Germany is getting a wind + solar hybrid power plant – here’s how it works

European energy giant Vattenfall has started construction on a new hybrid renewable energy project in southwest Germany that combines wind and solar power at a single site.

The project, called Hommerdingen-Biesdorf, will pair four wind turbines with more than 12,000 solar panels. Together, the installation will have a total capacity of 24.6 megawatts (MW).

It’s the first time Vattenfall has combined wind and solar in Germany in a single hybrid project. The company already operates a similar hybrid concept in the Netherlands.

The new plant is being built across the municipal areas of Hommerdingen and Biesdorf in the Südeifel region near the Luxembourg border. Vattenfall says the hybrid project is expected to begin operating in autumn 2026.

Wind and solar sharing one grid connection

The Hommerdingen (wind)-Biesdorf (solar) project will include four Enercon wind turbines with a combined capacity of 17 MW, along with a solar installation made up of more than 12,000 panels with a capacity of 7.6 MWp.

Instead of connecting the solar park to the grid separately, Vattenfall will connect the solar generation through the wind park’s existing grid connection with local grid operator Westnetz.

In practice, the solar farm will be treated as if it were an additional wind turbine. That means the entire project can operate using a single grid connection.

The approach helps reduce pressure on the local grid while lowering infrastructure costs compared with building separate grid connections for each technology.

Wind and solar often generate electricity at different times – wind can be stronger at night or in winter, while solar produces power during sunny daytime hours. Combining them can smooth overall power output and better utilize grid capacity.

Hybrid renewable parks are growing

Hybrid renewable projects are becoming more common as developers look for ways to generate more electricity while minimizing grid constraints.

These projects combine different clean energy technologies at the same site — most commonly wind and solar, and sometimes battery storage.

Vattenfall’s hybrid energy project in the Netherlands, called Haringvliet, combines wind turbines, solar panels, and battery storage.

In Germany, the company says it plans to add battery storage mainly to solar farms where local conditions make it feasible.

Read more: Nine EU nations to join forces on 100 GW of North Sea wind

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