l'Actualité du Solaire

Combining wind and solar generation provides a more regular supply of energy than each of them individually: for a large number of days each year, the sun is not visible.

reducing photovoltaic production. Similarly, when the sun sets and peak demand emerges at the end of the day, the wind often continues to blow. The combination of the two energies increases the stability of production.

Storage completes the regularity of production by absorbing surpluses when needs are low, and restoring energy during peak hours.

Bloomberg NEF has noted that the cost of batteries for electric vehicles is falling by 20% per year. The research subsidiary of wind turbine manufacturer Vestas, the author of the article, found that the reduction in the cost of batteries for portable electronics reaches 30% for every doubling of the volume of battery manufacture (this is called the learning rate). The author estimates that batteries for electric vehicles and battery systems for utility scale storage would have much lower learning rates, in the order of 18-20%.

At the moment, the focus is on linking solar energy to storage, but not wind power, perhaps because of the lack of a US tax credit for wind power while solar benefits. However, the combination of all three increases production and is a big step towards a cleaner world.

GreenTech Media of 9 December

NDLR While it is clear that solar + wind energy produce better than each one individually, there is a lack of figures on the gain obtained. Is it marginal or fundamental? Should the two productions be added, or are there losses? If we invest in both energies, will we gain in terms of production? The comparison would be judicious and would lead to more adherence than assertions.