The solar-wind handshake

In the expanding world of renewable energy, hybrid technology products are poised to make a dent! They promise to power the needs of small commercial establishments, farmhouses and homes in remote areas where conventional electricity cannot reach.

At present, standalone solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines and hydropower systems are providing solutions to an extent, with seasonal limitations and varying costs. Will hybrids emerge as a viable option in the near future? One of the first hybrids that packs both solar and wind generation into a single unit has arrived in India—SolarMill, developed by US-based WindStream Technologies. The installed capacity of a typical device is expected to be 2.5 kw (1.5 kw of solar and 1 kw of wind). The hybrids are available in multiple combinations, starting from 750 W (500 W wind, 250 W solar) to 3.25 KW.

The SolarMill will comprise of a solar photovoltaic panel on top. It will have three vertical axis wind turbines below and a small and efficient battery with storage. The system is guided by integrated electronics to give it the greatest energy density among the products available in the market today.

The USP of the product is its ability to produce clean electricity 24/7 and in all seasons. It will tap both sunshine during day and also the wind in the location it is installed. At night, it can continue with power generation even when wind speeds are as low as 4.5mph (2m/s). To ensure scalability depending on the specific need, the product has been designed to run in series. Since it harnesses clean energy, small businesses can use it to achieve mandated carbon emission reductions, according to Dan Bates, the President and CEO of the company.

For all environments The product is designed to work in both on-grid and off-grid environments. In urban areas it can offset rising energy costs, while in remote areas it can provide the much needed electricity for basic needs as well as to power internet connectivity or pump up water.

With a minor modification WindStream has also come up with a version called MobileMill. This product can meet emergency power needs in times of natural calamities such as cyclones and earthquakes or during major accidents.

The Indiana-based company has spent the past five years concentrating on providing a more consistent energy generation solution which is not just ‘wind only’ or ‘solar only’.

The result is the hybrid. WindStream Technologies will initially assemble the product in Hyderabad with 80 per cent imported components.

Within a year, it plans to reverse the situation. SolarMill will be able to compete with standalone solar or wind devices as well over time and as volumes grow, says Bates.

If conversion efficiency, cost and continuous power supply are the three major bottlenecks confronting renewable energy sources, this hybrid technology seems to be answering one of them (24/7 supply) convincingly for the moment.

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