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Hybrid energy systems often yield greater economic and environmental returns than wind, solar, geothermal or trigeneration stand-alone systems by themselves. Combined use of wind+solar systems results, in many places, in a smoother/cleaner power output since the resources are anti-correlated.
A hybrid energy system, or hybrid power, usually consists of two or more renewable energy sources used together to provide increased system efficiency as well as greater balance in energy supply. Floating solar is usually added to existing hydro rather than building both together.
Hybrid power plants often contain a renewable energy component (such as PV) that is balanced via a second form of generation or storage such as a diesel genset, fuel cell or battery storage system. They can also provide other forms of power such as heat for some applications.
Another example of a hybrid energy system is a photovoltaic array coupled with a wind turbine. This would create more output from the wind turbine during the winter, whereas during the summer, the solar panels would produce their peak output.
A flywheel-storage power system uses a flywheel for grid energy storage, (see Flywheel energy storage) and can be a comparatively small storage facility with a peak power of up to 20 MW. It typically is used to stabilize to some degree power grids, to help them stay on the grid frequency, and to serve as a short-term compensation storage.
A grid-scale flywheel energy storage system is able to respond to grid operator control signal in seconds and able to absorb the power fluctuation for as long as 15 minutes. Flywheel storage has proven to be useful in trams.
In 2010, Beacon Power began testing of their Smart Energy 25 (Gen 4) flywheel energy storage system at a wind farm in Tehachapi, California. The system was part of a wind power and flywheel demonstration project being carried out for the California Energy Commission.
China has the largest grid-scale flywheel energy storage plant in the world with 30 MW capacity. The system was connected to the grid in 2024 and it was the first such system in China. In the United States, Beacon Power operates two 20 MW grid-scale flywheel energy storage plants in Stephentown, New York and Hazle Township, Pennsylvania.
