Why hybridise a solar project
A solar plant produces when the sun shines. Adding a battery allows part of that energy to be shifted to other hours, reduces exposure to periods of low prices and can open access to additional services. For many investors, co-located solar and storage in Italy is a way to make the asset more flexible and the revenue profile less dependent on midday prices.
Hybridisation can be planned from the start of development or added later to an existing or authorised solar project. Each case has different implications for permits and grid.
Sharing the grid connection
One of the main reasons to combine solar and BESS is the possibility of sharing the connection. In a market where grid capacity is scarce, using the same connection point for both technologies can make better use of an existing accepted STMG.
Points that investors usually check:
- whether the STMG covers the combined configuration or needs to be modified;
- how the power at the connection point is shared between solar and storage;
- whether the battery can charge from the grid or only from the solar plant, depending on the configuration;
- the impact on the connection cost and on the estimated connection days.
Our guide to STMG and TICA explains the connection framework.
Permitting a hybrid project
The authorisation regimes reorganised by Legislative Decree 190/2024 apply to both components. A hybrid project may be permitted as a single initiative or the storage may be added through a separate procedure. The choice affects timing and the content of the title. The classification of suitable areas under the national and regional rules also matters.
When reading a hybrid project, it is useful to understand whether the permit already includes the storage component, whether it is under review, or whether it is only planned. The teaser makes this explicit through the PAS filed and PAS approved fields and the technology indicated. See also our permitting guide.
What to ask about a hybrid project
The teaser is short by design. When a hybrid project is of interest, these are the questions that typically lead to the data room:
- What are the solar power and the storage power, and how were they sized?
- Is the configuration DC-coupled or AC-coupled?
- Is storage included in the permit and in the STMG, or still to be added?
- What land is needed for the battery area and under which title?
- Are there agreements or studies on market participation, including MACSE?
Answers come from the documents after the NDA. Pipeline.Solar performs a preliminary screening of the data; due diligence remains with you.
Hybrid projects at different stages
Hybrid opportunities can be greenfield developments designed from the start as solar plus storage, authorised solar projects where storage is being added, or plants in operation where a battery could be integrated. If your strategy focuses on storage alone, see also standalone BESS projects.
Who invests in co-located solar and storage
Hybrid projects are often sought by IPPs and utilities that want to manage generation and flexibility within one portfolio, by infrastructure funds looking for assets with a more balanced revenue profile, and by industrial investors interested in supplying their own consumption over more hours of the day.
The structure can be a share deal on the project company or an asset deal. In both cases it is worth checking whether the solar and storage components sit in the same company and under the same titles, or whether they have been developed separately and must be brought together at closing.
How to receive hybrid project teasers
Contact us on WhatsApp or through the investor access form. After an introductory call, the reserved area lets you select both solar and BESS among the technologies and set stages, regions, structures and the capacity range of the single plant. When a compatible hybrid project enters the pipeline, you receive a teaser sent manually by the staff.
You can change your criteria whenever your strategy evolves. Set your search criteria.
Frequently asked questions
Can storage be added to an authorised solar project?
It can be possible, but it usually requires checks on the permit and on the STMG, and sometimes a new procedure. This is assessed case by case on the documents.
How does matching work for a hybrid project?
Matching is based on the power of the single plant within your MW range. The teaser specifies the technologies involved.
Do you share solar plants in operation where storage could be added?
Yes, if they match your criteria. Plants in operation are shared under the COD stage.