View source for Hybrid-Systems Containing Wind Energy

The term '''wind hybrid system''' describes any combination of wind energy with one or more additional sources of electricity generation (e.g. biomass, solar or a generator using fossil fuels). Hybrid system are very often used for stand-alone applications at remote sites. For this reason the article focusses on stand-alone hybrid systems containing storage or diesel-backup.<br> 

The combination of renewable energy technologies allows a more balanced electricity supply during day/night and seasonal changes: At most sites wind speed is low, when the sun is shining and reaches higher values on cloudy days. Thus the amount of energy generated by wind energy reaches its maximum in the winter months, while the output of PV-cells is significantly higher in the summer. Other important examples are Wind-Diesel systems often used in remote areas. A diesel generator will be used as backup, if the electricity demand can not be covered by the installed wind turbines. ''Regulation and conversion ''of the available energy sources is a central issue planning a wind hybrid system. Many hybrid systems are uses as stand-alone off-grid applications.<ref>U.S. Department of Energy (2011) Small "Hybrid" Solar and Wind Electric Systems, retrieved 17.6.2011 [[http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/mytopic=11130]]</ref><br> 

== Description of a wind hybrid system<br>  ==

Wind hybrid-systems generally consist of generating units, storage facilities and system electronic devices<ref>Kaldelli (2010) Stand-alone and hybrid wind energy systems - Technology, energy storage and applications, Woodhead Publishing</ref>: 

*one or more wind converters of x<sub>0</sub> kW 
*one or more other electricity generation options either using renewable energy (RES) (e.g. Photovoltaic Panels) of fossil energy sources (e.g. diesel generator) 
*an energy storage device 
*an AC/DC rectifier of x<sub>r </sub>kW in case the energy storage installation operates on DC current (e.g. all types of batteries) 
*a charge controller of x<sub>c </sub>kW 
*a ''Uninterruptible Power Supply '(UPS) ''of x<sub>p</sub> kW in order to guarantee high quality AC electricity generation 
*a DC/AC inverter of x<sub>p </sub>kW

=== Energy storage  ===

Hybrid systems contain an energy storage device to store the surplus energy during times of high energy production, which can be used for supply when production from renewable sources is low (e.g. no wind). For this reason, the size of the device is often described by the period of time&nbsp;in hours h<sub>0</sub> the average load can be covered using the storage as the sole source of energy<sub>. </sub>Other important characteristics are the overall efficiency of the storage device (determined by the loss of energy during the charge and discharge-process), the output voltage U<sub>b</sub> and the maximum permitted discharge<ref>Kaldelli (2010) Stand-alone and hybrid wind energy systems - Technology, energy storage and applications, Woodhead Publishing</ref>. 

Lead-acid batteries today are the most common technology solution used in hybrid energy systems. There are several alternatives like flywheels, pumped hydro storage, hydraulic storage and fuel cells. 

By storing surplus energy and operating as an additional energy source, when production from the RES-source is low, the independence of the hybrid system is increased. If a diesel generator is part of the system, the storage will allow a more efficient management of the given generation units, avoiding emissions by a more efficient utilization of the diesel generator: Frequent shut-down and restart procedures as well as very unefficient generator loads can be avoided. In this manner, depence on the availability of fuel and thus on fuel price variability is reduced. <br>

Regulation by a storage devices improves the quality of the supplied power, because variations in the frequency of the current can be minimized and voltage control is available. The degree of this improvement clearly depends on the size of the storage device and the adjustment of the whole system<ref>Kaldelli (2010) Stand-alone and hybrid wind energy systems - Technology, energy storage and applications, Woodhead Publishing</ref>.<br>

It must be mentioned, that a storage device significantly raises the initial costs of the hybrid system. Desregarding the type of storage which is chosen (pumped hydro, batteries, flywheels...) the environmental impacts have to be considered. <br>

Losses during charging and discharging-processes lower the efficiency of the whole system reducing the positive effect of avoided generator utilization<ref>Freris, L. and Infield, D. (2008) Renewable Energies in Power Systems. John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd</ref>.<br>

=== System electronic devices  ===

''AC/DC rectifier:'' In case the energy storage device consists of batteries, the three-phase AC current generated by a wind turbine has to be converted in a DC current for charging. This task is achieved by an ''AC/DC rectifier'' of a nominal power x<sub>r</sub> corresponding to the rated power of the wind turbine x<sub>0</sub>. 

''DC/DC charge controller'': The AC/DC rectifier connects the generating units with the ''DC/DC charge controller'' of a rated power of x<sub>c</sub> charging the battery system with a charging voltage U<sub>cc</sub>. Besides the charge controller distributes the incoming energy between the charging process and other DC loads which have to be covered within the hole hybrid system. This description is valid for systems using batteries as energy storage device. For a storage fed by an AC current (e.g. pumped hydro storage) the output of the generating units certainly does not have to be converted. Nevertheless in this case a controlling unit is needed for distribution of energy between storage and system loads. 

''DC/AC inverter:'' The stored in the batteries has to be reconverted into AC current before it can be used to supply a load. Thus a DC/AC inverter has to be included. 

==== Advantages of wind hybrid systems<br>  ====

==== Disadvantages of wind hybrid systems<br>  ====

<br> 

=== Wind-Diesel hybrid systems  ===

==== Components  ====

The wind turbine generator can either be a syncronous or an induction generator<br>In case of induction generator a source for excitation, either by excitation capacitators or by grid-connection must be available.<br> 

==== System design and sizing  ====

Resource assessment <br> 

<br> 

Load assessment 

&nbsp;&nbsp; Kategorisierung der Last<br> 

<br> 

Sizing of the generation units 

&nbsp; for minimum the high priority loads must be covered by wind / battery 

Sizing of energy storage 

Sizing of electronic devices 

<br> 

==== Operation<br>  ====

Two basic operational strategies 

The management of the output reduces the utilization of diesel generators: Only if the essential loads cannot be fulfilled by the wind turbine, the diesel generator is started<br>

==== Different modes of generation depending on the prevailing wind speed ====

=== Wind-PV hybrid systems<br>  ===

==== Different modes of generation depending on the prevailing wind speed<br>  ====

=== Wind-Hydro hybrid systems  ===

=== Choosing an optimal design for Wind Hybrid Systems <br>  ===

=== Installation costs and live cycle-costs  ===

=== Applications  ===

==== T/C Stations  ====

Stations for telecommunication in remote areas have to be supplied with power during long time periods. Extension of the electricity grid in most cases is a big financial effort, while the supply by sole diesel generators causes additional fuel- and maintainance-costs permanently. Small hybrid systems can be used to reduce fuel-consumption:&nbsp;A small wind turbine may be placed on the relay-mast of the T/C station, avoiding the additional installation costs of a turbine tower. As load variations of a T/C stations are rather low but a steady supply is needed, hybrid systems combining different RES-sources are preferable for this application. A battery storage for system back-up is necessary. <br> 

If the T/C station supply should be provided mainly by RES-sources, larger wind turbines on separate towers have to be installed. The inclusion of a PV-System results in reduced variations in RES-output and allows the reduction of the necessary storage size. A well designed hybrid system minimizes the fuel costs of the station supply<ref>Kaldelli (2010) Stand-alone and hybrid wind energy systems - Technology, energy storage and applications, Woodhead Publishing</ref>. Several examples have shown the efficiency of fuel savings gained by the application of hybrid systems: Kaldelli refers to a system installed for remote T/C stations in Kenya consisting of a 7,5 kW turbine, sealed batteries and an inverter, which reduced fuel consumption for remote T/C stations by 70-95%.

==== <br>Small desalination systems  ====

==== <br>Water pumping  ====

==== <br>Domestic to community level electrification  ====

=== <br>Hybrid Mini Grids  ===

<br><br> 

=== References  ===

<references /> 

=== External links<br>  ===

*Wikipedia: Wind-diesel hybrid power system (contains a list of communities using wind-diesel systems), retrieved 17.6.2011 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind-diesel_hybrid_power_system]]<br>

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