Ember: EU hybridisation could unlock 25GW of wind and solar
A report by energy think tank Ember suggests that hybridising existing hydropower plants with wind and solar could add 25GW of capacity in the EU. This approach would bypass grid connection queues and avoid the need for costly new infrastructure.
Why it matters
It offers a strategic solution to the grid bottleneck currently stalling the European transition to renewable energy.
Hybridising existing hydropower assets across seven major EU markets could integrate 18% of planned renewable additions by 2030 while easing mounting grid constraints, according to Ember.
Existing hydropower plants across seven major European Union markets could accommodate 25GW of new wind and solar capacity without requiring additional grid infrastructure, according to a new report from energy think tank Ember.
The report finds that hydropower facilities in Austria, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Spain—which together account for 93GW of the EU’s 131GW hydropower fleet—could host new renewable generation behind existing grid connection points through hybridisation.
According to Ember, the additional 25GW represents 18% of the approximately 138GW of wind and solar capacity expected to be deployed across the seven countries between 2026 and 2030, allowing that capacity to be connected without requiring additional grid capacity or grid interventions.
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