Iberdrola has obtained environmental certification to construct the 86.4 MW HIDRO Cedillo hybrid hydroelectric-solar project in Spain. The hybrid plant is expected to optimise grid use, and will be situated in the municipality of Cedillo, in Extremadura. Over 160,000 photovoltaic modules will be included.
Iberdrola has also recently announced that it will build a hybrid wind-solar plant in Burgos. Renewable energy hybrid projects offer various advantages over standalone renewable power projects. Infrastructure like substations and evacuation routes can be shared when using hybrid projects. Moreover, such projects enable common roads and facilities to be used for operations, and help in optimised utilisation of land.
With projects such as these, the company looks to enhance its renewable resource utilisation. Extremadura is a focal point for Iberdrola’s expansion, with nearly 5.2 GW of installed capacity. This includes 4 GW of renewables such as hydroelectric, solar, and battery stations. The region has seen significant progress in solar energy, with the Cedillo, Majada Alta, and San Antonio plants in Cáceres now operational.
REGlobal’s Views: Various developers are now focusing on developing hybrid renewable power projects to address intermittencies associated with renewable power. Further, hybrid renewable power projects provide various synergies when compared to standalone renewable power projects. These projects are becoming increasingly common in Asia, Europe, and the US.
