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LabVIEW, Hybrid, Renewable Energy, Control, Virtual Instrument.

Due to the varying nature of the load demand and the fluctuating power supplies by a renewable energy system, a decision-making strategy to operate and control a hybrid system is considered. The proposed hybrid system is comprised of PV/wind and diesel units with battery backup. The aim is to ensure high operational battery bank, running diesel units in their most efficient operational ranges and maximizing the utilization of the renewable energy sources. A LabVIEW model is designed whereby the hybrid system components are simulated as virtual instruments [VI] interacted with functional blocks. The PV/wind VI measure continuously the available power generated from the designed system capacity, and the functional VI compare this with the actual load demand over short periods. Consequently, a decision-making scheme is considered in which optimum operation of diesel units and battery banks is reached, and also whereby scenarios can be drawn for further prediction of system power flows and State-of Charge [SOC] of the battery bank.