Combining Technologies to Create futureproof Assets

In hybrid projects we want to leverage the strengths of the single assets. By integrating different renewable electricity generators and/or storage assets, competitive green MWhs and a firm power supply can be achieved. Further, we benefit from cost and performance synergies reflected in a higher grid and land utilisation, lower specific investment and O&M cost, additional revenue streams and a higher value of the renewable electricity (if solar electricity is shifted via enery storage to hours of high electricity prices).

In addition, hybrids pose a solution to continue renewable energy expansion in regions where grid connection is scarce. Some countries (like Spain) already recognise the great value of hybrids and are promoting these projects via special incentives.

With decades of experience in the field of renewable energy, we have comprehensive, worldwide know-how, expertise and networks. We are a quality-oriented full-service provider with a solid financial background. Through our local best practices all over the world, we have extensive knowledge of respective local conditions. From project conception to completion, we are – and will remain – your trustworthy, competent and reliable partner throughout the entire life cycle of all kinds of hybrid plants. 

Hybrid renewables are playing a strategic role in accelerating the decarbonisation of power generation and supporting the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Hybrid power plants can help to navigate the energy trilemma, which refers to the challenge of balancing three key objectives in the energy sector: energy security, environmental sustainability, and affordability. By combining different sources of energy, hybrid power plants can help to ensure energy security by providing energy when it is needed. Hybrid power plants can help to promote environmental sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. Further, hybrid projects can help to encourage affordability and reduce the costs of energy production through an optimised use of different energy sources depending on their availability and cost.

At BayWa r.e., market behaviour leads us to believe that hybrids will become the new normal for all renewable energy developers.

Due to ist nature hybrid projects are in general more complex compared to standalone projects. From technical perspective attention has to be given to metering and hybrid park control, grid integration, onsite effects and siting aspects. But also commercial aspects such as legal structuring, contractual structures and business case elaboration must be assessed wisely. Also, the different development timelines need to be well harmonised. These are all project related challenges which can be mitigated.

One of the biggest challenges in many countries is the lack of a clear legal framework and dedicated permitting processes for hybrids. Here, the regulators need to considerably catch-up, so that we can make use of the largely unexploited hybrid potential.