{"id":320,"date":"2026-03-22T17:17:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T17:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/?p=320"},"modified":"2026-03-22T17:17:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T17:17:12","slug":"lets-say-i-would-acquire-a-frisian-farm-with-fields-and-i-would-like-to-generate-my-own-electricity-i-could-use-gas-stored-in-bottles-to-fuel-a-generator-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/?p=320","title":{"rendered":"Lets say I would acquire a Frisian Farm with fields, and I would like to generate my own electricity. I could use Gas stored in bottles to fuel a generator right?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Jij zei<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So I would have to use solar panels in combination with batteries on the Frisian farm?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gemini zei<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On a Frisian farm, relying <strong>only<\/strong> on solar and batteries is certainly possible, but it\u2019s often a &#171;fair-weather&#187; strategy. Because of the unique climate in the North of the Netherlands, a hybrid approach is usually the smarter play for true self-sufficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is why you should consider a &#171;Power Trio&#187; rather than just solar:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. The &#171;Winter Gap&#187; Problem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"p-rc_b4ccc96c15da8a31-25\">In Friesland, solar production drops off a cliff during the dark winter months.<sup><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Summer:<\/strong> You\u2019ll have a massive surplus of energy (potentially enough to sell back to the grid or charge an electric tractor).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Winter:<\/strong> Solar panels in the Netherlands often produce only <strong>10\u201325%<\/strong> of their summer output.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Result:<\/strong> To survive on solar alone in January, you would need a massive battery bank that would be prohibitively expensive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. The Frisian Advantage: Wind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Friesland is one of the windiest regions in Europe. A small <strong>&#171;erfmolen&#187; (farm-scale wind turbine)<\/strong> is the perfect partner for your solar panels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Complementary Timing:<\/strong> Wind is typically strongest in autumn and winter (when solar is weak) and often blows at night (when solar is zero).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Space:<\/strong> Since you have fields, you have the clearance required for a small mast, which is much harder for people in more built-up provinces like Utrecht or Holland.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Comparing the &#171;Off-Grid&#187; Components<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td>Component<\/td><td>Role<\/td><td>Best Performance<\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Solar Panels<\/strong><\/td><td>Primary daytime source<\/td><td>April \u2013 September<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wind Turbine<\/strong><\/td><td>24\/7 supplementary source<\/td><td>October \u2013 March<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Battery (BESS)<\/strong><\/td><td>&#171;The Buffer&#187; (Short-term storage)<\/td><td>Smoothing out daily peaks<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>LPG Generator<\/strong><\/td><td>&#171;The Safety Net&#187;<\/td><td>Extreme weather \/ Maintenance<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Financial Incentives (2026)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As of 2026, the Dutch government offers several subsidies for farmers transitioning to decentralized energy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>ISDE Subsidy:<\/strong> Can cover a portion of the investment for small-scale wind turbines and heat pumps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SDE++:<\/strong> If your farm is large enough to produce a significant surplus, this scheme provides an operating subsidy for the renewable energy you generate over 12\u201315 years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>EIA (Energy Investment Allowance):<\/strong> Allows you to deduct a large percentage of the investment costs from your taxable profit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Realistic Setup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If I were setting up your Frisian farm today, I\u2019d suggest a <strong>80\/20 rule<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Solar + Wind + Battery<\/strong> for 95% of your yearly needs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A Dual-Fuel Generator<\/strong> (Propane\/Gasoline) as a &#171;Break Glass in Case of Emergency&#187; backup. It sits silent for 350 days a year, but saves your frozen goods if there&#8217;s a week-long storm with no sun and low wind.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gemini zei<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Congratulations on the hypothetical farm! There is something deeply satisfying about the idea of self-sufficiency on a Frisian plot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"p-rc_d22cb0a298377ac7-19\">To answer your question directly: <strong>Yes, you certainly can<\/strong> use bottled gas (typically Propane or LPG) to run a generator.<sup><\/sup> However, while it\u2019s technically possible, it might not be the most efficient or cost-effective way to power an entire farm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is a breakdown of how that works and some better alternatives for a rural property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Using Bottled Gas (Propane\/LPG)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most modern portable generators are &#171;dual-fuel,&#187; meaning they can run on both gasoline and propane right out of the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Pros:<\/strong> Propane stores indefinitely (unlike gasoline, which degrades), burns cleaner, and is much quieter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Cons:<\/strong> It is <strong>expensive<\/strong> for continuous use. A standard 11kg bottle might only last a few hours under a heavy load. You would be constantly swapping bottles just to keep the lights on and the milk coolers running.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Better Alternatives for a Frisian Farm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since you mentioned having <strong>fields<\/strong>, you have access to resources that a city dweller doesn&#8217;t. In the North of the Netherlands, you have two major assets: <strong>wind<\/strong> and <strong>space<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Solar PV Arrays:<\/strong> With open fields, you can install ground-mounted solar panels. Even with the Netherlands&#8216; famous grey skies, modern panels are quite efficient at capturing diffused light.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Small-Scale Wind Turbines:<\/strong> Friesland is notoriously windy. A small &#171;farm-scale&#187; wind turbine can generate power 24\/7, unlike solar which stops at night.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Battery Storage (BESS):<\/strong> Instead of burning gas, you store your wind\/solar energy in a large battery bank. This acts as your &#171;buffer&#187; for when the air is still or the sun is down.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Comparing the Options<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td>Feature<\/td><td>Gas Generator<\/td><td>Solar + Battery<\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Setup Cost<\/strong><\/td><td>Low<\/td><td>High<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Running Cost<\/strong><\/td><td>High (Fuel prices)<\/td><td>Near Zero<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Maintenance<\/strong><\/td><td>High (Engine parts)<\/td><td>Low<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Noise<\/strong><\/td><td>Constant humming<\/td><td>Silent<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Sustainability<\/strong><\/td><td>Low (Fossil fuels)<\/td><td>High<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>A Note on &#171;Biogas&#187;:<\/strong> Since you have a farm, if you plan on having livestock, you could eventually look into a <strong>micro-digester<\/strong>. This turns animal waste into methane gas, which you <em>can<\/em> then use to run a specialized generator for &#171;free&#187; fuel.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is Gas the Right Move?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Using bottled gas is a great <strong>backup<\/strong> solution (e.g., if the sun hasn&#8217;t shone in a week and your batteries are low), but relying on it as your primary source will quickly become a logistical headache and a drain on your wallet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Would you like me to calculate how many solar panels or what size wind turbine you might need based on typical farm energy consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I could probably also import wood and burn it in some kind of electricity generation oven?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gemini zei<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can definitely use wood to generate electricity, but it\u2019s quite a bit more &#171;hands-on&#187; than flipping a switch on a gas generator. Since you have a farm with fields, you are in a great position to source your own fuel (prunings, wood waste, or even specific energy crops).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To turn wood into electricity on a farm scale, you generally have two paths: <strong>The &#171;High-Tech Gas&#187; way<\/strong> or <strong>The &#171;Old-School Steam&#187; way.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Wood Gasification (The Modern Solution)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"p-rc_9eb80a3c48cd2fc8-35\">This is the most efficient method for a small farm. Instead of just burning wood to get heat, you put wood chips into a <strong>Gasifier<\/strong>.<sup><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>How it works:<\/strong> The machine heats the wood in a low-oxygen environment, causing it to release &#171;Syngas&#187; (wood gas). This gas is filtered and then fed directly into a standard internal combustion engine that turns a generator.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The &#171;Power Pallet&#187;:<\/strong> There are &#171;plug-and-play&#187; units (like those from <em>All Power Labs<\/em>) that look like a large pallet-sized machine. You feed it wood chips, and it spits out 15\u201330 kW of electricity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pros:<\/strong> Highly efficient; you can use a modified car or tractor engine to run it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons:<\/strong> Wood must be very dry (&lt;20% moisture) and chipped to a specific size. It requires regular cleaning of &#171;tar&#187; and ash.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Wood-Fired Steam (The &#171;Steam-Punk&#187; Solution)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"p-rc_9eb80a3c48cd2fc8-38\">You can use a wood-fired boiler to create high-pressure steam, which then spins a <strong>Steam Turbine<\/strong> or moves a <strong>Piston Steam Engine<\/strong> connected to an alternator.<sup><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pros:<\/strong> Steam engines are &#171;tank-like&#187;\u2014they can last 50 years and aren&#8217;t picky about what kind of wood you burn (big logs, wet wood, or scrap).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons:<\/strong> Generally less efficient than gasification for small setups. More importantly, high-pressure steam can be <strong>dangerous<\/strong> and often requires specific safety certifications and inspections in the Netherlands.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Combined Heat and Power (CHP)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the &#171;gold standard&#187; for a Frisian farm. Because you&#8217;ll need a lot of heat for your farmhouse during a cold Dutch winter, you use a <strong>Biomass CHP<\/strong> system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It generates electricity, but it also captures the &#171;waste&#187; heat from the engine or exhaust to heat your water and floors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Efficiency:<\/strong> While a generator might only be 25% efficient at making electricity, a CHP system is often <strong>80-90% efficient<\/strong> because it uses the heat too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Comparison of Wood vs. Solar\/Wind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td>Feature<\/td><td>Wood Gasifier<\/td><td>Solar + Battery<\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Availability<\/strong><\/td><td>On-demand (Day or Night)<\/td><td>Weather dependent<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Fuel Cost<\/strong><\/td><td>Free (if you have trees\/waste)<\/td><td>Free (Sun)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Labor<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>High<\/strong> (Chipping, feeding, cleaning)<\/td><td><strong>Zero<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Complexity<\/strong><\/td><td>High (Moving parts, plumbing)<\/td><td>Low (Solid state)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Verdict for your Frisian Farm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you enjoy mechanical work and have a steady supply of wood from your land (or local neighbors), a <strong>Wood Gasifier<\/strong> is an incredible &#171;baseload&#187; power source for winter. It fills the gap when the sun isn&#8217;t shining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, most modern &#171;off-grid&#187; farms use wood primarily for <strong>heating<\/strong> (using a high-efficiency wood-gasification boiler for the house) and stick to <strong>Wind and Solar<\/strong> for electricity because they require so much less daily maintenance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jij zei So I would have to use solar panels in combination with batteries on the Frisian farm? Gemini zei On a Frisian farm, relying only on solar and batteries is certainly possible, but it\u2019s often a &#171;fair-weather&#187; strategy. Because of the unique climate in the North of the Netherlands, a hybrid approach is usually [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=320"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":322,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320\/revisions\/322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}