PV in Hybrid Power Systems

Photo of a the PV panels that are part of a hybrid PV-wind system.

This hybrid PV-wind system with battery storage supplies power to a Canon City, Colorado, home. Installed by Solar Solutions Ltd. of Silver Cliff, Colorado, the 2.88-kilowatt system includes 24 120-watt modules, 20 Trojan L-16 6-volt deep-cycle batteries, two Southwest Windpower AIR403 wind turbines, two tilt-up wind turbine towers, and a vented battery box.

In hybrid power systems, a number of electricity production and storage elements are combined to meet the energy demand of a remote facility (such as seismic measurement equipment), a rural home, a ranch or farm, or even a whole community. In addition to PV systems, engine generators, wind generators, small hydro plants, and others source of electrical energy can be added as needed to meet the energy demand in a way that fits in with the local geography and other specifics. Hybrid systems are ideal for remote applications such as communication stations, military installations, and rural villages.

Before developing a hybrid electric system, it is essential to know the particular energy demand and the resources available at the site. Energy planners therefore must study the solar energy, wind, and other potential resources at the site, in addition to the proposed energy use. This will allow them to design the kind of hybrid system that best meets the demands of the facility, home, or community, as our case study shows.