What is a hybrid power plant?

Improving battery technology and the growth of variable renewable generation are driving a surge of interest in “hybrid” power plants that combine, for example, wind or solar generating capacity with co-located batteries.

How much storage capacity does a PV+storage hybrid plant have?

As of the end of 2023, there was roughly as much storage capacity operating within PV+storage hybrid plants as in standalone storage plants (~7.5 GW each). In storage energy terms, however, PV+storage edged out standalone storage by ~7 GWh (24.2 GWh vs. 17.5 GWh, respectively).

Why are hybrid power plants important?

Hybrid power plants are also a resilient and flexible solution to the challenges of climate change and increasing energy demand. Because of their ability to combine and manage different resources, these plants can better adapt to changing environmental conditions and the requirements of the Grid.

Will solar power a hybrid plant in 2023?

Solar dominates these proposed plants as well: at the close of 2023, there were 599 GW of solar capacity proposed as a hybrid (representing ~55% of all solar capacity in the queues), most typically pairing PV with battery storage.

How much does a hybrid power plant cost?

Power purchase agreement (PPA) prices for hybrid power plants have plummeted in recent years, with declining costs for wind, solar and for batteries. Based on contract price information for 50 solar-battery hybrid projects, we found that prices have fallen for mainland US projects from US$40-70 per MWh in 2017 to US$20-30 per MWh in 2020.

Can hybrid power plants reduce environmental impact?

Hybrid power plants can also reduce environmental impact. Indeed, combining multiple renewable technologies at a single site reduces the need to build new infrastructure, thereby minimizing the carbon footprint and maximizing the utilization factor.