A Sustainable Energy Storage System for Hydro-PV Microgeneration

As global energy demand rises, wind and solar photovoltaics offer cost-effective, accessible solutions despite climate dependence. To address intermittency, energy storage, like hydroelectric reservoirs, is vital. However, large hydro projects face high costs and stringent regulations. Hybrid microgeneration systems, combining solar PV and hydro, reduce costs and environmental impact while maintaining dispatchability. The paper introduces a microgrid topology with three converters for hydro-PV integration, aligning with grid codes. The characteristics of the system and design of the converters are briefly presented, the feasibility was validated through hardware-in-the-loop testing with real data, which is compared with standard systems. Allowing check that proposed system outperforms the standard one, especially during rainy periods, ensuring off-grid operation without batteries. In summary, an innovative storage system and control strategy for hybrid microgeneration is presented, offering improved efficiency, grid compatibility, and the ability to harness both hydro and photovoltaic resources effectively.