Technical information

Comparison of the total operating costs of a diesel generator and a combined solar/wind system

The diesel generators and diesel tower lights are ubiquitous on work sites. They are a relatively reliable source of power when grid power is not available or too costly. The diesel generator however has a lot of technical drawbacks when it comes to powering a smaller load for extended periods of time – and with minimum human intervention. This is the case for numerous of applications; e.g. surveillance, telecommunications, monitoring. In several cases, the solar and wind powered units can generate substantial savings and benefits.

Rémy Boucher – 4 pages – English

Estimation of available solar and wind energy for the design of an autonomous mobile power unit.

Several sources of environmental data are readily available. Through statistical analysis and simulation, it is possible to use these data sources to ensure that sufficient energy is available to power telecommunications systems using solar and wind energy units in a given location. Accurate characterization of the wind turbine, solar panels, and batteries is necessary to accurately model charge/discharge cycles. A high-quality model then allows for the precise sizing of energy units to ensure statistically acceptable availability.

Martin Rivard – 3 pages