An approach to evaluate the general performance of stand-alone wind/photovoltaic generating systems

This paper reports the development of a computer approach for evaluating th e general performance of stand-alone wind/photovoltaic generating systems. Simple models for different system components are developed, integrated, an d used to predict the behavior of generating systems based on available win d/solar and load data, The model is useful for evaluating the performance o f stand-alone generating systems and gaining a better insight in the compon ent sizes needed before they are built. Simulation results are presented fo r performance evaluation of a stand-alone generating system that has been p reviously designed to supply the average power demand of a typical resident ial house [1]. An electric water heater model is used as a dump load, and the excess avail able wind/solar-generated power is used to heat the water. The heated water is used as the inlet water to the main house water heater, which is assume d to be nonelectric. It is shown that this strategy can be effective in red ucing the amount of fuel used by the main residential water heater.