GREENLIGHT: Generating Renewable Energy Education Network Leading Initiatives for Green & Harmonious Tomorrows

Today, photovoltaic solar energy and wind energy systems that operate independently of the grid are increasingly being used on a larger scale. Especially in regions where access to the grid is difficult or uneconomical, independent solar and wind energy systems offer an important solution. However, wind and solar energy are energy sources that vary daily, monthly and annually. Due to their low energy density, they may be insufficient to provide continuous and uninterrupted power. For example, solar energy systems may not be able to produce enough electricity on cloudy days, while wind energy systems cannot provide continuous power due to changing wind speeds throughout the year. This situation makes energy storage systems necessary to ensure continuity of energy production. Wind energy operates with higher efficiency in the winter months, while solar energy operates with higher efficiency in the summer months. The risk of being without electricity increases in the summer when only wind energy is used, and in the winter when only solar energy is used. For this reason, hybrid systems where solar and wind energy are used together provide more stable energy production than when they are used alone. In addition, the complementary operation of these two energy sources reduces the need for energy storage and helps the system become more efficient.