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Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems

Renewable energy is energy that's generated from a natural source that cannot be depleted. Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) produce power by combining two or more renewable energy sources, or by uniting renewable energy sources with nonrenewable sources. Utilizing multiple energy sources increases the effectiveness of the system.

Fully Renewable Energy
- Some of the most efficient HRES that utilize 100 percent renewable energies combine heat and power sources, such as those that implement solar (photovoltaic) and wind technologies. The peak operating times for wind systems versus solar systems vary. By uniting the two technologies in a single system (HRES), each serves as backup for the other, thus producing more power as needed. Another example of this type of HRES is a system that combines biomass and wind energies.
Partial Renewable Energy
- If an HRES system combines renewable with nonrenewable energies, the goal is to implement nonrenewable energies that use the least amount of fossil fuels, or hydrocarbons. An example of this type of HRES is one that unites hydropower and propane.
Government Involvement
- The U.S. government has provided incentives for commercial and residential parties to use renewable energy for years. However, the government is also heavily involved in the research and implementation of HRES. Projects that the government has implemented include the wind and diesel village HRES in Wales, Alaska, and the solar battery propane HRES in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah and Arizona.

Nature