Two Solar-wind Hybrids worth looking at.

Southwest windpower INC and Advanced technology and research corp:

Image credit: ATR
One of the most common criticisms you hear from clean energy naysayers is that renewables suffer from too much variability. But from the world's first 24/7 solar power plant to large-scale energy storage, that problem is now being tackled from many angles. One of the simplest ways to lessen the problem, however, is to diversify the supply. And now a partnership between two renewable energy equipment suppliers is offering what it claims is the world's first fully integrated wind‐solar hybrid system of substantial capacity.
We've already seen one large-scale combined solar and wind power park, but now Southwest Windpower Inc. and Advanced Technology & Research Corp. have announced that they will be producing a combined hybrid solar/wind renewable energy system that will provide a more constant, more reliable supply of renewable energy for small-scale on site energy generation. This from their press release:

The initial wind‐solar offering, named Skystream Hybrid 6, uses a Skystream 3.7 wind generator, six solar panels and a GPS‐controlled tracking mechanism that rotates the panels to capture the best available sunlight. The tracking mechanism delivers up to 35% more energy than fixed panels on a rooftop. The solar panels and tracker are mounted on the wind turbine's tower, which minimizes the system's visual impact and reduces the costs compared with separate systems. State and local incentives for solar and wind systems can reduce the overall costs significantly in many locations.

No word on the ATR website on pricing, but the first units should be available later this month for the continental United States, and later world-wide through Southwest Windpower's distribution network.




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SEPCO Solar wind hybrid:

We completed a project with a company that integrates a solar power system with a wind turbine. Both are used to generate power to charge a battery that powers a light at night. This system can then charge the battery during the day using both technologies and throughout the night with the wind system.
Here’s a great video on how one community used solar and wind hybrid systems to make the Fish Creek park light up at night without having utility costs associated with standard electrical. The City of Grand Prairie uses solar and wind lighting systems to power the lights from dusk to dawn to keep the families, walkers, and joggers safe from unwanted company.

This also cost the city less as there is no reason for grid extensions. The lights run on the solar and wind power alone, allowing for quick installation and no wires having to go underground. The solar wind hybrid systems also allow for no power bills from the local utility company saving the city even more money.
Combining solar and wind power is a great solution when the amount of sun is not as high as in other areas because it would lower the amount of solar required to power the device. For more information on a solar wind hybrid system, contact us here at SEPCO.

Credit to Treehugger
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