The performance of DG system is often assessed by drawing comparisons to traditional power

generation solutions. When, compared to traditional solutions, emphasis is often place upon the
reliability and capacity of DG systems due to the intermittent nature of the source of energy. Firstly, DG
systems can be multi-source which improves their reliability compared to single-source configurations
and secondly, the traditional alternative energies are also not entirely reliable. A smaller HRES
comprising of smaller sources provides a higher reliability and safety than a centralized system with
fewer large sources which is consequently prone to a greater rate and duration of failures. This chapter
therefore introduces the adequacy and need for HDGS solutions. The potential benefits of such systems
in remote or rural and urban settings were also discussed. Harnessing energy in such systems can prove
challenging as highly efficient power conditioning and complex control schemes are required. Therefore,
after specifying the system requirements critical to the design, the need for proper technology selection
to ensure optimal performance through the presentation of several system configurations was outlined.
Finally, the incentives for these solutions were highlighted and the energy demand was also identified.
The benefits and the accessibility of the sun and wind as free sources of energy and the alarming need
to reduce our carbon footprint are ultimately the driving factors for the continual growth of the
renewable energy market in the future years. One of the most essential part to ensure its success will be
to condition and control this power in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.

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