A system for electric power generation from solar and wind energy sources, comprising:
- a wind turbine including:
- a tower (25) having a tower top and a tower base mounted on a surface,
- a nacelle cover (22) mounted on the tower top and comprising an electrical generator (27) and a main shaft (21) configured to drive the electrical generator (27),
- a hub (28) arranged at one end of the nacelle cover and mechanically coupled to the electrical generator through the main shaft (21), and
- a plurality of rotor blades (29) attached to the hub (28) for rotating thereof, thereby driving the electrical generator (27);
- a driving wheel (9) mechanically coupled to the electrical generator and to the hub (28);
- a wheel manifold (43 or 30) surrounding the driving wheel (9, or 23);
- at least one solar air-receiver panel (5 or 6) mounted on the tower (25) and comprising at least one header (32) and serpentine flow tubes (33) connected to the header (32), said at least one header (32) and said serpentine flow tubes (33) containing a gas capable to flow therethrough in operation of the system;
- a hot air pipe (7) being in a gas communication with said at least one solar air-receiver panel at one end, and to the wheel manifold (43) at another end;
- a plurality of heliostats (1) arranged in the vicinity of the tower (25) configure for receiving solar light and reflecting the solar light to said at least one solar air-receiver panel;
- a thermal storage tank (3) having a tank top and a tank base, and including a hot air inlet (40) arranged at the tank top and coupled to the hot air pipe (7), a cold air-inlet (42) arranged at the tank base and a cold-air outlet (41) arranged at the tank base, said thermal storage tank (3) configured for storing thermal energy transferred from at least one solar air-receiver panel by the gas receiving the thermal energy when passing through the serpentine flow tubes (33) and through said at least one header (32) and carrying said thermal energy to said thermal storage tank (3) when passing to the hot air inlet (40);
- a four-way valve (26) coupled to the hot air inlet (40) and to the hot air pipe (7), and configured (i) to provide a gas flow from the thermal storage tank (3) to the wheel manifold (43), (ii) to provide a gas flow from said at least one solar air-receiver panel (5 or 6) to the wheel manifold (43), and (iii) to provide a gas flow from said at least one solar air-receiver panel (5 or 6) to the thermal storage tank (3);
- an air compressor (4) in one mode of operation being coupled to the cold air-inlet (42) of thermal storage tank (3) for providing the compressed gas thereto for heating the gas, and forcing the heated gas from the thermal storage tank (3) to the wheel manifold (43) coupled to the thermal storage tank (3) through the four-way valve (26) connected the hot air pipe (7), and in another mode of operation being couple to said at least one air solar panel (5 or 6) for heating the gas, and forcing the heated gas from said at least one solar air-receiver panel (5 or 6) to the wheel manifold (43) through the four-way valve (26) connected the hot air pipe (7);
- and
- a fan (2) coupled to the cold-air outlet (41) of the thermal storage tank (3) and to said at least one solar air-receiver panel (5 or 6), and configured for providing a gas flow circulation therebetween.