Stand Alone Energy Systems

Diagram of stand alone pv system with battery storage powering dc and ac loads.

Stand alone energy systems.

A stand alone power system saps or sps also known as remote area power supply raps is an off the grid electricity system for locations that are not fitted with an electricity distribution system. For many people powering their homes or small businesses using a small renewable energy system that is not connected to the electricity grid called a stand alone system makes economic sense and. In many stand alone pv systems batteries are used for energy storage. Stand alone and hybrid wind energy systems is a synthesis of the most recent knowledge and experience on wind based hybrid renewable energy systems comprehensively covering the scientific technical and socio economic issues involved in the application of these systems.

Typical saps include one or more methods of electricity generation energy storage and regulation. Stand alone solar power. A stand alone solar system the solar panels are not connected to a grid but instead are used to charge a bank of batteries. Stand alone wind energy systems wind speed and direction changes are usually too great for a wind turbine to generate power and supply it directly to a load.

Hybrid renewable energy systems hres are becoming popular as stand alone power systems for providing electricity in remote areas due to advances in renewable energy technologies and subsequent rise in prices of petroleum products. Photo courtesy of dave parsons. Off grid or stand alone systems can be more cost effective than connecting to the grid in remote locations. The only exceptions are turbines supplying a load requiring only an average amount of power over say several days such as some water pumping applications.

Figure 4 shows how a typical pv hybrid system might be configured. Figure 3 shows a diagram of a typical stand alone pv system powering dc and ac loads.