Europe's outdated grid strands wind and solar power; hybridisation offers immediate solution

Key facts

• Europe's energy grid is outdated and struggling to accommodate the rapid growth of wind and solar power.
• Over 120GW of anticipated renewable projects are at risk due to grid bottlenecks and insufficient capacity.
• Hybridisation, combining wind, solar, and storage behind a single grid connection, is proposed as an immediate solution.
• This approach could integrate 25GW of new wind and solar across seven EU countries without requiring new grid capacity.
• Hydropower plants are identified as well-suited for hybridisation due to their on-demand capabilities and underutilized grid capacity.
• Clear regulatory frameworks are needed in most EU countries to facilitate hybrid projects.

Europe's energy grid is facing significant challenges in integrating the rapidly growing supply of wind and solar power, leading to a situation where clean energy is being 'stranded' due to outdated infrastructure and connection queues. Experts warn that existing grid capacity, originally designed for centralized fossil fuel plants, is insufficient to handle the intermittent nature of renewables.

Previous reports indicated that over 120GW of planned renewable projects are at risk because of these bottlenecks. The current grid setup, combined with the weather-dependent generation of wind and solar, results in substantial amounts of clean energy being wasted annually.

While battery storage and large-scale grid investments are often discussed, a new analysis by the think tank Ember proposes 'hybridisation' as an immediate, zero-intervention solution. This approach involves combining wind, solar, and storage technologies behind a single grid connection, effectively allowing them to share a common 'plug' into the electricity network. This strategy could potentially double the utilization of existing grid infrastructure.

Hydropower plants are identified as particularly suitable for hybridisation in Europe, as much of their grid capacity remains unused during off-peak hours. By co-locating wind or solar projects with hydropower facilities, developers can accelerate their deployment and improve grid efficiency while respecting export limits.

The Ember study focused on seven major hydropower markets in the EU: Austria, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Spain. It found that hybridisation could enable the integration of 18% of the new renewables anticipated by 2030 without the need for additional grid capacity. This could translate to an additional 25GW of wind and solar power coming online.

However, the report highlights that regulatory hurdles remain. Only Portugal and Spain currently have specific frameworks for hybrid projects, while other countries lack clear guidelines. Experts are urging national governments to implement legislation and prioritize hybrid projects to overcome these barriers and maximize the use of existing infrastructure.