wind, Hydro and solar stand-alone solutions
Stand alone wind, hydro or PV-solar systems are mainly used by homeowners, communities and farms located far away from utility lines.
Running a power line to a remote site may involve high costs ($15,000-$50,000 per mile, dependent on the type of ground), which can make grid-connected systems too expensive.
Natural Resources
Stand-alone systems are extremely dependent, on their feasibility, of wind speeds, solar resources or stream water patterns.
Wind electric systems demand minimal annual wind speeds: 4.4 meters per second (10 miles per hour) is a common reference.
Small hydro power systems also demand adequate outputs: see Assessing Hydro Power Output.
As to the solar resources, without enough solar resources stand-alone systems will also have very low outputs. The graphic below, allows a preliminaru assessment of the impact of solar resources on power outputs in some regions of the USA:
Source: Montana Green Power
Stand alone systems Limitations
The solar, wind or water patterns may also have a negative impact on stand alone solutions, and the design of such systems should have it into account it.
A back-up system or a hybrid renewable-fossil fueled system can solve the problem, but grid-tied systems – whenever possible and economically feasible - are the easiest and definitive solution to small renewable power systems limitations...
See also:
Wind Powered Energy Basics
Wind Maps and Data
Small Wind systems
On-grid systems
Net metering
Batteries and Backup systems for Wind and Solar systems
Wind Towers
Micro Wind
Turbines Power and Size
Landowners and Onshore Wind Farms
Wind Turbines Location
Offshore vs Onshore Wind systems
Solar-Wind Hybrid Systems
Solar vs. Wind electricity
Wind turbines & Environment
Wind farms
Urban Wind Systems
Wind Technology
Payback and Financial incentives
Wind Turbines Manufacturers and Dealers
Legal requirements for Wind Power Systems
Buying Green Power
Making Your Own Electricity
Codes and Legal Requirements for Small Renewable Systems
Requirements for grid-connected systems f