Hybrid Renewable Energy Sites: Powering the Future with Dalcour Maclaren

The global energy transition is a rapidly unfolding reality. But scaling renewable generation alone isn’t enough. The real challenge lies in building energy systems that are not only cleaner but also smarter and more flexible, and that maximise the potential of existing grid capacity. And that’s where hybrid renewable energy sites are redefining the landscape.

By combining multiple generation sources, commonly solar and wind, within a single site or coordinated network, hybrid projects can smooth out variability and make far better use of the available grid capacity. When paired with battery storage, they can also capture and deploy energy that would otherwise be curtailed or underutilised.

Despite representing the next logical step towards net zero, hybrid sites are currently a rare feature of the UK’s energy infrastructure landscape. Having worked on several planning applications, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges they pose for land use and the new layers of technical and regulatory complexity that they introduce. And yet, that complexity is precisely where their value lies. 

By bringing multiple technologies together on a single site, hybrid sites represent a more mature phase of the energy transition: one that moves beyond generation in isolation, towards the optimisation of how energy is produced, stored and used as a system.

Maximising value from a constrained grid

Hybrid renewable energy sites don’t just generate clean power; they fundamentally change how we use the grid.

By combining technologies such as solar and wind through a single grid connection, energy generators can maximise utilisation of the grid infrastructure. Instead of solely relying on building new grid capacity, which can take a long time to complete and impose significant costs on the energy transition, hybrid sites extract far more value from grid connection points. 

That matters because the grid is, on paper at least, set to reach capacity by 2035.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) introduced sweeping connection reforms to clear out the so-called ‘zombie’ projects blocking the grid connection queue and prioritise those most likely to be delivered. But even after these reforms, there is still enough generation capacity in the queue to meet the UK’s 2035 targets for a largely decarbonised energy system.

However, while energy generation capacity targets look like they will be met in principle, are we making the best use of the grid network?

Grid capacity is measured by maximum output (MW), not by the actual energy generated over time. But renewable technologies rarely operate at their peak. Their real-world performance is typically reflected by the ‘capacity factor’, which is the proportion of energy actually generated compared to what could be produced if they were running at full power continuously.

In the UK, according to government statistics, the capacity factor figures for 2024 were strikingly low:

• Solar: ~10%
• Onshore wind: ~25%
• Offshore wind: ~36%

In other words, a solar farm may reach peak output on a bright summer day, but over the course of a year, it delivers only a fraction of its theoretical maximum. Onshore wind performs better but still delivers only a quarter of the energy the grid could support. 

The result is a system where grid connections are underutilised for much of the time.

Hybrid sites can be the answer to that inefficiency. By layering complementary technologies with different generation profiles, they turn unused capacity into productive output. That can squeeze more energy from the same grid footprint and accelerate the transition whilst complementing the necessary grid reforms and expansion.

The key to unlocking hybrid energy sites

In common with most types of energy generation development, overcoming the barriers to hybridisation ultimately comes down to aligning three critical elements of energy infrastructure delivery: 

• Land access (agreements with landowners)
• Planning consent
• Grid connection

These three pillars are tightly interdependent, but land sits at the foundation. Without appropriately secured land rights, neither planning applications nor grid offers can realistically progress. Indeed, due to the recent grid reforms, grid operators now require evidence of land agreements and significant planning progress before awarding connection capacity.

That can create a dilemma for developers, where the opportunity to secure grid access depends on planning progress, yet progressing planning requires significant upfront investment. Large-scale applications can routinely cost hundreds of thousands of pounds before consent is guaranteed.

However, for hybrid sites to be successful, land agreements, planning consents and grid agreements must also recognise and reflect the specific requirements that combined technologies demand. Understanding the risks associated with each, and the roles and perspectives of key stakeholders, is also key.

That’s where the expertise of advisory firms such as Dalcour Maclaren is invaluable. We have in-house experience in hybrid site development and intimate knowledge of the development process. We also treat the three pillars - land, planning and grid - not as separate hurdles, but as a single, integrated approach. That allows us to create a coherent, connected strategy that enables developers to unlock viable hybrid delivery at scale.

Planning, development and land challenges in hybrid energy projects

Despite the clear technical and commercial logic, the development of hybrid renewable energy sites has not taken off at scale until recently, with an increasing number of applications for ‘renewable energy parks’ in evidence.

While a growing number of wind or solar sites are operational with a colocated battery, very few have combined generation technologies (eg, wind and solar). Indeed, most of those in existence are small grid-connected or ‘behind-the-meter’ developments that feed directly into industrial sites. 

I have been involved in a number of hybrid site applications, including a recently consented site in Scotland. But while interest is growing, large-scale, operational and grid-connected hybrid sites combining solar and wind remain rare. 

So, what are some of the factors holding back a wider rollout?

• Grid and technical complexity

  Hybrid renewable sites need more active and intelligent management than standalone assets, often requiring more advanced modelling, control systems and coordination with network developers.

   

• Policy and market structure

  Renewable energy subsidies such as Contracts for Difference are usually structured around individual technologies. Hybrid sites may require separate metering arrangements and more complex revenue strategies, which can have implications for project design and financing. 

   

• Land challenges

  Hybrid deployment can be constrained by existing land agreements that are not designed or future-proofed to accommodate multiple technologies. Adding new generation types may require renegotiation of the land rights, which can be time-consuming, commercially complex and conflict with ongoing land management arrangements.

   

• Environmental considerations

  Hybrid sites can pose a range of environmental risks, particularly where different technologies interact, and mitigation measures will vary depending on the specific mix of systems in use. That means comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are often required to ensure compliance and secure planning consent.

   

• Technological hesitation

  Many developers specialise in either wind or solar. Moving to a hybrid system can introduce challenges around understanding each technology in sufficient detail, system integration, performance forecasting and the alignment of different investment models, which developers can be reluctant to take on.

   

• Planning and public perception

  Hybrid projects can also face challenges in gaining public acceptance and planning permission. Where wind forms part of the mix, it often becomes the defining feature in both public perception and the planning process, attracting greater scrutiny than other technologies.

The benefits of hybridised renewable energy sites

Clearly, hybrid sites present some operational challenges, but they also offer significant opportunities. Put simply, hybrid sites allow us to do more with what we already have, and in a system constrained by grid capacity, that is not just an advantage - it’s essential. These are some of the benefits:

• Turning intermittency into consistency

By combining technologies with complementary generation profiles, hybridisation can turn intermittency into consistency. 

Solar delivers strong output during long daylight hours in spring and summer, while wind is not confined to daylight hours and performs best through autumn and winter. Together, they can create a more balanced and sustained flow of energy, allowing a single grid connection to be used more intensively.

• Storing value, not wasting it

Adding battery storage takes this a step further. Instead of curtailing energy generation when the grid is constrained, a battery allows energy to be stored and then dispatched when demand is higher or system conditions are more favourable. 

That smooths output profiles and enables access to balancing services and additional revenue streams, helping developers maximise the value of an existing connection. 

• Smarter use of land and infrastructure

Hybridisation can also lead to more efficiency on the ground. Colocating technologies reduces the need for separate infrastructure. That lowers capital costs, minimises environmental disruption and accelerates delivery. 

Retrofitting existing renewable sites can also unlock additional capacity from sites that are already consented or operational, avoiding the need to secure entirely new land. That enables developers to increase output at sites and take advantage of the existing grid connection infrastructure. 

However, in these cases, aligning the operational life of the existing asset with the new colocated technology requires careful consideration. 

• Extending and enhancing long-term performance

The industry already uses methods to extend the operational life and performance of existing renewable projects beyond their original design horizons. That includes:

• Life extensions - allowing projects to extend beyond their original operational timelines
• Repowering - upgrading existing equipment to increase efficiency and output

Both of these strategies align naturally with hybridisation. Developers can integrate additional energy-generating technologies within the existing project footprint to evolve rather than redevelop older sites. That enables them to generate higher output, improve efficiency and unlock long-term value from the same physical and grid-constrained resource.

How Dalcour Maclaren supports hybrid renewable energy development

As one of the few advisors with specialist expertise in this sector, Dalcour Maclaren can play a critical role in supporting energy developers through every stage of the project lifecycle, including:

1. Land (re)negotiations and acquisition

   Hybrid projects often require renegotiating existing land agreements or acquiring new land rights to accommodate additional technologies, such as solar arrays or battery storage systems.

   At Dalcour Maclaren, we have established relationships with major UK landowners and a deep understanding of how land is used and managed in practice. That allows us to navigate conversations constructively and secure robust agreements that support multi-technology deployment. 

    

2. Technical and environmental feasibility assessments

   We conduct early-stage feasibility assessments to look beyond the theory and determine what will actually work on the ground. That helps developers determine whether a site is suitable for hybrid development from both technical and environmental perspectives.

   By evaluating constraints such as topography, access, grid proximity, ecological sensitivities and infrastructure compatibility early, we help shape designs that are commercially sensible and environmentally appropriate. 

    

3. Geomatics and site intelligence

   Accurate, high-quality site data underpins every successful energy project. That includes understanding gradients, access routes, drainage patterns, ecological sensitivities and existing infrastructure.

   Our geomatics capability provides the detailed, real-world insight to develop a clear picture of whether hybrid technologies can coexist on a site and how they will behave in practice, not just on paper.

    

4. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)

   Rather than treating Environmental Impact Assessments as a box to tick at the end, we use it to inform evolving designs and decisions early and build a clear, evidence-based picture of what a project means in practice.

   The aim is not simply to meet planning requirements, but to shape better projects. By integrating environmental thinking early and consistently, we help ensure that hybrid schemes are not only technically and commercially viable but also sensitive to their surroundings and more likely to secure consent.

    

5. Planning and consents

   We help developers turn a complex project into a clear, workable planning application. That starts with getting the basics right, from understanding the site, its constraints and what’s realistically deliverable. We then compile the key information and explain, in plain terms, how the project works, why it’s needed and what its impacts will be in a way that planners and consultees can follow.

   Our stakeholder engagement team also works closely with local authorities, landowners and communities from an early stage. That allows us to address any concerns, whether that’s adjusting the design, strengthening mitigation or providing clearer evidence, while there’s still time to respond.

    

6. A single development strategy

   Land, feasibility, geomatics, environmental assessments and planning are deeply interconnected, each one shaping the others as the project evolves.

At Dalcour Maclaren, we don’t treat these as separate workstreams delivered in sequence, but as a single, joined-up process. Decisions made during early feasibility influence land requirements, geomatics data reshapes design assumptions, environmental findings refine layouts, and all of this feeds directly into how planning applications are framed and justified.

By bringing these services together under one advisory approach, we help developers move from fragmented inputs to a unified development strategy. That ensures hybrid renewable energy projects are not just technically possible, but practically deliverable at scale.