Renewable energy systems are likely to become widespread in the future due to adverse environmental impacts and escalation in energy costs linked with the exercise of established energy sources. Solar and wind energy resources are alternative to each other which will have the actual potential to satisfy the load dilemma to some degree. However, such solutions any time researched independently are not entirely trustworthy because of their effect of unstable nature. In this context, autonomous photovoltaic and wind hybrid energy systems have been found to be more economically viable alternative to fulfill the energy demands of numerous isolated consumers worldwide. The aim of this paper is to give the idea of the hybrid system configuration, modeling, renewable energy sources, criteria for hybrid system optimization and control strategies, and software used for optimal sizing. A case study of comparative various standalone hybrid combinations for remote area Barwani, India also discussed and found PV-Wind-Battery-DG hybrid system is the most optimal solution regarding cost and emission among all various hybrid system combinations. This paper also features some of the near future improvements, which actually has the possibility to improve the actual monetary attraction connected with this sort of techniques and their endorsement by the consumer. © 2016 The Author(s).