Hybrid solar projects with storage or wind enhances energy security by ensuring a more stable and reliable power supply. Storage allows surplus solar energy to be stored and used when demand is high or sunlight is low. Adding wind power complements solar generation, as wind often produces energy when solar output is low, for example at night or during winter.
This increases the number of hours per year when renewables fulfil the EU’s energy demand, substantially reducing the EU’s
reliance on fossil-based back-up plants.
The EU is far from exploiting the full potential of hybrid solar systems. Addressing existing bottlenecks today would significantly accelerate its development. To support this effort, this report outlines the benefits of hybrid PV, market trends, regulatory barriers and best practices from various European regions.
Embracing the benefits of hybrid PV systems
Lowering LCOE by 10%. Ensuring generation when the sun doesn't shine. Delivering energy security.
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The Clean Industrial Deal represents the next step in Europe’s transition toward a climate-neutral economy building on the EU’s Green Deal agenda and Fit for 55 package. At the heart of this transformation lies the integration of renewable energy, which plays a crucial role in decarbonising industrial sectors by providing clean, cost-effective and reliable electricity.
Scaling up solar, wind and energy storage solutions can help industries reduce dependence on fossil fuels, stabilise energy costs, and enhance resilience against volatile energy markets. Moreover, the deployment of hybrid renewable projects—combining solar, wind, and battery storage—can optimise energy availability, ensuring stable power supply even in high-demand periods.
Alongside grid expansion and modernisation, hybrid renewable can play a significant role in achieving both short- and long-term EU goals by:
- Driving decarbonisation through greater integration and penetration of renewable energy into the grid;
- Enhancing energy security by ensuring a more stable and reliable power supply; and
- Improving affordability by reducing energy costs and optimising electricity grid usage.
Despite the significant benefits of hybrid renewable projects, their full potential remains untapped in the EU due to regulatory bottlenecks that hinder deployment. See below a summary of our policy recommendations to unlock hybrid potential.
Recognition
The EU and its Member States should recognise hybrid solar systems as key contributors to the EU’s energy security, competitiveness and decarbonisation goals, and integrate hybrid solar into grid planning, flexibility strategies, and funding mechanisms.
Accelerate grid connection procedures
Regulators and grid operators should accelerate grid connection procedures for hybrid PV. They should do this by publishing grid hosting capacity maps to improve transparency and facilitate co-located setup at the same connection point, as seen in Denmark and Australia. Hybridisation of exiting renewables projects should be prioritised in grid queues, allowing better use of connection points.
Accelerate permitting for hybrid PV
Member States should accelerate permitting for hybrid PV by implementing the streamlined procedures in the 2023 Renewable Energy Directive (RED). Hybrid projects should benefit from simpler approval processes, standardised one-stop-shop systems, and the ability to submit joint permitting requests for different assets under one grid connection. Renewable Acceleration Areas (RAAs) should support hybridisation, avoiding separate zones for solar and wind, as seen in Austria.
Appropriate support schemes
The EU and its Member States should ensure support schemes are adapted to hybrid PV projects. Hybrid PV systems should be able to participate in traditional renewable energy auctions and get bonus points for their system benefits, while avoiding market distortions.
Adapt grid tariffs
Grid tariffs need to be adapted to promote the decentralisation of energy systems and better integration of renewable energy sources with battery storage, addressing issues like high connection fees and double charging of storage assets. A key recommendation is to eliminate double charging for storage, exempting co-located storage systems from such tariffs to create fairer market conditions and support the integration of renewable energy technologies.
Recieve Guarantees of Origin
Hybrid renewable projects should receive Guarantees of Origin (GOs) for all renewable electricity they generate, whether directly injected into the grid or stored for later use, requiring an updated metering framework. Current systems fail to track renewable energy flowing through storage, leading to gaps in GO certification.
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