Simulation and design of wind-PV hybrid power generation systems

This paper proposes a hybrid energy conversion system combing photo voltaic and wind turbine as a small-scale alternative source of electrical energy. The set-up consists of a photo-voltaic solar-cell array, a mast mounted wind generator, lead-acid storage batteries, a PWM inverter unit to convert DC power to AC power, IGBT and 3-phase loads. Thus Hybridizing solar and wind power sources together with storage batteries is better option. Photo-Voltaic or solar cells, convert the energy from sunlight into DC electricity. PVs holds advantage over other renewable energy sources in that they give off no noise, and practically require no maintenance. Windturbines and PV cells provide DC power. A semiconductor-based device known as a power inverter is used to convert the DC power to AC power. The hybrid unit contains two complete generating plants, a PV solar cell plant and a windturbine system. These sources are connected in parallel to a 12V DC line. The power is next connected to a DC to AC inverter and is then supplied from the inverter’s output to a 3 phase load. The output voltage across load and inverter is studied.