Crest Australia specialises in the design and installation of a range of renewable energy systems for residential, commercial as well as remote area applications. Their product range includes photovoltaic grid-connect systems, remote area power systems, hybrid energy systems, solar modules, wind generators and solar inverters. Hybrid energy systems are a range of advanced modular renewable energy systems designed to provide off-grid decentralised power supply in rural areas as well as remote properties. Hybrid energy systems or HES systems consist of a 20-feet container, photovoltaic generator, battery bank, control system and inverter. A small diesel generator can also be incorporated in these hybrid energy systems to provide back-up power.
Hybrid energy systems are ideal for installation in remote locations such as villages, farms, hospitals, schools, workshops and small factories, holiday resorts and hotels, airfields, construction camps as well as telecommunication systems. The solar generator functions as a standalone solar power system that generates energy using the solar panels for charging the battery bank. The inverter converts the stored DC energy into AC power for use in the building or property to operate equipment. The solar-based remote area power system (RAPS) meets a large part of the energy requirements and the gap in demand is fulfilled by the diesel generator. The modular design of these hybrid energy systems enables their expansion to meet growing energy requirements. Additional energy sources such as wind energy systems and micro-hydro power stations can be used to create hybrid energy systems.