How Promising is the Hybrid Wind-Solar Power System? 6 Key Applications and Economic Benefits Analysis

Due to the intermittent nature of standalone wind and solar power generation under unfavorable weather conditions such as windless or rainy days, using either technology alone in off-grid remote areas requires large-capacity energy storage equipment to ensure continuous power supply. By effectively integrating solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries, hybrid wind-solar power systems can solve the intermittency issue of single-source generation and provide relatively stable electricity. This technology is primarily applied in the following fields in China.

Residential and Productive Electricity for Off-Grid Rural Areas

China has 800 million rural residents, about 5% of whom still lack access to electricity. These unelectrified villages are often located in regions rich in wind and solar resources, making hybrid wind-solar systems a promising solution. Deploying standardized hybrid systems can accelerate local economic development and improve living standards. Utilizing abundant renewable resources through such systems offers the most suitable and cost-effective power service for remote populations, promoting sustainable development.

Currently, most off-grid renewable power systems in China only supply lighting and household needs, excluding productive loads, which undermines their economic viability. Achieving economic sustainability involves complex factors such as system ownership, management mechanisms, tariff structures, productive load management, and sources, amounts, and distribution channels of government subsidies. However, this sustainable model holds profound significance for developing countries like China.

Outdoor LED Lighting Applications

Outdoor lighting consumes about 12% of global electricity. Against the backdrop of increasing energy scarcity and environmental concerns, hybrid wind-solar LED lighting technology has drawn worldwide attention. The system works by charging batteries intelligently via controllers using complementary solar and wind energy. At night, LED lights automatically turn on/off based on ambient light levels. Intelligent controllers feature wireless networking for remote monitoring, control, and data acquisition (telemetry, telecontrol, and telecommunication). They also support advanced computerized management, including fault detection, anti-theft alarms, and operational status checks. Typical applications include:

• Roadway lighting (expressways, main roads, secondary roads, and side streets)

• Community lighting (streetlights, courtyard lights, lawn lights, buried lights, wall lamps)

Developed projects include intelligent hybrid wind-solar LED streetlights, community lighting systems, landscape lighting, and tunnel lighting.

Marine Navigation Aids

Some navigation aids in China have adopted solar photovoltaic systems, especially lighthouses, but face challenges during prolonged poor weather when solar generation is insufficient, leading to battery over-discharge and lamp failure, affecting battery performance.

Poor weather often coincides with strong winds—when solar energy is low, wind energy is usually abundant. Therefore, a wind-dominant, solar-assisted hybrid system can replace traditional solar-only systems. Hybrid systems are environmentally friendly, pollution-free, maintenance-free, and easy to install and use—meeting the energy demands of navigation aids. The system operates on solar power during favorable spring/summer conditions; it activates wind-solar hybrid generation during winter, spring, or prolonged rainy periods when solar input is inadequate.

Power Supply for Highway Monitoring Equipment

Highway surveillance cameras typically operate 24/7. Although individual power consumption is low, the sheer number of units results in significant energy use. Traditional grid power is not energy-efficient. Moreover, frequent theft of power cables leads to high losses and increased maintenance costs.

Given the widespread and linear distribution of monitoring points, grid connection is difficult and expensive. While solar PV remains costly, wind power is relatively cheaper. The complementary nature of wind and solar makes hybrid systems uniquely advantageous for distributed, off-grid applications like highway monitoring. Using hybrid systems eliminates the need for cabling, reducing theft risk. In extreme weather—prolonged rain with low sunlight and insufficient wind—existing grid lines can automatically charge batteries to ensure uninterrupted operation. Since each monitoring point operates independently, a failure at one site does not affect others.

Telecommunication Base Stations

Many islands and mountainous regions are far from the grid but require communication infrastructure for tourism, fisheries, and maritime activities. These base stations have modest power demands. Grid extension is prohibitively expensive, while diesel generators entail high fuel transportation costs, poor reliability, and difficult maintenance.

A reliable, long-term power solution must rely on local natural resources. Solar and wind energy are abundant and highly complementary in time and space on islands. Hybrid wind-solar systems offer a reliable and economical off-grid power solution for base stations. With on-site maintenance personnel, diesel generators can be included as backup, reducing the required capacity of solar arrays and wind turbines, lowering overall system cost, and improving reliability.

Pumped Hydro Storage Power Plants

Hybrid wind-solar pumped hydro storage plants use wind and solar power directly to drive water pumps for energy storage, bypassing batteries. Stored water is then used for stable electricity generation. This approach integrates conventional hydropower with wind and solar, leveraging their complementary spatiotemporal distributions. It suits remote areas beyond grid reach and supports ecological conservation in energy development. Key requirements include:

• Energy conservation throughout the conversion process

• Water balance within the self-circulating pumping system

Although slightly more expensive than conventional hydropower, this system solves the problem of seasonal non-operation faced by small hydropower plants in winter. Thus, hybrid wind-solar pumped hydro storage offers unique technical and economic advantages and can serve as a viable energy solution for suitable locations.