Hybrid Re System: Minigrid Set-Up, First Results and Lessons Learned

25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition / 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 6-10 September 2010, Valencia, Spain; 5194-5198
Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for the Supply of Services in Rural Settlements of Mediterranean Partner Countries (HYRESS) project is supported by the European Commission’s 6th Research Framework Programme, under contract number PL 031994, FP6-2004-INCO-MPC-3. Its strategic objective is to remove the knowledge barriers against the installation of RE Systems. The ultimate objective of the project is to develop, combine, install, test and assess the performance of low-cost pilot hybrid RE systems in remote areas of the Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC). The main system design criteria has been modularity, robustness, simplicity in use and the requirement of a very low maintenance. To ensure the demonstration effect, it is necessary to meet the inhabitant needs and to show the economic feasibility of the system. Thereby, the available budget and the inhabitant needs determine the size of the systems. ITER ANME and WIP have been responsible for the micro-grid design, installation, set-up and evaluation at Tunisia. The place chosen is the site of Ksar Ghilène, a village located in southern Tunisia, in the governorate of Kébili at Bouflija depression.