Reliable Renewable Hybrid Energy Solutions

Abstract

Worldwide studies, including the Paris agreement, show that it is necessary to reduce dependency on the non-renewable energy sources and fossil fuels such as oil and coal. Transition to renewable energy is evident, and different reliable renewable energy systems are needed. The energy production with renewable energy sources is typically non-continuous when using only a single technique. This can be avoided by using a hybrid system and/or seasonal storage. This study introduces several hybrid systems and examples of storages operating mainly in Finland most of them in co-operation with University of Vaasa. Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) can be implemented in multiple different ways, scope varies from larger energy villages and other residential areas to single buildings. The amount of renewable energy generated by any HRES depends on both the technology and the meteorology. Some energy sources like different forms of geoenergy (geothermal energy) are available around the year. Instead, some renewable energy sources like solar and wind are often season dependent energy. To ensure constant production in HRES for the electric grid or the heating network, the energy storage or backup energy systems are in almost all cases needed. Advantages of the hybrid techniques are reliable, constant energy production and scalable energy production. When designing a hybrid system it also needs to be solved, what to do with the excess energy; whether to deliver it to the grid, use the dump loads or the storage systems.