An optimal design for an off-grid hybrid system using wind, solar, diesel generator and storage systems

Remote areas are usually fed from generators that run on diesel. Recently, there is an increasing interest on hybrid renewable energy sources, especially wind and solar energies for their availability and competitive running cost in the continent of Asia. The hybrid renewable energy generation systems usually have two or more different generation (or storage) sources of different types to secure a continuous supply for the electrical loads. The paper presents a case study of a remote health center which operates24 hours a day, and shows the importance of relying on renewable energy systems. The system considered consists of Wind Turbine, Batteries, photovoltaic, and conventional diesel generator to feed a load variable at a rate of 55 kWh/day with 5.9 kW peak load. The study is based on real data of wind speed and solar radiation obtained from official authorities. The various available options are compared technically and economically using a HOMER software package. The optimal reliable system is selected and the capacity of the system components is specified.

Keywords:

hybrid system , renewable energy , optimal system design , HOMER software