Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Kathie’s Question: Can renewable energy sources complement each other?

By Kathie Zipp | January 30, 2012

wind solarI recently read a few articles, including one in the Star Tribune, that discus incorporating wind and solar power in renewable energy projects.

Wind and solar energy sources aren’t constant, so kind of makes sense right?  But when the wind isn’t blowing you can’t say the sun will be shining with 100% certainty.

Developer Ecos Energy is testing the theory that locating solar photovoltaic systems near wind projects will increase reliability. The company is putting Minnesota’s largest solar array in the middle of its wind-farm region. Ecos Energy and the local utility will be studying their “guinea pig” over the next few years.

GE Energy is planning an experiment of its own by supplying solar modules for a 23-MW solar farm to be installed adjacent to a wind farm in La Salle County, Illinois. This will be the largest solar project in the Midwest.

Although these solar installations aren’t located within the wind farms, there may still be a benefits such as only having to use one connection to the grid.

The results of these installations could be interesting. I’d imagine the benefits of combining wind and solar will vary by region, but I want to know what do you think?


Filed Under: Projects

 

About The Author

Kathie Zipp

Comments

  1. Kathleen Zipp says

    February 1, 2012 at 9:50 am

    Example of wind and hydro working together in New Zealand http://www.windenergy.org.nz/nz-wind-farms/operating-wind-farms/mahinerangi

Related Articles Read More >

US government allows Empire Wind offshore project to resume construction
Overlooked and underleveraged: Why ‘lite repowering’ is wind energy’s best near-term bet
79 aging wind turbines brought back online throughout Texas panhandle
Data center signs 166-MW PPA with Las Majadas Wind in Texas

Podcasts

Wind Spotlight: Looking back at a year of Thrive with ZF Wind Power
See More >

Windpower Engineering & Development Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Browse the most current issue of Windpower Engineering & Development and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading wind power engineering magazine today.

Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Wind Articles
  • Solar Power World
  • Subscribe to Windpower Engineering
  • About Us/Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising

Search Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe