Innovations From Industry: Solar-Hydro Hybridisation Optimisation

As power systems integrate increasing shares of variable renewable energy, hybrid systems combining hydropower, solar PV and battery energy storage systems (BESS) offer new opportunities to improve flexibility, reliability and the use of renewable resources.

In this edition of ETIP HYDROPOWER’s “Innovations from Industry” webinar series, Stipan Kaleb, Senior Consultant at WestGlen Consult, will present an optimisation approach designed to coordinate hydro, solar and battery resources across different operational timescales.

The webinar will explore a multi-timescale hybridisation framework combining two complementary modelling approaches: a daily revenue optimisation model, which uses hydrology, reservoir dynamics and market prices to optimise hourly dispatch, and a real-time power regulation model, which assesses second-by-second coordination between hydro, solar and BESS to verify operational feasibility and grid stability.

Through practical experience with hybrid energy projects, the session will examine how coordinated operation can contribute to improved dry-season reliability, optimised battery sizing, increased energy yield and revenue, and stable grid operation. It will also consider how these approaches can be adapted to different reservoir configurations, cascaded hydropower systems and hybrid expansion scenarios.

The webinar will provide an opportunity to understand how hydropower can act as the main flexible and regulating resource within hybrid renewable systems, complementing solar generation and battery storage.

Speaker

Martin Lacey – Managing Director & Senior Consultant, WestGlen Consult

Martin Lacey is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and Co-founder of WestGlen Consult Ltd., with over 20 years of international experience in hydropower engineering, project development, commissioning and management.

Throughout his career, he has worked on major hydropower and pumped-storage projects across Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia and the Americas. His experience includes technical and project management roles at Mott MacDonald, GE Hydro and SN Power.

He is currently leading the project team for the development of the Glen Earrach pumped-storage hydropower scheme in Scotland.

Format: 30-minute presentation followed by 15 minutes of audience Q&A.