A Decentralized Energy Solution: PV-Battery-Supercapacitor Hybrid Approach for Rural Communities

The availability of reliable electricity plays a crucial role in improving quality of life and enhancing work efficiency. But delivering power to vast rural populations, particularly in remote and inaccessible areas such as mountainous regions and isolated areas, is a critical issue due to the complexity of infrastructure needed for power generation and distribution. To meet the energy requirements of rural communities, a standalone photovoltaic (PV) system with battery to compensate for supply-demand imbalance, provides a decentralized, off-grid option. To handle sudden power fluctuations in power exchange more efficiently and their effects on battery longevity, researchers have introduced a battery-supercapacitor hybrid energy storage system (HESS). This paper presents a promising solution of a standalone photovoltaic (PV) connected HESS combining the complementary strengths of batteries and supercapacitors. Simulation findings indicate that this innovative system effectively manages load demand and the variability of PV energy generation acquiring the highest efficiency of 99.12% in step size experimental values. Additionally, the supercapacitor mitigates stress on the battery by reducing 32.33% peak power and 36.36%peak current, thereby extending its lifespan.