The technologies of wind, solar, and power conversion have matured greatly over the last twenty years.  It is now quite common to use wind and solar to provide electricity to areas not served by the power grid.  These systems have proven their ability to operate very reliably.

In general, the more difficult the fuel delivery logistics or the farther away from grid power the site is, the more attractive the wind and solar power option will be.

Wind and solar are intermittent resources, so some short-term storage is required to deliver reliable 24-hour “utility-grade” power.  Back-up generators are necessary for larger sites. 

Combining two generating technologies, like wind and diesel, creates a “hybrid system.”  Wind and solar are often combined in a hybrid system because they reinforce each other on a daily and seasonal basis.  The wind often blows when the sun is not shining (night, storms, winter, etc.).  The sun often shines during periods with low wind (summer, wind lulls due to high pressure systems, etc.).

For very small loads, up to ~ 50 watts continuous, an all-solar system will usually be the best configuration.

For continuous loads from 50 - 300 watts, a hybrid system with wind, solar, and a 3 - 10 day battery bank can power a site without need for a back-up generator.  Using both wind and solar will reduce the battery bank size and the total cost compared to solar-only or wind-only systems.

For larger loads, a hybrid system with a back-up generator will generally be more cost-effective.  As the load size increases the relative size of the solar array shrinks due to the higher cost of solar, compared to wind.

Off-grid power systems for telecommunications sites typically cost from $2,000 to $100,000.

Good broadcast sites usually have good wind resources because they have high local elevation and good exposure.

Wind turbines do not interfere with transmission signals.  Sometimes the antennas and the wind turbine share the same tower.

Wind turbines should not be installed at the edge of a cliff or very steep hills because the turbulence during storms will be too high.

Bergey WindPower offers free preliminary design assistance, including budgetary cost estimates (click here to view an example).  We also offer complete systems integration and installation support services (worldwide).

Here at our web site you can design a remote power system, calculate its performance and economics … and you can even learn how to buy it directly and install it yourself.