Design and Evaluation of a Lightweight, Low-Cost Hybrid Solar–Wind Energy Harvesting System for Portable Power Generation in Long-term Hiking
Dominick Chang *
Electrical Sciences Division/STEM Science Center, 111 Charlotte Place Ste#100/Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Reliable access to electrical power remains a major challenge during long-distance hiking and expedition travel in which grid electricity is unavailable. This study presents the design, construction, and experimental evaluation of a lightweight, low-cost hybrid solar–wind energy harvesting system for portable power generation. The system integrates a commercially available portable solar panel, a compact vertical-axis wind turbine, independent power-conditioning circuits, INA219 current sensors, Arduino-based monitoring, and USB power-bank energy storage. Indoor calibration experiments established voltage–illuminance and wind-speed–voltage relationships, while outdoor testing quantified actual charging performance under winter field conditions. The solar subsystem harvested approximately 19 Wh over an effective charging period of 4.5 h, corresponding to approximately 1–1.5 full charges of a 3,000 mAh smartphone under the tested conditions. Wind-turbine calibration demonstrated a positive nonlinear relationship between wind speed and electrical output, supporting its role as a complementary energy source under low-light conditions. The hybrid architecture improves reliability, portability, and energy availability for extended outdoor activities while remaining inexpensive and reproducible. The system integrates a commercially available portable solar panel and a compact vertical-axis wind turbine. Wind energy is converted from three-phase alternating current to direct current using a three-phase bridge rectifier. Both the solar and wind outputs are regulated to a standard 5 V direct-current output. Energy is stored in a commercial USB power bank containing internal lithium-ion cells. Under winter conditions, the measured 19 Wh of harvested energy corresponded to approximately 1–1.5 full charges of a 3,000 mAh smartphone per day. With increased solar irradiance and a longer daylight duration during the summer months, seasonal output is expected to increase substantially, potentially supporting multiple full device charges per day under optimal conditions. The hybrid configuration improves system robustness and energy security for extended remote outdoor use.
Keywords: Hybrid renewable energy, solar energy, wind energy, portable power generation, energy harvesting, vertical-axis wind turbine, photovoltaic system, hiking, Arduino monitoring, USB power bank