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Brussels — Europe could add 25 GW of wind and solar to existing hydropower sites across seven EU countries without needing extra grid capacity, according to a new Ember new report.
“Political ambitions mean nothing if clean electrons are stranded in connection queues,” said Elisabeth Cremona, Energy Infrastructures Lead at Ember. “For countries facing gridlock, hybridisation offers an immediate, zero-intervention solution.”
Hybridisation as a near-term response to grid congestion
Hybridisation — often overlooked as a way to get more from existing grid infrastructure — combines technologies like wind, solar and storage behind a single grid connection. In Europe, hydropower plants are particularly well suited for hybridisation, as much of their grid capacity goes unused during the day.
