State-of-the-Art Review of Various Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Rural Area Electrical Applications

Background

Sources of energy that can be obtained naturally without depleting the planet's resources are known as renewable energies. These sources comprise solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass, and biofuels. Renewable energies are cleaner and more sustainable than non-renewable energies like oil, gas, and coal, which are finite and emit large amounts of greenhouse gases. The technologies to capture and utilize renewable energies have improved in recent years, making their use increasingly viable and economical. Renewable energies are a crucial solution to combat climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels (Vendoti et. al., 2021). Investing in these energy sources can create jobs and promote sustainable economic development. In conclusion, renewable energies are a vital alternative to ensure a cleaner and safer future for future generations.

Hybrid renewable energy systems utilize multiple renewable energy sources to produce electricity, making them particularly advantageous in areas with limited or unstable access to traditional power grids. For instance, a hybrid system may incorporate both solar and wind energy, with solar panels generating electricity during the day and storing it in batteries for later use, while wind energy conversion systems generate additional electricity at night. Alternatively, a hybrid system may combine solar and hydro energy, with solar panels generating electricity during the day to pump water from a river or lake to a dam, which can then be released at night through a hydro turbine to generate additional electricity [Suresh et.al. (2020)].

Hybrid renewable energy systems possess the potential to surpass the efficiency and reliability of single-source energy systems. Moreover, they enable optimal utilization of existing resources and contribute to the reduction in energy generation costs. Consequently, the popularity of hybrid systems is on the rise globally, particularly in rural or remote regions.

This chapter aims to simplify the comprehension of hybrid renewable energy systems for beginners and present organized and detailed information. Unlike other summaries found in literature, it specifically addresses the unique features of the systems used in individual case studies. This approach enables a more thorough investigation and simplifies the identification of articles that align with the desired specifications for designing a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES).

The subsequent section conducted a comprehensive investigation of the relevant and hypothetical literature.