A new analysis from Ember, an independent energy think tank, suggests that European nations could substantially expand renewable energy generation by leveraging existing grid infrastructure through a process called hybridisation.
The report focuses on seven major EU hydropower markets: Austria, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Spain. Hybridisation involves combining multiple renewable technologies—such as wind, solar, and storage systems—at a single grid connection point. This approach takes advantage of underutilized capacity at hydropower facilities, where significant grid bandwidth often remains unused during daylight hours. By co-locating wind or solar installations at these existing connection points, developers can accelerate project timelines and grid operators can increase infrastructure utilization rates, with capacity usage roughly doubling on average, while still adhering to export limits.
According to Ember’s findings, hybridisation could accommodate approximately 18% of the new renewable capacity expected to come online by 2030 across the seven countries examined, without requiring additional grid investment. This approach offers particular value as European governments work to expedite renewable deployment and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Currently, regulatory frameworks for hybrid projects remain inconsistent across the region. Only Portugal and Spain have established specific rules governing such installations, while the other five nations studied lack formal guidelines. Ember contends that this fragmentation creates unnecessary obstacles to renewable expansion. The organization recommends that national governments enact legislation specifically addressing hybrid projects and implement prioritized processing procedures to remove deployment barriers and maximize the efficiency of existing grid assets.
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