Brussels, Belgium – As SolarPower Europe celebrates its 40th anniversary with the tagline “Solar, Storage, and Flexibility,” the European industry body is intensifying its push for the widespread adoption of hybrid renewable energy systems – combining solar, wind, and energy storage – to bolster Europe’s energy independence and accelerate the transition to a decarbonized economy. The organization is also launching a new “Battery Storage Europe” platform to showcase successful case studies and regulatory best practices.
A Holistic Approach to Energy Security
SolarPower Europe argues that integrating solar, wind, and energy storage offers a significantly more efficient and cost-effective solution than relying solely on individual renewable sources. The organization’s “Embracing the Benefits of Hybrid PV Systems” study estimates that sites combining solar with energy storage, wind power, or both, can achieve a levelized cost of energy 10% lower than pure-solar projects. This reduction in cost, coupled with increased grid stability and reduced reliance on fossil fuel imports, makes hybrid systems a crucial element of Europe’s energy future.
Advocating for Policy Changes
To realize the full potential of hybrid renewable energy systems, SolarPower Europe is actively lobbying policymakers for a series of critical reforms. The trade body recently called on the European Commission and EU member states to legislate a European Union grid flexibility package, including a dedicated energy storage action plan with the ambitious goal of deploying at least 10 times more battery energy storage by 2030.
Speaking at a recent summit in Brussels, SolarPower Europe emphasized that investment in energy storage and grid flexibility can structurally decouple the European economy from imported fossil fuels, leading to more affordable, less volatile, and more secure energy supplies.
Key Policy Demands
The organization’s advocacy efforts are focused on several key areas:
- Grid Integration: SolarPower Europe wants hybrid facilities integrated into grid planning, flexibility strategies, and financing mechanisms. They advocate for accelerated grid connection processes, utilizing grid capacity maps – a practice already employed in Australia and Denmark – to facilitate co-location.
- Simplified Permitting: The trade body is pushing for the simplified permitting procedures outlined in the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive of 2023 to be extended to hybrid parks. This includes a “one-stop-shop” approach and the option of joint permit applications for different assets at the same grid connection points.
- Renewables Acceleration Zones: Instead of separate solar and wind zones, SolarPower Europe suggests Renewables Acceleration Zones should actively support hybridization projects.
- Auction Participation: Hybridized solar sites should be eligible to participate in conventional renewable energy auctions.
- Grid Tariff Reform: The organization calls for grid tariffs to incentivize decentralized energy generation, reduce high grid connection fees, and eliminate the practice of double-charging energy storage facilities for both charging and exporting electricity.
- Guarantees of Origin for Stored Energy: SolarPower Europe proposes a new measurement framework to allow clean electricity that has been stored, rather than exported directly into the grid, to generate guarantees of origin.
New Battery Storage Europe Platform
To further promote the adoption of battery storage, SolarPower Europe is launching a new “Battery Storage Europe” platform. This platform will serve as a central hub for showcasing successful case studies, sharing regulatory best practices, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders in the battery storage sector.
Addressing Regulatory Bottlenecks
SolarPower Europe acknowledges that regulatory bottlenecks are currently hindering the full realization of the benefits of hybrid renewable energy systems. By actively engaging with policymakers and advocating for targeted reforms, the organization aims to create a more favorable environment for the development and deployment of these innovative solutions.
Looking Ahead
The push for hybrid renewable energy systems represents a significant shift in Europe’s energy strategy. By embracing a holistic approach that integrates solar, wind, and energy storage, Europe can strengthen its energy independence, accelerate its decarbonization efforts, and create a more sustainable and resilient energy future. The launch of the “Battery Storage Europe” platform and the ongoing advocacy efforts of SolarPower Europe underscore the organization’s commitment to driving this transformative change.
