Combined installations based on renewable energy sources (control, generation of electric and thermal energy)

Abstract

In recent decades, humanity has been actively looking for sustainable and environmentally friendly ways to meet its growing energy needs. Renewable energy sources (RES) such as solar, wind, hydropower, biogas, and geothermal energy are the main focus of these efforts. In this regard, combined installations based on renewable energy sources are being actively introduced, which make it possible to simultaneously generate electrical and thermal energy, increasing the efficiency and stability of energy systems. Combined installations powered by renewable energy sources represent an innovative and efficient approach to energy generation, combining several systems of its production and use into a single cycle. These systems optimize the use of renewable energy to generate electricity and heat, ultimately improving overall energy efficiency and stability. The main concept is cogeneration, the process of simultaneous production of two types of energy: electric and thermal. In the case of renewable energy sources, this process typically uses solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal resources. For example, photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) solar systems combine solar photovoltaic panels to generate electricity with solar thermal collectors to generate heat. Similarly, biomass power plants and geothermal installations are capable of producing both electrical and thermal energy, meeting the needs of the industrial, residential and agricultural sectors.