In cloud-free locations at less than 35 degrees latitude, such as Arizona, wind can comprise a smaller percentage of total power generation since winter solar availability is high. Solar Resource: In locations such as the Great Lakes region or Canada with shorter and/or cloudier winter months, off-grid systems should have much larger wind capacity.Wind Resource: The wind resource analysis should be focused on solar assistance, which is during winter months when wind is at its peak. Most regions of the United States have sufficient winter winds to support most off-grid power needs.While designing a hybrid wind/solar system, the following variables should be considered: Resource and load matching is critical for off-grid system design.

Wind and solar resources are complimentary both seasonally and diurnally, and off-grid hybrid wind/solar systems provide better system reliability, more uniform power generation, and reduced depth of battery discharge. While off-grid renewable energy systems are often more economical than diesel generators or transmission line extension in rural areas, they are more expensive than grid-connected renewable energy systems, which don’t require batteries and other balance of system equipment. In most cases, renewables are a cost-effective replacement for diesel generators, creating an important market for off-grid renewable energy systems. Mini-grids are particularly beneficial for island states because many islands rely on costly diesel generators for their electricity production. Off-grid renewable energy systems typically consist of residential systems for on-site loads and mini-grids for rural communities, institutional buildings and commercial/industrial plants and buildings. An estimated 1.16 billion people (17% of the world’s population) currently live without access to electricity, creating a large market for off-grid distributed wind systems.

As the worldwide demand for cleaner energy continues to grow, particularly in developing countries with weak transmission infrastructure or no centralized utility grids and in rural areas where building transmission lines is cost-prohibitive, off-grid distributed wind energy has a vital role to play in generating on‐site electricity.

Solar and wind energy systems