Prototype of Pico Hydro – Solar Photovoltaic Hybrid System

Abstract

In this research will be developed a prototype of Hybrid Power Plants (HPP) which integrates pico-hydro power and Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) system. This HPP prototype will be developed in two stages; the first stage or prototype-1 has a capacity 100 - 200 watts (W) and the second stage or prototype-2 with a capacity of 500-1000 watts. Prototype-1 was used as a study and evaluation object for the development of prototype-2 in hopes of producing better output. From the development of prototype-1 it is known that pico-hydro generates a maximum power 86 W (from a capacity 100 W) and the SPV produces a maximum power 30 W in sunny weather and 23 W in cloudy weather (from capacity 100 W). In this prototype-1, the electric energy of pico-hydro in the form of alternating current electric energy, after being converted into direct current electric energy, then combined with the output of the SPV (in the form of direct current electric energy) and stored in the battery (accumulator). At this combination, the input voltage to the battery is in the range 12-13 V and the current 2-3 A.