Carmen Lilí Rodríguez Velasco, international academic coordinator at FUNIBER, participates in research on a global review of efficient strategies for designing and implementing hybrid renewable energy systems with storage, aimed at improving the sustainability, technical reliability, and economic and environmental viability of electricity generation.
Growing global energy demand, coupled with the negative impacts associated with the intensive use of fossil fuels, such as increased greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on non-renewable resources, has driven the search for cleaner and more reliable energy solutions. Against this backdrop, hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES), which combine various sources such as solar, wind, and biogas with energy storage systems, have emerged as promising alternatives for both grid-connected areas and isolated communities.
Traditionally, electricity generation has relied heavily on fossil fuels. Although some initiatives have supported the use of isolated renewable energies, such as photovoltaic systems or wind turbines, these options face challenges related to intermittency and lack of energy continuity. In rural regions or islands, grid infrastructure is often limited or costly to expand, emphasizing the need for robust hybrid energy solutions that integrate storage to ensure continuous supply.
The analysis covered multiple studies employing various combinations of renewable energy and storage technologies. The optimization methods evaluated include metaheuristic algorithms, genetic techniques, particle swarm optimization, and specialized simulation platforms. These approaches make it possible to determine the optimal size of each component of the hybrid system, balancing factors such as levelized cost of energy (LCOE), reliability, carbon emissions, and responsiveness to variations in electricity supply and demand.
The results highlight that:
- The integration of energy storage (ESS), whether through advanced batteries, compressed air storage, or pumped hydroelectric systems, is key to mitigating the intermittent nature of sources such as solar and wind, offering a more stable and continuous supply.
- Metaheuristic optimization methods are highly effective in finding configurations that balance cost, reliability, and generation efficiency, in many cases outperforming traditional techniques.
- The optimal sizing of HRES depends heavily on the application context (grid-connected vs. isolated) and the priority objectives of the project, requiring tailored approaches that consider climatic conditions, demand profiles, and economic constraints.
These findings suggest important implications for governments, energy planners, and companies in the sector. The adoption of optimal design strategies for hybrid systems not only promotes the energy transition towards cleaner and more sustainable solutions, but also reduces long-term costs and decreases the environmental footprint of electricity generation.
This advance is directly linked to the official academic program promoted by FUNIBER: Master’s Degree in Renewable Energy, designed to prepare professionals capable of leading clean energy projects with a technical, economic, and environmental vision.
If you would like to learn more about this study, click here.
To read more research, consult the UNEATLANTICO repository.