Yes definitely Solar and Wind energy can work together to be termed as a ‘Hybrid Power system’. Majorly the ‘Hybrid Power Systems’, are stand-alone in nature, due to their very utility.
We all know the major drawback of solar energy, which is that it cannot work at night, that’s where Wind power comes in as a saviour to fulfil the energy needs during night time. Although it involves a variety of geo-dynamics in order to make the most of these kinds of systems, it is obvious to say that both of them combined gives a greater utilisation factor.
Combining solar and wind power in one system to generate more energy than separate solar and wind power systems can provide. Hybrid systems can provide owners with improved supply reliability and security, especially if they are the only power source in an off-grid environment. According to market research and consulting firm Global Market Insights, US hybrid solar and wind energy projects are expected to grow by 4% over the next five years. However, it is still expensive for most home users due to the cost of the combined system. This is a rough estimate for a combined 5kW solar and 5kW wind structure.
Costs also depend on the size of the hybrid system, with additional costs such as labour, permits, wiring, tolls, inverters, batteries, and other components. Solar panels typically don't require much maintenance other than cleaning, whereas wind turbines require regular inspection of their rotor blades. It can also be difficult to find many areas with enough wind and sun to justify the cost of building a hybrid system.
Night reigns in the sunniest places, and quiet time reigns in the windiest plains. But your power needs don't always match the availability of wind and sun. Luckily, installing a hybrid system can greatly alleviate this problem.
Just because it's dark or no wind doesn't mean it's completely off. With a grid-tied system installed, the existing grid fills the gap when the renewable system's output naturally decreases.
By installing a feed-in inverter in a grid-connected system, many customers can effectively feed power back into the grid. This is called net metering and uses a two-way power meter to send back excess power generated by the system. Depending on the specific utility, you may even be able to get your bill amount back (always check with the company or cooperative first).
A requirement for installing small wind turbines, a grid-connected system with battery backup protects users from power loss in the event of a grid failure but is not foolproof. When using battery power, you need to pay attention to power consumption. Otherwise, it will run out faster than you can recharge it.
One of the great advantages of combined wind and solar systems is that often (but not always) wind increases as solar radiation decreases and vice versa.
If you don't have enough wind power to power your turbines, solar panels can make a big difference.
Whether working to keep a battery bank charged or maximizing power generation relative to power consumption in a grid-connected system, the combination of wind turbines and solar panels contributes significantly to the achievement of self-sufficiency.
It is also important to understand the difference between weather and climate. Whether you live in an area with more sun than wind or vice versa, these differences can help you make more informed decisions when planning your system.
Site selection
Aiming for maximum utilization of the land area. Solar and wind resources can be investigated separately in different regions or in the same region, but solar and wind resources should exhibit complementary production peaks at annual and daily levels.
Hybrid Power Plant Sizing
Optimization is the primary goal achieved by minimizing system costs while maintaining reliability. Sizing is done by a mathematical model to get the best result from the combination. The number of PV modules, wind turbines, battery cells, load profiles, and available renewable resources plays an important role in sizing a PV-wind hybrid power system. In order to use renewable energy in a cost-effective manner, many researchers have studied algorithms to calculate the capacity of applicable generating units. It can represent a low-cost and highly reliable power system. Various dimensioning methods, such as iterative methods and artificial intelligence methods, have been reported to design technically and economically optimal hybrid renewable energy systems.
A battery bank with full rated capacity can be discharged to the defined limit at the minimum state of charge. To fully know the actual state of charge (SOC) of the battery, we need to know the initial SOC, charge or discharge time, and current.
Factors to Consider in Energy Simulation
A hybrid solar and wind energy system require the following equipment: Independently. Install solar panels on the roof of your house and wind turbines on nearby land (some small wind turbines can be placed on your roof). The number of solar panels you need for your home depends on your roof size and your home's monthly energy consumption. 5 kW solar arrays are common for homeowners in the US, with about 20 panels to completely cover the power consumption of a home.
Large commercial wind turbines are not suitable for residential power systems. Therefore, for personal use, smaller turbines of different sizes and power may be required. Whether a turbine is suitable for your home depends on how much power it can generate to meet your needs. A 5 kW wind turbine can generate approximately 8,000 kWh of electricity per year. This equates to 667 kWh per month. The combination of solar power and wind power provides a stable power supply for your home.
Once the solar panels and wind turbines are installed, they are directly connected to the battery pack. A battery pack stores energy from both and delivers it to your home. Battery packs can be sized to fit in your home so that you can use them for at least a day or two. It is important not to overcharge the battery as this can damage the battery. Bypass charge controllers help divert excess energy from batteries to household appliances such as water heaters.
Read Also: Wind Vs. Solar — Which Renewable Energy is better?
