Potential of Small-Scale Hybrid Solar and Pumped Storage Hydropower Systems for Off-Grid Applications

The increasing demand for reliable electricity in off-grid regions, particularly in remote areas, calls for innovative solutions. This project focuses on the integration of Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, aiming to provide a clean, sustainable, and stable energy solution. The primary goal is to design and develop a small-scale hybrid system that utilizes solar energy to pump water into an elevated reservoir, which can then be released to generate electricity via a turbine when solar generation is low or unavailable. An Arduino-based monitoring system was developed to track the performance of both the solar panel and the hydro generator. The system was designed, simulated, and tested under real-world conditions. Results indicate that although the system demonstrates potential for off-grid applications, the small-scale PSH prototype is less efficient compared to direct battery-based solar storage in terms of consistency and output power. The findings suggest that improvements in system design, turbine efficiency, and storage capacity are required to enhance the performance and reliability of the hybrid system. The outcomes highlight the viability of hybrid renewable systems for sustainable off-grid electrification but also indicate areas for future research, particularly in optimizing system design and scaling for broader applications.