Different isolated systems with conventional generation sources are installed in Non-Interconnected Areas (ZNI) in Colombia while off-grid renewable systems are a trending answer for the energy supply in these regions. The complementarity between different energy sources, a storage system and adequate control can substantially improve the reliability of isolated generation systems. In this context, the sizing of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) by means of a Genetic Algorithm (GA) is presented, considering the wind and solar resources specific to a representative rural location in Colombia. The methodology involves power curves for small wind turbines and the model for photovoltaic solar panels. The preliminary output consists of a weighted distribution for each technology, either wind or conventional photovoltaics, and is constrained by the Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP) and the Levelized Cost Of Electricity (LCOE). A second step consists of the optimization of the installed area for photovoltaic generation, considering a Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) system and aiming to maintain the initial fraction of generation for this resource. Finally, an analysis is performed on the reduction of area for solar generation to the increase in costs derived from the use of concentrators and other penalties associated with this technology.

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) is one of the most important devices for electricity generation from Wind Energy, and design of new blades has become a fundamental research field to improve the efficiency and to reduce cost of this system. This article presents a preliminary comparison between two micro Wind Turbines (WT), one with standard blades and another one with Wavy Leading Edge (WLE) morphology, inspired by the flippers of the humpback whale, to work at low-speed wind conditions. To perform a correct validation, the authors propose a four steps approach for the design, manufacture and test of a WT. First, the design of the blade, followed by the design of the Wind Turbine (WT). Next step is the manufacture of two functional models, one with WLE and another with standard blades, to make a relative comparison, and, finally, the acquisition of real-time data from these systems for the corresponding analysis in terms of energy generation. Results show that the WLE has an increase of over 20% in energy production in all the tests that were performed, with respect to the standard blade.

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