Hybrid energy systems generate AC electricity by combining RES such as

PV array with an inverter, which can operate alternately or in parallel with a

conventional engine driven generator.
They can be classified according to their configuration as:
• Series hybrid energy systems.
• Switched hybrid energy systems.
• Parallel hybrid energy systems.
The parallel hybrid systems can be further divided to DC or AC coupling.
An overview of the three most common system topologies is presented by Bower.
In the following comparison of typical PV-diesel system configurations are
described.

2.1. Series Configuration:

Fig 1: Series Hybrid Energy System

 In the conventional series hybrid systems shown in Fig.1, all power
generators feed DC power into a battery. Each component has therefore to be
equipped with an individual charge controller and in the case of a diesel generator
with a rectifier. To ensure reliable operation of series hybrid energy systems both
the diesel generator and the inverter have to be sized to meet peak loads. This
results in a typical system operation where a large fraction of the generated energy
is passed through battery bank, therefore resulting in increased cycling of the
battery bank and reduced system efficiency. AC power delivered to the load is
converted from DC to regulated AC by an inverter or a motor generator unit.
The power generated by the diesel generator is first rectified and
subsequently converted back to AC before being supplied to the load, which incurs
significant conversion losses. The actual load demand determines the amount of
electrical power delivered by the PV array, wind generator, the battery bank, or the
diesel generator. The solar and wind charger prevents overcharging of the battery
bank from the PV generator when the PV power exceeds the load demand and the
batteries are fully charged. It may include MPPT to improve the utilization of the
available PV energy, although the energy gain is marginal for a well-sized system.
The system can be operated in manual or automatic mode, with the addition of
appropriate battery voltage sensing and start/stop control of the engine-driven
generator.

Advantages:
 The engine-driven generator can be sized to be optimally loaded while
supplying the load and charging the battery bank, until a battery SOC of 70–
80% is reached.
  No switching of AC power between the different energy sources is required,
which simplifies the electrical output interface.
 The power supplied to the load is not interrupted when the diesel generator
is started.
 The inverter can generate a sine-wave, modified square wave, or square-
wave depending on the application.
Disadvantages:
 The inverter cannot operate in parallel with the engine driven generator,
therefore the inverter must be sized to supply the peak load of the system.
 The battery bank is cycled frequently, which shortens its lifetime.
 The cycling profile requires a large battery bank to limit the depth-of-
discharge (DOD).
 The overall system efficiency is low, since the diesel cannot supply power
directly to the load.
 Inverter failure results in complete loss of power to the load, unless the load
can be supplied directly from the diesel generator for emergency purposes.
 1.2. Switched Configuration:

Fig 2: Switched PV-diesel hybrid system

Despite its operational limitations, the switched configuration remains one

of the most common installations in some developing countries. It allows operation
with either the engine-driven generator or the inverter as the AC source, yet no
parallel operation of the main generation sources is possible. The diesel generator
and the RES can charge the battery bank. The main advantage compared with the
series system is that the load can be supplied directly by the engine-driven
generator, which results in a higher overall conversion efficiency.
Typically, the diesel generator power will exceed the load demand, with
excess energy being used to recharge the battery bank. During periods of low
electricity demand the diesel generator is switched off and the load is supplied
from the PV array together with stored energy. Switched hybrid energy systems
can be operated in manual mode, although the increased complexity of the system
makes it highly desirable to include an automatic controller, which can be
implemented with the addition of appropriate battery voltage sensing and start/stop
control of the engine-driven generator (Fig. 2).
Advantages:
 The inverter can generate a sine-wave, modified squarewave, or square-
wave, depending on the particular application.
 The diesel generator can supply the load directly, therefore improving the
system efficiency and reducing the fuel consumption.
Disadvantages:
 Power to the load is interrupted momentarily when the AC power sources
are transferred.
 The engine-driven alternator and inverter are typically designed to supply
the peak load, which reduces their efficiency at part load operation.

2.3 Parallel Configuration:

Fig 3: Parallel PV-diesel hybrid energy system: a) DC decoupling and b) AC
coupling

The parallel hybrid system can be further classified as DC and AC couplings

as shown in Fig.3. In both schemes, a bi-directional inverter is used to link between
the battery and an AC source (typically the output of a diesel generator). The bi-
directional inverter can charge the battery bank (rectifier operation) when excess
energy is available from the diesel generator or by the renewable sources, as well
as act as a DC–AC converter (inverter operation). The bi-directional inverter may
also provide “peak shaving” as part of a control strategy when the diesel engine is
overloaded. In Fig.3a, the renewable energy sources (RES) such as photovoltaic
and wind are coupled on the DC side. DC integration of RES results in “custom”
system solutions for individual supply cases requiring high costs for engineering,
hardware, repair, and maintenance.
Furthermore, power system expandability for covering needs of growing
energy and power demand is also difficult. A better approach would be to integrate
the RES on the AC side rather than on the DC side as shown in Fig.3b. Parallel
hybrid energy systems are characterized by two significant improvements over the
series and switched system configuration.
The inverter plus the diesel generator capacity rather than their individual
component ratings limit the maximum load that can be supplied. Typically, this
will lead to a doubling of the system capacity. The capability to synchronize the
inverter with the diesel generator allows greater flexibility to optimize the
operation of the system. Future systems should be sized with a reduced peak
capacity of the diesel generator, which results in a higher fraction of directly used
energy and hence higher system efficiencies.
By using the same power electronic devices for both inverter and rectifier
operation, the number of system components is minimized. Additionally, wiring
and system installation costs are reduced through the integration of all power-
conditioning devices in one central power unit. This highly integrated system
concept has advantages over a more modular approach to system design, but it may
prevent convenient system upgrades when the load demand increases. The parallel
configuration offers a number of potential advantages over other system
configurations. These objectives can only be met if the interactive operation of the
individual components is controlled by an “intelligent” hybrid energy management
system.
Although today’s generation of parallel systems include system controllers
of varying complexity and sophistication, they do not optimize the performance of
the complete system. Typically, both the diesel generator and the inverter are sized
to supply anticipated peak loads. As a result most parallel hybrid energy systems
do not utilize their capability of parallel, synchronized operation of multiple power
sources.
Advantages:
 The system load can be met in an optimal way.
 Diesel generator efficiency can be maximized.
 Diesel generator maintenance can be minimized.
 A reduction in the rated capacities of the diesel generator, battery bank,
inverter, and renewable resources is feasible, while also meeting the peak
loads.
 Disadvantages:
 Automatic control is essential for the reliable operation of the system.
 The inverter has to be a true sine-wave inverter with the ability to
synchronize with a secondary AC source.
 System operation is less transparent to the untrained user of the system.