Hybrid photovoltaic systems most commonly take the form of photovoltaic systems
combined with wind turbines or diesel generators. They would most likely be found
on islands, yet they could also be built in other areas. The largest European PV
system used as a part of the hybrid system is located on Pellworm Island in
Germany. A very large hybrid system was also built on the Canary Islands. The
following descriptions depict some of the world most interesting PV-wind or
PV-diesel hybrid systems.
PV-HYBRID SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
SMA's inverter Sunny Island used in hybrid systems
(courtesy SMA)
PV-HYBRID SYSTEMS - CASE STUDIES
Khythnos Island
The Kythnos Island hybrid system plant utilizes a 100 kW PV array, a 100 kW wind turbine, and a 600 kWh battery. The entire system is connected to the existing distribution grid, which is fed by a 200 kVA diesel generator. Three 50 kVA inverters operate simultaneously delivering power into the grid. The plant is monitored by control system, which optimises the amount of renewable energy available to the grid.
| Name and location |
Kythnos Island Plant - Kythnos, Greece |
| PV system type |
PV-wind-diesel hybrid system |
| Operates since |
1983 |
| Rated power |
100 kW PV, 200 kW diesel, 100 kW wind |
| Storage |
600 kWh battery storage |
| Number of modules |
almost 60,000 |
| Total PV area |
1290 m2 |
| Module mounting |
Fixed tilt |
| Inverters |
Siemens 50 kVA x 3 |
| Utility interconnection |
380 V, 3-Phase, 50 Hz |
| Design energy output |
170,000 kWh/year |
TABLE 1: Kythnos Island hybrid system, basic features
Pellworm Island
The largest European PV wind hybrid system is located on the Pellworm Island in Germany. The PV array has the capacity of 800 kW (originaly 600 kW). The first 300 kW array was constructed in 1983. System was renewed in 2006 and has peak power of 1,1 MW (PV + wind).
| Name and location |
Pellworm Power Plant - Island Pellworm, Germany |
| PV system type |
PV-wind hybrid system |
| Operates since |
1983, repowered in 2006 |
| Rated PV power |
300 kWp part one, 300 kWp part two, 800 kWp after repowered |
| Number of modules |
17,569 19.2 W modules, 6048 50 W modules,
exchanged with Shell Solar and BP Solar modules in 2006 |
| Total PV area |
4500 m2 + 3500 m2 |
| Module mounting |
Fixed tilt |
| Inverters |
Thyristor + IGBT inverter |
| Design energy output |
770,000 kWh/year |
TABLE 2: Pellworm Island hybrid system, basic features
Wilpena Pound
The Wilpena Pound power station combines 100 kWp PV system, battery storage of 400 kWh, an inverter and 440 kWp diesel generators. At night a computerized smart controller automatically switches between the battery storage and the most-efficient diesel generator combination to match the load. A modem-link provides remote monitoring and control facilities.
| Name and location |
Wilpena Pound PV System - South Australia |
| PV system type |
PV-diesel hybrid system |
| Operates since |
1999 |
| Rated power |
100 kWp PV + 440 kW diesel genset |
| Storage |
400 kWh, Sonnenschein Gel battery storage |
| Number of modules |
1260, 80 W Solarex modules |
| Total PV area |
|
| Module mounting |
Fixed tilt |
| Inverters |
AES 125 kVA |
TABLE 3: Wilpena Pound hybrid system, basic features
PV-HYBRID SYSTEMS WEB SITES
Solar cable producers
Sandia National Laboratories
- Hybrid Power Systems - Issues & Answers.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Web sites
Reports
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World-wide overview of design and simulation tools for hybrid PV systems;
Report IEA PVPS T11-01: 2011, January 2011.
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Barley, D. et al.: Sizing Wind/Photovoltaic Hybrids for
Households in Inner Mongolia;
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, for the U.S. Department of
Energy under contract No. DE-AC36-83CH10093, July 1997.
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Papers
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Kamaruzzaman, S. et al.:Optimization of a Stand-Alone Wind/PV Hybrid System
To Provide Electricity for a Household in Malaysia; Solar Energy Research Institute,
Proceedings of the 4th IASME / WSEAS International Conference on
Energy & Environment (EE'09).
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Peterson, A.J.:
Operational Experiwnce of a Residental Photovoltaic Hybrid System;
Solar Energy, Volume 65, No. 4, pp. 227–235, 1999.
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Hund, T.D., Thompson, B.: Amp-Hour Counting
Charge Control for Photovoltaic Hybrid Power Systems; 26th IEEE Photovoltaic
Specialists Conference, September 29-October 3, 1997, Anaheim, CA.
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Case studies
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Khythnos Island, 20 Years Experience of Sytem Technology for Renewable Energies, SMA,
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