Wind And Solar Together

A Fine Couple They Are (Wind and Solar Power)

Jim Romeo, July 1, 2019 (Power)

"The pairing of wind and solar is emerging as a smart strategy to implement renewable energy sources with better economic feasibility…The pairing of wind and solar power is an advantageous complement; the two benefit each other. The synergistic combination is an emerging trend in renewable energy and power generation as costs drop…[But it] is in early stages…And the configuration still has challenges regarding return on investment (ROI), ease of implementation, and storage…In western Minnesota, a 2-MW wind turbine and 500-kW solar installation—wind-solar hybrid project—is an early entrant…The pioneering project got a boost amid the lower costs of solar. The power generation from both renewable sources is calculated to provide dividends on its investment…

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…[H]ybrid solar-wind projects are expected to grow by 4% in the U.S. over the next five years to join a $1.5 billion global market…Because wind turbine power and solar both have excess capacity, together they offer far greater possibilities…Renewables especially make economic sense in non-urban areas, where costs per kWh are higher…When it comes to combining both wind and solar with storage, however, the list of locations is even smaller…[T] here are very few locations that meet the geographic requirements…even as the price continues to drop…A storage option is an essential component…[T]he most common combination today is solar plus battery storage, thanks to investment tax credit and incentive programs in certain markets that provide clear lower costs and better revenue streams…[W]ind power energy storage has challenges…” click here for more

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