The scarcity of suitable sites, geographic and environmental constraints, regulatory complexities, and high land acquisition costs pose significant barriers to the growth of wind-solar hybrid power projects. However, the economic benefits of co-located wind and solar hybrid power projects far transcend the challenges with their ability to optimally use the transmission infrastructure.

The Indian government has recognized the potential of hybrid power projects and has implemented the National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy. A project will be recognized as a hybrid power project if the rated power capacity of one resource is at least 25% of the rated capacity of the other resources.

The policy provides a framework to integrate wind and solar PV systems, encourages battery storage to balance power output, and offers fiscal and financial incentives to developers. At the end of 2023, 1.44 GW of wind-solar hybrid power capacity was commissioned in India, according to information tabled in Parliament.

Additionally, states like Gujarat offer concessions on additional and cross-subsidy surcharges, which can reduce the financial burden on open access project developers.

Scarcity of suitable locations

Sites with high solar irradiance and favorable wind patterns are scarce, leading to increased competition for the ones that are available.

According to Sharad Pungalia, MD and CEO of Amplus Solar, “Developing wind-solar hybrid projects in India can be challenging. Developing a solar project is relatively controllable between the two, whereas wind projects have longer gestation periods and are often hindered by local issues such as right-of-way. These obstacles make the development process more complex and time-consuming.”

Anurag Garg, CEO of Jakson Solar, concurs.  He explained how these hybrid power projects require sites conducive to both solar irradiance and wind patterns. Additionally, technical challenges arise from synchronizing the variable power outputs from wind and solar sources with the existing grid infrastructure.

Technically, connecting wind and solar systems to the grid as part of hybrid power projects requires careful planning and management for seamless integration.

The variability in power outputs from wind and solar sources necessitates advanced energy management systems and potentially costly upgrades to grid infrastructure. This synchronization is crucial to maintaining grid stability and ensuring a reliable power supply.

“Apart from the variation of generation and demand of electricity around the clock, the challenges are further compounded by the existing grid infrastructure, which may not always be equipped to handle the intermittent and fluctuating nature of renewable energy outputs effectively,” Garg said.

According to Garg, grid integration issues require advanced management techniques and substantial upgrades to transmission systems, which can be costly and time-consuming. Furthermore, the regulatory and logistical hurdles in developing and commissioning these projects add complexity, impacting the speed and scalability of renewable energy adoption.

Securing permits, navigating policy uncertainties, and dealing with local opposition or right-of-way issues, particularly for wind projects, presents several challenges.

Developers typically stagger the commissioning of solar and wind capacities, with solar often completed first due to shorter gestation periods, leading to delays in the full commissioning of hybrid components.

Positives of co-located hybrid power projects

Land and evacuation infrastructure availability has been a universal challenge for solar and wind projects. The government is trying to address the issue of land availability by setting up solar and renewable energy parks.

To alleviate the challenge of transmission infrastructure shortage, developers point out that co-located wind-solar hybrid power projects are the most efficient solution. Energy storage could be added to these hybrid power projects for optimum use.

If not co-located, scheduling and calculating the total energy injected into the grid against power purchase agreements is challenging.

Solar projects use the transmission lines only for about eight hours daily, and wind projects could use the same transmission lines during non-solar hours, considerably reducing project costs. The government has recognized this in the General Network Access (GNA) regulations.

According to the 5.2 section of GNA, with prior approval of the central transmission utility, a developer with connectivity approval for a solar project can use the same transmission infrastructure if wind or energy storage is added in the same location.

According to another developer, even if the best sites for co-location are scarce and the capacity utilization factor (CUF) of the other sites is lower, it makes economic sense to co-locate wind-solar hybrid projects. The tariff increase due to the lower CUF is still competitive compared to the average power cost for power distribution companies.

Leveraging opportunities

Despite the challenges, wind-solar hybrid power projects offer opportunities that can be leveraged to overcome the barriers.

A renewable energy executive was optimistic. “While the challenges of site selection, grid integration, and regulatory hurdles are significant, the opportunities presented by the complementary nature of wind and solar, supportive policies, and technological innovations offer a path forward.”

Technological advancements, such as smart grid technologies and energy management systems, can go a long way in overcoming grid integration challenges.

Furthermore, the declining cost of battery storage technologies is expected to make hybrid projects more viable in the near future, providing a stable power supply during periods of low renewable generation.

Policy support and government incentives can also play a crucial role in promoting the development of hybrid power projects.

Mercom earlier reported how the intermittent nature of standalone wind and solar power sources has made it important for policymakers to promote wind-solar hybrid projects that provide a longer-duration power supply and maximize resources. Adding a battery energy storage system to these hybrid projects would solve the problem of intermittency and ensure higher grid stability.