Perfect partners. Together, photovoltaics and wind energy generate electricity at different times and seasons, thereby stabilizing self-sufficiency and reducing energy costs in the long term. Complemented by modern battery storage, this creates an energy system that can operate largely independently of the grid.
Graphic: Production volumes of PV & wind – increase self-sufficiency in electricity supply and reduce electricity costs
Integrated energy systems: How photovoltaics, wind power, and battery storage work together to increase supply security and economic efficiency
Photovoltaics, wind energy, and battery storage combine to form a technically and economically coherent overall system for renewable electricity supply. Due to their different meteorologically-driven generation profiles, solar and wind power plants complement each other both during the day and seasonally: while photovoltaic systems reach their peak output during periods of high solar radiation and in the summer months, wind power plants make significant energy contributions, especially in the evening hours and during the winter months.
This temporal complementarity results in a more stable generation profile that reduces fluctuations and significantly increases the share of self-consumption. In conjunction with battery storage systems, surplus energy can be temporarily stored and retrieved when production is low. This creates an integrated, largely grid-autonomous supply system that contributes to reducing electricity production costs and increasing security of supply in the long term.
Numerous empirical studies and model analyses confirm the high efficiency gains of such hybrid concepts: the coordinated use of wind and solar resources can increase capacity factors by up to 20–22%, while at the same time reducing grid consumption and price volatility.
Economic benefits: stable electricity costs through self-sufficiency
The combination of wind, PV, and storage solutions forms the foundation of a sustainable self-sufficient electricity strategy. Those who produce a high proportion of their own consumption reduce their dependence on electricity market prices, transmission grid fees, and levies.
Sample calculations show:
- With self-sufficiency of around 70%, average electricity costs can be reduced from the current level of around CHF 28–0.30/kWh to CHF 0.16–0.21/kWh, depending on system size, location, and storage integration.
- In the long term, this increases planning reliability and competitiveness, especially for industrial and commercial enterprises with high energy requirements.
Battery storage as the key to independence
Battery storage systems play a central role in this interaction. They balance out short-term fluctuations between generation and consumption and enable the use of self-generated electricity around the clock. As storage capacity increases, independence from the public power grid grows significantly – an aspect that CEO Patrick Richter explains as follows:
”«When wind, solar, and storage are intelligently combined, the result is a robust self-sufficient power supply that remains reliable even in fluctuating weather conditions or during grid bottlenecks. This increases resilience and reduces dependencies.»
Storage solutions enable greater independence
Conclusion: Energy systems of the future will be hybrid
The energy transition requires systems that adapt to natural fluctuations. The combination of photovoltaics, wind energy, and battery storage achieves precisely that:
- High self-sufficiency rates
- Reduced grid dependency
- Long-term stable electricity costs
- Sustainable security of supply
This makes the combination of sun, wind, and storage a decisive competitive advantage—ecologically, economically, and strategically.
Sources & further information:
- Prol et al. (2024): Hybrid Energy Systems in Europe – Kapazitätssteigerung bis 22 %
- García-López et al. (2023): Economic Effects of Self-Consumption in Industry – Kostenanalyse Eigenstrom
- Muñoz-Pincheira et al. (2024): Complementarity of Solar and Wind Energy in Europe
- Q CELLS Produktdaten & Technologieinformationen: q-cells.eu
