
  • Off-grid and Remote System Design
    • Off grid vs remote
    • System winter survival
    • Wildlife mitigation
    • Transport considerations
    • Other options for remote areas

  Instructor biography: Dan Fink has lived 11 miles off the grid since 1991. After eight years in the field designing and installing PV, wind and hydro power systems, he started into renewable energy education, consulting and journalism in 2000. Dan is co-author of the book "Homebrew Wind Power," and is a contributing author for such magazines as Home Power, Back Home, Solar Professional, Lighting Today, and more. He is an "Ask the Experts" columnist for Home Power Magazine. Dan is an instructor and lecturer for renewable energy seminars and workshops around the US and world, including for the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living Association, and The Evergreen Institute.

  FURTHER INFORMATION: For more details about the location and amenities, please check out the Damdochax River Lodge website. For information regarding the renewable energy aspects of this seminar and the curriculum, contact instructor Dan Fink directly at:
  info@buckville.com
  FAX: (970) 373-1311
  Satellite phone: (970) 672-4342 (note -- this usually only works for leaving messages due to slow satellite performance. For urgent inquiries, contact my office at (970) 484-7257 during normal business hours.)
  For information regarding how to sign up, travel, accomodations, flyfishing, and special dietary needs during your stay, contact lodge manager Hannah Belford directly at:
  hannah@damdochax.com
  250-808-9094