Design of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems

Abstract

This chapter focuses on sizing of hybrid renewable energy systems. The different methods used in photovoltaic, wind, fuel cells and hybrid systems are presented. The design of a PV, wind or hybrid system can be made based on the exact knowledge of the load, the absorbed solar radiation, the estimates surface to be installed and the choice of other equipment. Different applications are given to photovoltaic, wind and hybrid systems. An attention is given in the case of photovoltaic pumping system and hybrid photovoltaic/wind system/fuel cells. This sizing must take into account the nominal power of the cell and the current density desired to obtain by adding 20% of the power that will be consumed by the cell auxiliaries. HOMER Pro software is used to size and optimize different hybrid systems. Hybrid optimization model for electric renewable (HOMER) software performs economic analysis on hybrid power systems. HOMER is a simulation and optimization software for multi-source (hybrid) power generation systems, with different components: (PV, wind, grid, storage, diesel…). An application is given.