Why are hybrid power plants gaining attention?

Hybrid power plants, which combine at least two sources such as solar power, wind power, and energy storage, are currently among the most talked-about topics in the energy industry. These facilities, which integrate multiple forms of energy production, enable more efficient and profitable energy production while also allowing participation in reserve markets.

Growing interest in hybrid power plants is partly driven by recent changes to the Electricity Market Act and updated guidelines from the transmission system operator (TSO) on applying system technical requirements to hybrid facilities.  These changes are expected to significantly facilitate and accelerate the deployment of hybrid power plants.

Changes in regulations and guidelines for hybrid power plants

The potential of hybrid power plants has been recognized for a long time, but their wider adoption has been hindered by strict system requirements and high grid connection costs.

Previously, the definition of a connection line in the Electricity Market Act prevented production units or energy storage systems located on separate properties from being connected to the grid using a shared connection line. A recent amendment now allows interconnected production units and storage systems to be connected to the grid this way, even if they are located on different properties. This change reduces grid connection costs and improves the profitability of hybrid power plants.

In addition, the TSO has updated its guideline on applying system technical requirements to hybrid power plants. The new guideline allows control functionalities in hybrid systems to be distributed across multiple levels in a new way. As a result, high-level voltage control can be implemented more cost-effectively using a more compact software solution compared to traditional implementations.

The impact of changes on hybrid power plant projects

Due to easier and more cost-effective connection possibilities, the number of hybrid power plants is expected to increase significantly in the near future. The recent changes also allow the sub-units of a hybrid power plant (wind, solar, battery) to take on a more independent role in the plant’s overall control functions.

High-level voltage control is responsible for coordinating the regulation of the sub-units and ensuring that the maximum active power limit at the grid connection point is never exceeded. This is further secured by an active power relay. In addition to the required grid-connection functionalities, other features can also be integrated into the high-level voltage control. That will significantly facilitate, for example, the use of plants containing battery components in various use cases.

As hybrid power plants become more common, energy production will become more efficient and flexible. This improves the ability to respond to fluctuations in electricity demand. So, it's safe to say – hybrid power plants are coming!