SOLAR ELECTRIC-DIESEL HYBRID POWER SYSTEMS FOR REMOTE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Solar electric systems present a successful solution as an energy source in remote areas of the world. They have gained widespread acceptance among telecommunications system integration engineers for their increased reliability, performance and cost effectiveness. Traditionally, the standard power solution for these remote communication sites has been an engine generator set, using diesel as the fuel source.

Although generator systems have proven to be a reliable source of energy in these applications, there continue to be escalating fuel costs (and the associated deliveries) along with the long-term maintenance aspects of a mechanical device.

For some time, solar electric systems have been used in applications where utility power line extension costs are uneconomical or the transportation and costs of fossil fuels for an engine generator set are too high. Solar electricity is an ideal solution to remote power applications. However, there can be installations where the cost of a solar electric power system is too high or system performance mandates a back-up power source to ensure 100% load operation, throughout the entire year.

These power system performance specifications have led to the development and refinement of solar electric systems combined with an engine generator backup power source.

This type of power system is referred to as a "HYBRID".

Hybrid solar electric/engine generator power systems are fast becoming an accepted method for remote telecommunication sites where extremely high reliability is required or where the electric demand is too high for solar alone.

Careful selection and integration of solar electric components and matching with the genset/rectifier package, determines the overall system performance i.e. load operation.

(Above is a 2.88kW containerized HYBRID SOLAR PACKAGE with integral generator.)

Economics play a big part of the final decision on which type of power system to deploy for the remote installation.

Although the solar electric system might be the most economical choice in the life cycle cost analysis, it requires a considerable amount of initial investment.

The substantial part of the generator systems cost is the long-term maintenance and is an important factor when ensuring system performance over the lifetime of the design.

The solution might be to combine the two power sources together to

Lower the initial investment capital of the solar system and

To lower the operating and maintenance costs of the generator power systems.

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