Design and Research of Off-grid Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Generation

Systems
Chen Jian1 CheYanbo1 Zhao Lihua2
1
School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
E-mail: happy_chenjian@163.com ybche@tju.edu.cn
2
Tianjin Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Burean of P.R.China
E-mail: zhaolh0@tjciq.gov.cn

Abstract–The complementary nature of wind and solar
determines the advantages and potentiality of hybrid power
generation systems. Off-grid wind-solar hybrid power
generation systems are very important for remote areas and
island coast defense in China. This paper classifies and
summaries the structure of off-grid hybrid power generation
systems first where the advantages and disadvantages of
different system structures are described in detail. And then
the design of off-grid wind-solar hybrid power generation
systems, including design methods, capacity configuration of
different parts, the classification and features of storage
energy systems, is analyzed thoroughly. Through the analysis
of different operation modes of the system, further
exploration and study of control strategy has been carried
out at last. The results of this study can be used to guide the
research of off-grid wind-solar hybrid power generation
systems.
Keywords–wind-solar hybrid, off-grid, energy
systems, operation mode, control strategy
I. INTRODUCTION
As the world energy crisis, as well as people’s awareness
of environmental protection, wind and solar and other
renewable energy have been paid attention and developing
rapidly. China has plentiful wind and solar resources
which had been used in many fields. However, the energy
density of either wind or solar is very low. Independent
power systems of wind or solar alone cannot provide
reliable power supply. But the wind and solar have good
complementarities which can improve power supply
reliability if one system contains both wind and solar. The
complementary nature of wind and solar determines the
advantages and potentials of wind-solar hybrid power
generation systems. Most existing studies are focused on
wind-solar hybrid power generation systems nowadays.
nowadays. However, the power scales of photovoltaic (PV)
and wind turbine (WT) are small that only single load is
supplied. The large scale hybrid systems that supply
residents are still needed to develop. This paper mainly
focuses on medium and large scale off-grid wind-solar
hybrid power generation systems.
II. SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
The typical wind-solar hybrid power generation systems
include PV system, WT system, battery units, diesel
generator, related electric devices and loads. In recent
years, more energy storage forms such as super capacity,
flywheel energy storage, compressed air energy storage
and other forms have been developed rapidly. This paper
will discuss the form of battery units which are used more
storage often in projects nowadays.
Wind-solar hybrid power generation systems can be
divided into three classes according to busbar forms,
including pure AC busbar system, pure DC busbar system
and hybrid AC-DC busbar system. The three classes
systems have different features.
2.1 Pure AC busbar system
In pure AC busbar system, PV system and WT system are
connected to AC busbar through electric devices which
convert the output power into AC form. Battery units are
connected to AC busbar through bi-directional inverter
that they can supply power to grid or absorb power from
grid. AC load can be directly connected to AC busbar
while DC load needs electric devices. The structure of
pure AC busbar system is shown in Fig.1.

Wind-solar hybrid power generation systems can be

divided into two forms: grid-connected and off-grid. The
former is connected to large grid. When the generating
capacity is insufficient, large grid supplies the loads in the
system. When the generating capacity is surplus, the
surplus electricity can be fed into large grid. The effects on
large grid brought by grid connecting should also be
considered. The latter is an independent system that the
internal loads are entirely supplied by wind-solar hybrid
power generation system. Off-grid wind-solar hybrid
power generation systems, the focus of this paper, have
important mean on remote areas and coast defense.

Off-grid wind-solar hybrid power generation systems are

mainly applied in road lamp systems [2], highway monitors Fig.1: Structure of pure AC busbar system
and communication stations and other circumstances

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The form of pure AC busbar system is widely used abroad
which has a lot of advantages, such as simple operation,
easy extension and low cost, etc. It can be extended
according to the increase of load. Reference [3] discussed
the wind/solar/diesel/battery power system based on pure
AC busbar.
2.2 Pure DC busbar system
In pure DC busbar system, PV system, WT system and
diesel generator are connected to DC busbar through
electric devices which convert output power into DC form.
This time DC load can be directly connected to DC busbar
while AC load needs electric devices. The structure of
pure AC busbar system is shown in Fig.2. There are many
pure DC busbar systems proposed nowadays. Reference [4]
compares HVDC and HVAC systems that HVDC system
can effectively reduce transmission losses and diesel
consumption of diesel generator. It can be conclude that
the form of HVDC has better performance. More attention
has been paid on pure DC busbar system nowadays, for
example, reference [5] made the researches based on pure
DC busbar system.
Fig.2: Structure of pure DC bus system
2.3 Hybrid AC-DC busbar system
In hybrid AC-DC busbar system, AC busbar and DC
busbar are both exist. The hybrid form is the combination
of the two former forms that they can make up the
disadvantages of each other. However, the hybrid form
also adds the complexity of operation control. The
structure of hybrid AC-DC busbar system is shown in
Fig.3.
III. SYSTEM DESIGN
3.1 Capacity configuration
In order to fulfill the target of economical and optimal
operation of systems, the optimal capacity configuration of
components is very important in system design. In related
researches, scholars have made great efforts to study the
problems of optimal configuration of systems. Reference
[4] summarized the optimal capacity configuration briefly.
References [5]-[7] made the optimal design adopting the
method of genetic algorithm. References [8]-[10] analyzed
the off-grid system using WT and PV calculation models.
Reference [11] made the design considering system
reliability. Reference [12] discussed the influences of
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capacity configuration. References [13] and [14] made use
of the simulation software HOMER to analyze the systems.
In the methods mentioned above, HOMER is the most
convenient way. HOMER can calculate the operation
results of different combinations as long as the data of
power sources, loads and resources are added. Further
more, sensitivity analysis can be made according to
different parameters. However, some important technical
constraints such as voltage level and control strategy are
not considered in HOMER.
Fig.3: Structure of hybrid AC-DC bus system
Many capacity configuration methods, such as HOMER,
are designed to achieve the lowest cost while the control
strategy is not considered too much. However, the
operation control of wind-solar hybrid power generation
systems is exactly the core problem needed to be solved.
Furthermore, how to implement optimal operation through
control strategy for fixed capacity configuration system is
a problem needed to be solved even more urgently. So the
emphasis and difficulty of wind-solar hybrid power
generation systems research are optimal control of systems.
3.2 Energy storage systems
Energy storage systems are the key parts of wind-solar
hybrid power generation systems which are the guarantee
of reliable power supply. Nowadays, many forms of
energy storage have been applied. There are mainly four
types energy storage, including physical energy storage,
electromagnetic energy storage, electrochemistry energy
storage and phase changes energy storage. Physical energy
storage includes water pump, compressed air and flywheel.
Electromagnetic energy storage includes super-
conductivity and super capacity. Electrochemistry includes
lead acid battery, Li battery, NaS battery and liquid battery.
Phase changes energy storage includes heat tank and cool
tank and so on [15]. Among these, battery units are still the
first choice in large scale application because of their 7   generation<load charge off
features and advantages. New energy storage forms have The output powers of PV and WT are sufficient. Diesel
also been used more often in demonstration projects. generator is in standby mode. Battery is in charge mode.
Then the output powers of PV and WT become smaller
Battery units are the most widely used energy storage form than load
that lead acid battery units are the main application form. 8   generation<load charge on
In wind-solar hybrid power generation systems using The output powers of PV, WT and battery are insufficient and
battery energy storage, battery units play an important role diesel generator operates.
in restraining output fluctuation and improving output
quality. At the same time, the parameters of battery units This is the ideal situation that PV and WT both have
are the focus of system control that the parameters must be outputs. There are transition modes included in Table 1
in certain ranges. Battery units cannot be charged which appear in a very short time. However, the transition
insufficient or overmuch, or discharged overmuch which modes are the key parts needed to be considered and they
will affect the performance and life cycles of battery units are the difficult points in control strategy.
greatly.
2) PV has no output but WT has output, such as windy
Other forms of energy storage can make up the night, or windy, cloudy days. The details are shown in
disadvantages of battery units in some degree which Table 2.
improves the whole performance of wind-solar hybrid
power generation systems. Reference [16] proposed a Table 2 Operation condition when only WT has output
super capacity energy storage system used in distributed Diesel
Name WT PV Load situation battery
generation systems. Reference [17] focused on flywheel generator
energy storage system and made simulation analysis. The 9  Ϥ generation>load charge off
off-grid wind-solar hybrid power generation systems using The output power of WT is sufficient. Battery and diesel
battery units are mainly discussed in the next. generator are in standby mode.
10  Ϥ generation>load charge on
IV. CONTROL STRATEGY RESEARCH The output powers of WT and battery are insufficient and
diesel generator operates. Then the output power of WT
4.1 System operation modes recovers and becomes larger than load.
Control strategy is the core problem of off-grid wind-solar 11  Ϥ generation>load discharge off
hybrid power generation systems. The problem of power The output power of WT is insufficient and battery discharges.
supply reliability is the one needed to be solved. It’s Then the output power of WT recovers and becomes larger
necessary to make clear the operation modes before than load.
formulating the control strategy. 12  Ϥ generation>load discharge on
1) PV and WT both have outputs, such as sunny, windy The output power of WT is insufficient and battery discharges
almost to the limit. Diesel generator begins to operate and then
days. The details are shown in Table 1.
the output power of WT recovers and becomes larger than
load.
Table 1 Operation condition when PV and WT have outputs
13  Ϥ generation<load discharge off
Diesel
Name WT PV Load situation battery The output power of WT is insufficient and battery discharges.
generator
Diesel generator is in standby mode.
1   generation>load charge off
14  Ϥ generation<load discharge on
The ideal operation mode. Battery and diesel generator are in The output power of WT is insufficient and battery discharges
standby mode. almost to the limit. Diesel generator begins to operate and the
2   generation>load charge on output power of WT is smaller than load all the time.
The output powers of PV, WT and battery are insufficient and 15  Ϥ generation<load charge off
diesel generator operates. Then the output powers of PV and The output power of WT is sufficient. Battery is in charge
WT recover and become larger than load. mode. Then the output power of WT becomes smaller than
3   generation>load discharge off load
16  Ϥ generation<load charge on
The output powers of PV and WT are insufficient and battery
discharges. Then the output powers of PV and WT recover and The output powers of WT and battery are insufficient and
become larger than load. diesel generator operates.
4   generation>load discharge on
Only WT has output in this situation. The characteristic of
The output powers of PV and WT are insufficient and battery
all components should be considered in formulating
discharges almost to the limit. Diesel generator begins to
operate and then the output powers of PV and WT recover and control strategy. In operation modes analysis, the states of
become larger than load. gross generation and loads as well as characteristic of
5   generation<load discharge off power resources should be considered, because the
characteristics between the situation of PV and WT
The output powers of PV and WT are insufficient and battery
discharges. Diesel generator is in standby mode. operate at the same time and the one of WT operates alone
are very different. The transition modes are also listed in
6   generation<load discharge on
Table 2.
The output powers of PV and WT are insufficient and battery
discharges almost to the limit. Diesel generator begins to
operate and the output powers of PV and WT are smaller than
3) PV has output but WT has no output, such as calm,
load all the time. sunny days. The details are shown in Table 3.

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 basic thinking of control strategy, but the transition modes
Table 3 Operation condition when only PV has output mentioned above are not considered in them. The smooth
Name WT PV Load situation battery
Diesel modes transitions among different operation modes are the
generator focus in the future based on the battery protection and
17 Ϥ  generation>load charge off diesel generator operation time reduction.
The output power of PV is sufficient. Battery and diesel
generator are in standby mode. There are many differences between off-grid and grid-
18 Ϥ  generation>load charge on connected wind-solar hybrid power generation systems.
The output powers of PV and battery are insufficient and It’s more difficult to control off-grid wind-solar hybrid
diesel generator operates. Then the output power of PV power generation systems. Compared to off-grid systems,
recovers and becomes larger than load. external grid can supply the grid-connected systems when
19 Ϥ  generation>load discharge off there are insufficient powers. So the batteries and diesel
The output power of PV is insufficient and battery discharges. generator are expected to have long life cycles. However,
Then the output power of PV recovers and becomes larger than batteries and diesel generator have to supply the systems
load. when the power outputs are insufficient. Although
20 Ϥ  generation>load discharge on batteries can supply output power, it will greatly reduce
The output power of PV is insufficient and battery discharges the life cycles of batteries if there are no controls in
almost to the limit. Diesel generator begins to operate and then batteries charge and discharge processes. Fig. 4 shows the
the output power of PV recovers and becomes larger than load. typical output powers of PV and WT of an island. We can
21 Ϥ  generation<load discharge off see that the fluctuations of output powers are considerable
The output power of PV is insufficient and battery discharges. large.
Diesel generator is in standby mode.
22 Ϥ  generation<load discharge on
The output power of PV is insufficient and battery discharges
almost to the limit. Diesel generator begins to operate and the
output power of PV is smaller than load all the time.
23 Ϥ  generation<load charge off
The output power of PV is sufficient. Battery is in charge
mode. Then the output power of PV becomes smaller than load
24 Ϥ  generation<load charge on
The output powers of PV and battery are insufficient and
diesel generator operates.

PV has output alone in this situation. The operation modes

are similar to the situation of WT has output alone.
However, the characteristics between PV and WT are
different. So the situation of PV has output alone should
be listed separately.
4) PV and WT both have no outputs, such as calm nights
or calm cloudy days. The details are shown in Table 4.
Fig. 4: Power output curve of PV and wind
Diesel generator can be reserve source of electrical power
in poor conditions. However, it’s difficult to transport and
supply diesel for remote areas. So it’s important to reduce
the diesel consumption of diesel generator.

Table 4 Operation condition when PV & WT have no outputs V. EXAMPLE

Diesel
Name WT PV Load situation battery
generator Nowadays, active researches and constructions of off-grid
25 Ϥ Ϥ generation<load discharge off wind-solar hybrid power generation system are carried out
PV and WT have no outputs. Battery is in discharge mode and at home and abroad. The typical applications are remote
diesel generator is in standby mode. islands.
26 Ϥ Ϥ generation<load discharge on
PV and WT have no outputs. Battery discharges almost to the Reference [20] introduces the wind/PV/diesel micro grid
limit and diesel generator begins to operate. system in a remote island in the Republic of Maldives.
27 Ϥ Ϥ generation<load charge on There are more than one thousand islands in the Republic
PV and WT have no outputs. Battery reaches the discharge of Maldives. So the application of off-grid wind-solar
limit and stops to discharge. Diesel generator operates. hybrid power generation systems is very important. The
system can supply power to residents, reduce emission of
This is the poor situation that PV and WT both have no greenhouse gases and slow the rise of sea level caused by
outputs. How to guarantee the uninterrupted power supply, global warming.
protect batteries and implement modes transition are the
focal points of control strategy. The analysis of operation The wind/PV/diesel micro grid system adopts pure AC
modes is the basis of formulating control strategy. busbar structure which was put into use in 2007. The
initial design was made using HOMER software. The
4.2 Control strategy research power level of this system is low that there are 24*1.8kW
Relevant scholars have made corresponding studies on WTs, 2.5kWp PV. The bi-directional inverter is the core
control strategy. References [18] and [19] proposed the of the system.

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There are more than 400 inhabited islands in China’s
coastal areas. Off-grid wind-solar hybrid power generation
systems have also high value for our country. Reference
[21] introduces a system including WT, PV, and ocean
energy and diesel generator in Dangan island of Zhuhai
city. The energy management system of renewable energy
based on up and down computer is designed.
This system adopts pure DC busbar structure which
including 5kWp PV, 9*10kW WT and 10kW wave power
generation devices. The project was completed at the end
of 2009. The Global System for Mobile Communications
(GSM) is used in the system which can sent the power
status information to relevant personnel that real time
monitor is implemented.
V. CONCLUSION
In this paper, brief overview and analysis of off-grid wind-
solar hybrid power generation systems are carried out.
And the operation modes of off-grid system are listed in
details which are the references of formulating control
strategy in the next step. Off-grid wind-solar hybrid power
generation systems have very important value for remote
and island areas. It’s not just helpful to residents of remote
areas without electricity, but also to the safeguarding of
coastal defense. So off-grid wind-solar hybrid power
generation systems have broad application prospects in the
future..
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work is supported by National Key Foundational
Research Project (973) ‘Distributed Generation Supply
System Pertinent Foundational Research’
(No.2009CB219700), National Natural Science
Foundation Key Project ‘Key Technique Research of
Distributed Generation Micro-Grid System Control and
Protection’(No.50837001), and National Natural Science
Foundation ‘Study on Analysis and Control Methods of
Harmonic of Micro-grid’(No. 51007062).
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BIOGRAPHY
CHEN Jian obtained his Master degree from
Shandong University in 2009. He is now the
graduate student of School of Electrical
Engineering and Automation in Tianjin
University.