A simple model for the energy supply of a stand-alone house using a hybrid wind-solar power system

A research project for secondary school students involving both physical measurements and modelling is presented. The problem to be solved is whether and how a typical house can be supplied with energy off-grid, based entirely on renewable energy sources, more specifically, on solar and wind energy, while using relatively simple devices, namely, photovoltaic modules, wind turbines and accumulators. To this end our students carried out a long term measurement series in order to assess the typical energy consumption of houses. Further, the number of solar modules and wind turbines, and the necessary accumulator capacity, was estimated.