How Do Hybrid Wind and Solar Power Systems Work?

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Key Points

• A combined solar and wind power system can generate more hours of electricity than separate solar and wind power structures.
• Such hybrid systems work best in areas with consistent wind and sun exposure.
• More costly than a separate solar or wind system.
• Rural or remote off-grid areas with no transmission lines are the best locations for a hybrid energy system.
• Regulatory restrictions can complicate the installation of residential wind turbines.

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Have you ever heard of hybrid power plants? They are relatively new, but are going to become the power plants of the future. Hybrid power plants are power generation systems that combine two or more types of electricity generation or, more commonly, combine electricity generation with battery storage at the same location. Hybrid power plants generally consist of renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or wind turbines paired with energy storage facilities. The solar panels and wind turbines generate electricity while the sun is shining or the wind is blowing and any excess that's not used right away is stored in the battery. Then, in the evening when the sun is going down or at times when there is little wind in the area, energy reserves held in the battery can be released, providing electricity to consumers as needed. This greatly enhances the reliability of the grid while delivering cost effective electricity to customers.

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These days, utilities are retiring power plants that rely on fossil fuels largely for economic and environmental reasons. Coal and gas prices rise and fall based on a variety of factors and contribute to air and water pollution. Wind and solar, however, have zero fuel costs and no direct emissions. This means that utilities and corporations can purchase renewable energy at a set price for a set period of time. This gives them certainty; and everybody likes that. Additionally, wind and solar production costs have come down and they are now the least expensive form of new energy generation.

Storage is a Game-Changer

Enter battery storage, which can store low-cost, clean, renewable energy for hours at a time, and now you really have a game-changer in the renewable energy industry. Storage can help fill the gaps in variable energy resources, keeping the electric grid cleaner, longer, and more reliable. Another benefit to battery storage is that it helps to reduce unused renewable energy.

Oftentimes, renewables will over-produce and the excess energy has nowhere to go. Over-production can occur when energy demand is low or transmission capacity is congested or not available. During these times, the low-cost, clean energy that cannot be added to the grid will be wasted. Energy storage allows us to capture this unused energy and store it until it is needed. This not only reduces the amount of wasted clean energy but can also reduce the amount of fossil fuel resources on the grid.

Battery storage also increases the reliability and responsiveness of the grid. When unexpected events such as extreme weather cause a disruption of service, storage is able to step in and help fill the gaps. Battery storage holds clean energy until it is needed on the grid and can be released quickly and on short notice to meet changing needs. This ensures that there will be a consistent, reliable stream of power even when unexpected fluctuations in demand occur.

Hybrids add value

Hybrid projects are often more cost effective than standalone generation and storage projects. There is an increased cost of constructing solar or wind farms when battery storage is added, but the value of the project that is being created also increases. That's because hybrids make more efficient use of the transmission system. Plus, battery storage is not dependent on the weather and can be called upon to deliver power when needed. This makes storage "dispatchable" and that added flexibility has a higher value to the system as a whole.

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Growth of Hybrids