Design and Control of a Hybrid Energy System for a Remote Telecommunications Facility

Abstract

Providing uninterrupted power to a remote telecommunication site has been a problem for the industry for many years. As these sites are far removed from the utility power grid, the use of diesel generators and cycle charge batteries has been the industry norm. However, the use of a hybrid energy system can reduce diesel run times and the associated maintenance issues. A prefeasibility study was performed to determine the optimal location, equipment selection, and plant sizing. Also, there was a requirement for a master controller that has been designed to control the overall hybrid system. This paper describes the designed system and proposed master controller for a remote telecommunication facility in Labrador. This study shows that the designed wind-solardiesel system, will lead to a reduction of overall diesel run times by approximately 80%.