What is Hybrid Solar-Wind Generator?
Hybrid solar-wind generator converts solar and wind energy into electricity. Hybrid solar-wind generators have been widely used in small community, farm, optical cable transmission, and railroad communication. They can also serve as electricity sources in remote areas and for troops on desert, islands and mobile facilities.
The hybrid solar-wind generator system is composed of the solar panel, wind turbine, charge controller, battery bank, and inverter. Since the solar panel generally has a lifespan of 10 years, and the wind turbine a lifespan of 15 years, the system can last for a long period of time with high reliability.
Hybrid solar-wind generator offers the combination of both wind power and solar photovoltaic (PV) electrical energy. With battery storage and inverter, hybrid solar-wind system can provide power 24 hours a day in the remotest locations or can be connected on-grid to put energy back into a local utility’s electrical grid and actually get paid for the excess energy produced.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) modules convert light energy into electrical energy and wind turbine converts wind power into electrical energy. Hybrid solar-wind regulator, which is also known as hybrid solar-wind charge controller, regulates the charging current of solar PV panels and wind turbine simultaneously, before it is stored in battery bank. Inverter, then, is used to convert direct current (DC) electricity stored in the battery bank to alternating current (AC), ready for power supply.
Why Hybrid Solar-Wind Generator?
Many remote towns or sparsely populated areas are not serviced by the main power grid. Power must be generated locally using engine generators powered by conventional fuels, such as diesel or propane. However, the transportation and storage of diesel fuel and propane can be expensive and the supply is not always reliable. Therefore, diesel or propane generators are best used on a short-term basis or for emergency use. Solar and wind resources are good alternatives to provide more consistent year-round energy power. Solar and wind are also the most available renewable energy resources on earth, and many remote areas in the border from California to Texas have sufficient supply of both.
Solar PV cell system generates electricity by using readily available, inexhaustible solar energy. It does not make any noise and does not discharge any waste or consume any working media, which makes the solar cell an ideal clean and safe energy. In addition, the solar cell has a simple structure but a wide scope of application. It is easy to install and is maintenance-free. However, it generates less power in winter when sunlight is weak or little power in a raining day.
Wind power generator uses wind turbine to convert wind energy into electricity, similar to solar power system. The advantages of wind power system are their low capital costs, low operating cost and maintenance-free. Both solar and wind systems, when operating alone, can be affected by variations in the weather and the season, resulting in inconsistent power generation.
Since solar power and wind power complement each other as energy sources, a hybrid solar-wind generator system will optimize the use of these two natural energy resources for the needed power supply. And also, the capital cost of a hybrid system is reduced because the same battery bank and inverter can be used for both solar and wind generators.