What is Hybrid Power Generation?

Hybrid Generation, or Hybrid Generators, refers to power-generating systems that produce electricity from multiple sources. In most cases, this will combine a traditional fossil fuel source, such as Diesel or Gas, with a Renewable Source, such as Solar or Wind.

Advances in Power System control Technology over the past 10-15 years and improvements in battery technology have made these systems highly efficient and reliable.

Modern Hybrid Generation systems, such as the FPS range, can provide the same power availability as a 24 diesel generator, substantially reducing generator runtime, yielding significant fuel savings, resulting in much lower maintenance, and delivering a fraction of the environmental impact.

How Hybrid generation works

Modern Hybrid Generators, such as the FPS Range, have 4 major systems that function together.

Solar System	Produces Electricity from photovoltaic panels when sunlight is available.
Battery System	Used to store energy for later release.
Diesel Generator	Used to produce electricity on demand when needed.
Control System	Manages power flow and other systems.

How these systems are connected varies, but the overarching principles are the same for any well-designed system.

Solar generation is given the highest priority. When solar power is available, it supplies the load, and any excess is sent to the battery. Only when the battery is full is solar generation curtailed.

When the load exceeds the power available from solar, the excess power is supplied by the batteries. This allows for generator-free operation at night and during cloudy weather.

If the batteries are depleted to their lower-charge-state limit, the system will request that the generator start.

The generator will both supply power to the load and charge the batteries. The control system ensures that the generator operates at its peak efficiency at all times, 75%-80% of capacity. This ensures the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly operation, with the least wasted energy.

Once the batteries reach the upper generator charge-state limit, the generator turns off, and the batteries begin providing power to the load again. The generator charge-state limit is set well below 100% to ensure the generator produces no power when it could have been produced by solar and otherwise wasted.

The FPS systems are capable of many other functions, such as peak-load support, effectively giving the system the power rating of a much larger generator.

If you’d like to learn more, reach out and one of our consultants will be happy to provide more details about the systems.

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