Renewable relationships: Wind, solar energy systems work better together

Hybrid projects can capitalize on individual strengths, say industry execs

It’s a familiar refrain for opponents of wind and solar energy—the wind doesn’t always blow, and the sun doesn’t always shine.

Together, though, as the old metaphysicist would say, they’re greater than the sum of their parts.

According to some industry proponents, hybrid projects that involve both turbines and photovoltaics can alleviate intermittency issues, capitalize on synergies and create economies of scale.

“Wind resource tends to complement solar resource,” Sarah Kurtz, of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, tells ensia.com.

Down Under, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), a governmental department, is set to build a 10-megawatt (MW) solar farm beside an existing 73-turbine wind project—an initiative known collectively as the Gullen Range project.

Why does ARENA expect this hybrid project to be successful?

• Co-locating solar and wind offers more continuous energy generation than either technology working solo;
• Combining solar and wind plants can streamline the site development, approval and grid connection process, with Gullen Farm set to reduce its costs by 20 percent;
• When used on microgrid systems, the combination of solar and wind can trim the cost of batteries; and
• It will widen the scope for future renewable energy project applications.

“Scale isn’t as important for competitiveness when plants are co-located, meaning the approach could also unlock new markets for medium-scale solar PV projects,” ARENA’s chief executive officer Ivor Frischknecht tells ensia.com.

“The lessons learned at Gullen Range will be invaluable, as this is the first project of its type in Australia,” Frischknecht adds. “It has the potential to cement industry confidence in the approach and provide a blueprint for similar projects to follow.”

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