Why A Wind Solar Hybrid System Pays Back Faster Than PV Alone

"Solar panels are so cheap now, why would I spend money on installing wind turbines?" We have heard this sentence many times in our communication with customers over the past few years.

The unit cost of the wind turbine itself is indeed higher than that of the photovoltaic module, which is not avoided. But in the long run, the investment recovery period of wind solar hybrid system is generally 1 to 2 years shorter than that of pure solar power. There are mainly the following reasons:

1. All-day Power Generation

Photovoltaic power generation requires sufficient sunlight. For a pure photovoltaic system, the average effective power generation time in a day is only about 4 to 6 hours. However, wind is different. In many areas, the wind is stronger at night, and the wind turbines precisely compensate for the power generation during the night and in windy conditions.

For the same load, when equipped with wind turbines, the redundant configuration of the batteries can be reduced by 20% to 30%, exactly offsetting the initial investment in the wind turbines.

We have a client from the Philippines who is undertaking a cold storage project. Due to the existing photovoltaic system being unable to meet the continuous power demand of the cold storage facilities, he initially consulted us with the intention of installing photovoltaic panels and batteries. However, as photovoltaic panels are a single energy source, they have always been unable to solve the stability of electricity supply at night. Later, after our professional advice, they finally decided to add a wind turbine to maintain the power generation capacity of the entire system. Later, the client shared his joy with us: "You are right! The cold storage is now running well and we don't have to worry about power outages at night anymore."

2. Balance in Seasonal Dimension: Hedging Against "Winter Energy Crisis"

Photovoltaic systems perform extremely well in summer, but in the rainy and cloudy winter, the power generation will significantly decrease. And winter is often the season with the most abundant wind energy resources throughout the year.

Installing wind turbines as an additional energy source in addition to solar power will make the overall power generation more stable. For some off-grid projects and remote sites, installing a wind solar hybrid system can eliminate the reliance on energy sources like diesel generators.

We have some customers from Northern Europe. The winters there are long and very cold. After installing the photovoltaic system, the customers found that the power generation was very poor during these seasons. In fact, the wind speed conditions in the Nordic region are very good, which is very suitable for installing wind turbines. In summer, photovoltaic power is mainly used, and in winter, wind turbines are mainly used. Basically, it can meet the daily electricity needs of families.

3. The Main System Does Not Need to be Rebuilt From Scratch

For wind solar hybrid system, when there is already photovoltaic power, if one wants to add another energy source, the inverter, battery and other components can be used interchangeably without the need for additional equipment. The wind turbine and controller can simply be connected to the existing system.

Therefore, for wind solar hybrid projects, one cannot merely focus on the initial installation cost. The stability of energy and the recovery period are more crucial in determining whether the project is worth investing in.

The gaps during the night when there is no sunlight and the drops in power during rainy days can be well compensated by the wind turbines, ensuring the stability of electricity supply. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of people asking about wind solar hybrid system, and this is the reason.

Finally

We can manufacture the wind turbines ourselves. The factory covers an area of over 20,000 square meters. The wind power and solar power combination system includes the entire design from selection to power distribution. The manufacturer supplies directly.

If you already have a photovoltaic system and want to add a wind turbine to it; or if you simply want to create a standalone off-grid solution from scratch, please send us the details of the scenario and load. We will calculate based on your electricity consumption curve.