Integration and optimization of hybrid systems with photovoltaic power plants and stationary batteries: an operational case study

Hybrid photovoltaic–battery energy storage system (PV-BESS) power plants are emerging as strategic grid-friendly assets that combine variable renewable generation with short-term flexibility. Hybrid systems combining photovoltaic (PV) power plants, wind turbines and stationary storage units (BESS) are a strategic solution for boosting the flexibility and resilience of power grids faced with increasing penetration of non-controllable renewable energies. This case study focuses on a full year of operation of two French hybrid sites whose grid-connection active-power export capacity is limited to half of the respective aggregated capacities of the PV and BESS. The results obtained over the 12-month operating period for one site and 7-month operating period for the other site reveal an economic performance level comparable in hybrid and standalone configurations versus a perfect forecast scenario. The most remarkable result is that the hybrid configuration allows keeping almost the same gross margin generated by a configuration of standalone PV and BESS assets in similar conditions, while the injection max power capacity contracted with the electricity network operator in the hybrid configuration is significantly limited. However, it must be noted that the results are based on the real economics of the period and that other economic conditions might result in slightly different results.