Stand Alone Photovoltaic (PV) systems are amongst the oldest of applications of photovoltaic systems and are a testament to photovoltaic technology’s ability to operate in the most extreme of conditions. They are typically used in isolated locations with low or no population, or in place of conventional grid infrastructure in less-developed regions.

Standalone systems, as the name suggests, are energy systems designed to operate independent from a grid source of electricity. These systems may be powered by a variety of energy sources, such as wind, hydro, solar, geothermal, or fossil fuels and typically contain some form of energy storage technology. These systems are designed to operate at any location, using the energy sources available. This is important especially at remote locations without a grid connection, or at places where the grid itself is inherently unreliable.

Featured: NECA (July-August, p.88), Ecogeneration