Analysis of using stand-alone solar-wind power system in rural areas

Abstract

The use of renewable can be a solution for the power supply of remote rural villages in Romania, where the grid connection is impossible or very expensive to achieve. Stand-alone power systems generate power onsite with no need for a complex transportation system while offering consumers energy independence. This paper is analyzed and compared three types of stand-alone systems based on solar and wind power. A series of simulations were conducted in order to obtain the optimal solutions in terms of energy production, investment cost, and CO2 emissions. The first system studied is composed only of photovoltaic panels and it is feasible if there is enough space for the installation of the panels needed to cover the energy demand. The hybrid solar wind appears to be a good solution for this specific location, both in terms of energy production as well as of cost.