WES Hybrid

When a sufficient amount of wind is available in a remote, isolated grid area, the WES Hybrid system can significantly reduce energy costs. Installed WES Hybrid turbines have demonstrated that up to 80% of energy need can be generated with wind energy.

Diesel generators are often used to produce electricity in remote areas with isolated grids. Electricity generated in this way is expensive.

In addition to the high cost of diesel fuel, there are other associated costs to be taken into account including transport, storage, losses and high emissions for example. On top of this, diesel generators are relatively inefficient and will generate about 2.5 to 3.5 kWh from one litre of diesel.

As a result, the price for electrical energy in isolated grids is high, sometimes reaching over one US Dollar per kWh.

How it works

The hardware of the WES Hybrid is identical to the hardware of the WES itself. Electrical energy is transferred from the turbine into the wind/diesel grid through an IGBT AC/DC/AC converter inside the control cabinet. The three-phase alternating current generated by the generator is transformed to a direct current (AC/DC conversion). This direct current is converted back into an alternating current (DC/AC conversion). The last AC/DC conversion generates an AC current that is synchronous to the wind/diesel grid.

The difference between the two systems is the software. The WES Hybrid system uses IGBT convertors to generate frequencies slightly higher or lower than are being asked for by the isolated grid. This governs the behaviour of the diesel generator, which generates electricity only when the WES Hybrid system is not otherwise able to deliver enough. Additionally, the WES Hybrid takes full advantage of the characteristic of the asynchronous generator, and the inertia of the spinning parts of the turbine to prevent power gaps.

There is no limitation to the number of Hybrid systems that can be installed and used simultaneously in one isolated grid.

Easy installation

A WES Hybrid system fits in standard containers and trucks. Installing a WES Hybrid system does not take any longer than installing a standard WES turbine.

Scalable

The WES Hybrid system can be scaled easily to match your specific increasing energy requirements. There is no limit to the number of WES Hybrid systems you can combine in one wind/diesel grid, nor is there a limit to the number of diesel generators in such a wind/diesel grid. The diesel generators and the WES Hybrid systems (even with step-up and step-down transformers), do not have to be installed near each other. The system works as long as everything is connected to the same wind/diesel grid.

Cost effective

The WES Hybrid system is highly cost effective. The WES Hybrid works with the diesel generators without the need for additional hardware (such as a flywheel, dumpload, battery storage, data lines, sensors and central energy management system). A grid connection is all that is needed for a WES Hybrid system to deliver energy to the isolated grid and start reducing energy costs.