Top 5 Hybrid Energy News (Solar- and Wind-Diesel-Hybrid + Microgrids) – December 2016

The December edition of our “Top 5 Hybrid Energy News” features Rio Grande Renewables, Demand Energy, CapStone Solutions, Naknek Electric Association, EPE, Multicon Solar, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). It covers projects from Costa Rica to Alaska and shows that solar-diesel hybrid projects are economically viable in many different geographies.

Top 1
Rio Grande Renewables Completes A 276 kW/500 kW Solar+Storage Microgrid in Costa Rica

The US project developer partnered with Demand Energy on the microgrid for Establishment Labs S.A., a medical manufacturing plant in Costa Rica. The grid-connected system can integrate intermittent solar PV for on-site self-consumption. In the case of outages, the microgrid will island itself off and continue operating in standalone mode.“Energy storage with solar PV is the perfect complement to diesel backup at critical production facilities, such as medical manufacturing plants – especially in regions where the grid is prone to outages. With an intelligently controlled system, resiliency improves, costs decrease, and diesel use is minimized,” explains Erick Peterson, VP of Marketing, Demand Energy.

Top 2
Solar-Diesel Hybrid Is Profitable Even In Alaska: Naknek augments power supply with new solar plant

CapStone Solutions developed and installed what is currently the largest solar array in Alaska. The 80.08 kW plant is situated in the tundra near Pederson Point and was sold to Naknek Electric Association.

“Despite the lack of significant solar resource, solar + storage is still the least cost option when combined with an existing diesel grid in the far North. The inclusion of solar into a diesel micro-grid can cut diesel power use by up to 50%,” comments David Nicol, CapStone’s director of solar development.

Top 3
Brazil Issues Call For Solar-Diesel Hybrid Projects

Brazil’s energy planning agency EPE has called for expressions of interest in solar-diesel hybrid power generation projects in the Amazon region. The solar-diesel plants would meet electricity demand in 54 off-grid areas served by Eletrobras Distribuição Amazonas.

Top 4
Multicon Solar’s Mobile Solar Container Wins Prestigious Energy Globe Award

Each solar container has a capacity of up to 86 kWp and stores up to 150 kWh of solar power. They can generate single-phase or three-phase power. The containers can be coupled together and can be scaled up to several megawatts. This also makes it possible to cover the electricity needs of hospitals, refugee camps, water desalination plants and hotel facilities. Multicon received the award for which more than 2000 projects were nominated at the ceremony of the UN Climate Conference in Marrakesh. 

“Our container is the perfect solution for the electrification of remote areas. You don’t need an expert technician on the ground, anyone can start it up,” explains Sven Leinardi, Executive Manager at Multicon Solar Group

Top 5
IRENA Announces Funding Round for Renewables in Developing Nations

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) have opened a fifth round of funding for renewable energy projects in developing countries. In the past, many solar-diesel hybrid microgrids were funded.

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