Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Supplying of Services in Rural Settlements of Mediterranean Partner Countries

Duration: 2006 – 2009 ● Client: European Commission (FP6) ● WIP Role: Research and Innovation, Communication and Dissemination ● www.hyress.org

Better access to sustainable energy services for the ‘energy poor’ of our planet is a prerequisite for the sufficient supply of water, lighting, communication systems, cooling, the development of business and income generation activities as well as the improvement of the public health situation.

The strategic objective of HYRESS was to remove the knowledge barriers against the installation of Renewable Energy Systems and the creation of mini-grids based on renewables in remote areas of Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC).

The main objective was to develop, combine, install, test, and assess (technically and socially) the performance of low-cost pilot hybrid Renewable Energy systems in remote areas of the Mediterranean, which are not yet grid-connected.

Three hybrid Renewable Energy Systems were installed and monitored in remote rural areas of Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. The hybrid systems consist of photovoltaic and small wind generators. Furthermore, some systems have integrated hydrogen subsystems, biodiesel engines and desalination units. All three hybrid systems are designed and sized after carefully taking into account the local framework conditions. They fulfil criteria such as modularity, robustness, simplicity in use, very low maintenance requirements.

In this research project, WIP was responsible for technical support and for technical and socio-economic monitoring of the hybrid systems. The project was coordinated by the Agricultural University of Athens, Greece, and supported by the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Commission (Contract No. 031994).