Laboratory Implementation of a Photovoltaic-Wind Hybrid DC-AC Electricity Generation System

Abstract

The rotation and revolution of the earth affect the solar irradiation and wind availability of a location respectively. Wind energy availability is dependent on solar activity making them to be complementary and consequent upon the law of conservation of energy can be separately and as well be combined to convert their energy (light or mechanical) into electrical energy for electric power generation. For an improved, reliable, continuous and sustainable electric energy supply without degradation of the environment as is the case with electric power derivation from the conventional fossil fuels that are hydrocarbon based, an attempt is made in this work to combine photovoltaic and wind energy systems’ output voltages to obtain a hybridized system. The output voltage of the photovoltaic and wind energy system at established optimum conditions is coupled and fed through a rectifier for regulation, stabilization and amplification. The resultant voltage as obtained at stage three of the optimum conditions – highest optical irradiation, maximum wind speed at zero degree position of light source to photo (solar) cell and fan to wind energy generator, is almost twice the sum of the output voltages of the solar energy system alone and wind energy system alone. The resultant dc voltage is fed into an inverter for de- rectification and the alternating voltage (AC) waveform monitored on an oscilloscope.