Ultracapacitors improve SWECS low wind speed energy recovery. Ultracapacitor and battery for low wind energy harvesting

The performance of small wind energy conversion systems (SWECS) in remote and low wind speed regions can be improved by augmenting the battery only energy smoothing with a front end ultracapacitor and small DC-DC converter. The benefits include energy harvesting close to zero wind speed where a conventional DC SWECS would not generate. The variable voltage front end and converter are found to deliver substantially improved performance in low wind speeds. Commercialization opportunities are significant for low to medium wind regions.