Solar Hybrid Systems

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Overview

Solar hybrid systems generate power using a solar power generator like photovoltaic (PV) modules and additional renewable energy sources (e.g.,) and/or a supplementary generator.

In remote rural areas, that are not connected to the national electricity grid, village mini grids consisting of PV hybrid systems might be less costly than grid extension. They can replace batteries and fuel electricity generators and reach more people than single solar home systems (SHS).

Function

During the day, when the Sun is shining, the photovoltaic modules generate electricity that directly powers appliances or can be stored in a battery bank. At night or during days without sunshine the stored energy can be used. The supplementary generator makes the system reliable, offering the possibility of producing power at any time. Therefore, solar hybrid systems can offer alternating current (AC) power for 24 hours a day.

The HOMER tool, developed by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), is useful for designing and modeling hybrid systems. The HOMER tool automatically retrieves solar insolation information from NASA.

PV-Diesel Hybrid Mini-Grid

• GIZ experiences in Senegal: PV-Diesel Hybrid Mini-Grid.
• ESMAP by Worldbank: Hybrid Options for the Peruvian Amazon

Monitoring of PV-diesel Hybrid Systems

This publication from IEA PVPS Task 9 includes monitoring and evaluation guidelines for PV-diesel hybrid systems. It will provide guidelines to users on how they can use the system to last it for a long time and what to do in case of system failures.  The application of the guide requires little technical equipment, but daily manual measurements. For the most part, it can be managed by pen and paper, by people with no earlier experience of power systems.

Further Information

• Financing solar home system
  
• Operator models for solar hybrid systems
  
• Solar portal on energypedia
  

References