A feasibility study of hybrid wind power systems for remote communities

Global warming, climate change and the recent global financial crisis have emphasised the need for reducing carbon emissions whilst also ensuring economic feasibility. This study addresses this topic by investigating the technical and economic feasibility of replacing diesel power generation with hybrid wind power systems in remote communities. For this purpose, the economic, technical and environmental characteristics of eight different hybrid wind power systems were established and compared in respect to their performance in the isolated community of French Island (Victoria, Australia). The results obtained in this study demonstrated the economic and environmental superiority of the hybrid wind–diesel–battery system over all other systems studied in this project. This system was found to have the lowest net present cost and cost per kWh among the modelled systems. Furthermore, the results clearly indicated that hybrid wind power systems are, in general, a feasible and preferable alternative to diesel power generation on the French Island. The research methodology and procedure that were developed in this project can be used to investigate and identify the most viable hybrid power system for other remote communities based on their specific environmental, social and economic circumstances.