What is a Solar and Wind Hybrid System? Explore Working, Uses, Benefits, Limitations

A solar and wind hybrid system is an advanced power generation system that uses both solar energy and wind energy to produce electricity. Solar panels take care of power generation during the daytime when wind speed is slower, and wind turbines take care of power generation at night when solar energy is absent. This complementary nature reduces the intermittency issue that plagues single-source renewable installations, as sunlight is absent at night and wind speeds are slow during the day.

While solar panels generate DC output, the wind turbines produce a three-phase AC output. Hence, a hybrid solar wind system requires a carefully planned hybrid controller which can convert the AC from turbines to DC to charge the lithium batteries safely.

For areas where solar radiation is naturally higher than wind speed, a single hybrid controller is not sufficient. In such cases, two separate charge controllers are required. One handles the DC output from the panels, and the other handles the AC output from the wind turbines.

During the day, when solar energy is stronger than kinetic energy from the wind: The solar wind hybrid power system prioritizes electricity generation from solar panels.
At night, when kinetic energy from the wind is higher and solar energy is unavailable: The wind solar hybrid system prioritizes electricity production from wind turbines.
During the days when both solar energy and wind’s kinetic speed are high: The solar and wind hybrid system generates electricity from both sources simultaneously.

One of the biggest advantages of a solar and wind hybrid system is that, since it combines photovoltaic panels with wind turbines, it generates a lot more power than either technology alone. However, at the same time, these systems are a lot more expensive than solar systems and windmills.

It’s also worth noting that hybrid solar wind systems are only reliable and worth the investment in rural and remote areas where high-rise buildings and multiple homes do not crowd open lands. That’s because wind speeds are higher in the regions that are not crowded with tall concrete buildings. Hence, these systems are not recommended for urban cities at all.

In this blog, we will explain what a solar and wind hybrid system is and how it works, its main components, the benefits and drawbacks of this advanced technology, and the reasons why on-grid rooftop solar panel systems for homes and housing societies are more beneficial in cities with reliable grid connections.

TL;DR Summary Box: Can You Run Solar and Wind Power Together?

Yes, solar and wind power can be operated together using a solar and wind hybrid system. The biggest requirement of running this system efficiently is a compatible hybrid charge controller that can accept inputs from both solar panels and wind turbines.

Simply put, the design of hybrid solar wind systems can be successful only if the controllers are properly designed.

For systems that produce an output lower than or equal to 10 kW, a single hybrid controller does the trick.
For systems that produce more power than 10 kW or where solar radiation is more dominant than wind, separate controllers are required for handling inputs from wind turbines and solar renewable energy.

Here are the main topics covered in this blog in detail:

Main Topics	Key Takeaways
What is a solar and wind hybrid system?	A solar and wind hybrid system combines photovoltaic panels with wind turbines to provide continuous electricity generation. The combination of solar energy and wind energy overcomes the intermittency limitations of individual renewable sources by utilizing solar power during the daytime and wind energy during the nighttime or on cloudy days.
What are the main components of a hybrid solar wind system?	Solar panels, wind turbines, hybrid charge controllers for systems that produce up to 10 kW of electricity, a lithium battery storage system, inverters, and monitoring equipment. For systems with output higher than 10 kW or areas where sunlight is more abundant than wind, a separate solar charge controller and a separate wind charge controller are required.
How does a solar and wind hybrid system work?	Solar panels make DC power, and wind turbines make 3-phase AC. The hybrid controller converts and regulates both into safe DC to charge batteries. Then, a power inverter supplies AC to appliances.
How to size a hybrid controller based on wind and solar output?	If total output is ≤ 10 kW and solar is ≤ one-third of wind: A single hybrid controller is fine. If your system generates > 10 kW or solar is stronger than wind: Use two separate controllers, one dedicated to wind and the other to solar.
Where can a solar and hybrid wind system be used?	Best suited for off-grid locations, remote areas, agricultural operations, and telecommunications towers.
What are the advantages of a solar wind hybrid power system?	You get more steady power across the day, night, and seasons. That means fewer outages and smaller battery needs.
What are the disadvantages of a solar wind hybrid power system?	It’s costly and complex to design, install, and maintain. Also, the performance is site-dependent because the system requires a significant amount of open space and clear wind, and the payback period is slower than that of solar-only PV systems.
Why isn’t a solar and wind hybrid system suitable for urban areas?	Cities disrupt wind with tall buildings and crowded spaces. As a result, wind turbines underperform. Given the fact that grid power is reliable in cities and rooftops are suited to install PV panels, a hybrid solar wind system adds cost without much gain.
Why install an on-grid rooftop solar system in urban areas?	It’s cheaper upfront, eligible for subsidies, and works with solar net metering to cut bills. For city homes, societies, and commercial buildings, rooftop solar alone gives the best return on investment.

What is a Solar and Wind Hybrid System?

A solar and wind energy hybrid system is an advanced system that integrates two renewable energy sources into one by combining photovoltaic solar panels with wind turbines. This results in continuous electricity generation that neither of the two technologies can provide alone.

The fundamental principle behind the success of solar wind hybrid power systems is the complementary nature of solar and wind resources, as sunlight is more prominent during the day and wind is more prevalent during the night or low-solar conditions, such as during a storm or under cloud cover.

When does solar energy shine in a solar and wind hybrid system? Solar panels generate maximum power during clear, sunny days when wind speeds are lower.
When does kinetic energy from the wind shine in a solar and wind hybrid system? Wind turbines produce more electricity during cloudy periods, storms, nighttime, and seasonal transitions when solar generation decreases.

What Are the Main Components of a Hybrid Solar Wind System?

Two very advanced technologies are combined to work together in hybrid solar wind systems. Naturally, many components come together to make this system practical. The key components include solar panels, wind turbines, charge controllers, lithium batteries, and monitoring equipment.

Let’s check out all the main components and their role in electricity generation from a wind solar hybrid system:

Solar panels: These panels capture sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. They provide consistent power during the day.
Wind turbines: They use the kinetic energy from the wind to generate electricity. Wind turbines usually produce three-phase alternating current (AC), which must be converted to DC for battery storage.
Hybrid charge controller: This device regulates the power from both solar panels and the wind turbine before sending it to the batteries. It prevents overcharging and protects the batteries from damage.
Lithium batteries: Batteries store the DC power from both solar panels and wind turbines. They supply electricity when neither the sun nor the wind is available.
Battery monitor: This device measures battery charge levels, usage rates, and overall health. It helps extend battery life and ensures the system runs efficiently.
Power inverter: The inverter converts stored DC electricity from the batteries into alternating current (AC). This is necessary because most household appliances and grids run on AC.
Monitoring equipment: Monitoring devices track system performance, including energy production, battery health, and load usage.
Disconnect switches: These switches allow you to manually shut off parts of the system for maintenance or in emergencies. They are vital for safety and system control.
Grounding equipment: Grounding components protect the system from electrical faults and lightning strikes. They safely channel excess electricity into the ground, reducing risks.

Mounting system: The mounting structure secures solar panels and wind turbines in place. It ensures panels are angled for maximum sunlight absorption and turbines are positioned for optimal wind capture.
Cabling and connectors: These are high-quality wires and connectors that are responsible for safe and efficient power flow between all components.
Surge protectors: They safeguard the solar and wind hybrid system from sudden voltage spikes.

How Does a Solar and Wind Hybrid System Work?

A solar wind hybrid power system works by combining electricity from solar panels and wind turbines, regulating it through a hybrid charge controller, and then storing or using it as needed.

Let’s check out how a solar and wind hybrid system works step-by-step for added clarity:

Step 1 – Green electricity is generated using solar power and wind: Solar panels convert sunlight into DC electricity, and wind turbines generate AC power.
Step 2 – Power conditioning begins: The hybrid charge controller receives inputs from both sources. It converts the wind’s AC into DC and adjusts the voltage/current from both sources, so they are safe for charging the batteries.
Step 3 – Battery charging and load supply: The system first supplies power directly to appliances. If generation exceeds demand, the extra electricity is stored in lithium batteries for later use.
Step 4 – Power conversion for appliances: When stored energy is needed, an inverter converts DC from the batteries into AC electricity that can run household or commercial equipment.
Step 5 – System monitoring: Control systems continuously monitor battery levels, power generation, and load demands to optimize performance.
Step 6 – Backup management: If solar and wind generation are insufficient and the batteries run out, the system can switch to an external backup source, such as a generator or the utility grid, if connected.

How to Size a Hybrid Controller Based on Wind and Solar Output?

A hybrid controller is supposed to handle two different types of power sources: one is the DC power from solar panels, and the second is the 3-phase AC from wind turbines. Since AC power can’t be used to charge the lithium batteries directly, the hybrid controller is supposed first to convert DC to AC. Because of this added complexity, the controller has limitations that affect how much wind and solar power it can manage at the same time.

Here are the clear guidelines that must be followed for safe functioning:

For solar and wind hybrid systems with a total output of 10 kW or less: You can use an all-in-one wind-solar controller, but only if the solar capacity is not more than one-third of the wind capacity. This 1:3 ratio ensures that the controller can prioritize the more demanding task, which is converting the AC from the wind turbines into DC.
For wind solar hybrid systems where solar panels generate more than one-third of the wind output, or if the total system size exceeds 10 kW: Here, the hybrid controller is not equipped to handle both sources efficiently at the same time. In such cases, you must use two separate controllers. One should specifically handle the AC output from the turbines and convert it to DC. The other should be a solar charge controller for the PV system, which directly charges the batteries.

Here’s the primary reason why this sizing rule exists:

Solar panels produce DC: This is easy to send directly into batteries.
Wind turbines produce AC: It can’t be sent directly to the batteries, as AC has to be first converted to DC.

When both sources are combined into a single unit, the controller has to be designed to prioritize the wind input. As a result, it leaves limited capacity to manage large solar inputs.

What Happens if Solar Power is More Dominant Than Wind Power?

If you live in a region where solar energy is more abundant than wind, using a single hybrid controller is not the right approach. In such cases, you must use:

A separate wind controller for the AC power generated by the wind turbine.
A separate solar (PV) controller for the DC power generated by the solar panels.

Having separate controllers leads to better performance, safer battery charging, and more efficient energy use.

Where Can a Solar and Wind Hybrid System Be Used?

The ideal applications where installing a solar and wind hybrid system justifies the high installation cost include off-grid or remote locations where energy independence is critical and grid supply is either extremely expensive or unavailable, as well as uncrowded rural areas where both solar and wind resources are consistent throughout the year.

Let’s check out all the areas where a hybrid solar wind system can be used:

Remote cabins and homes: These sites can run entirely on renewable energy because there’s no affordable grid nearby. A hybrid solar wind system will also smooth seasonal dips by letting wind cover cloudy days and nights and solar cover daytime production.
Agricultural operations: This includes livestock watering systems, irrigation pumps, and remote monitoring equipment.
Telecommunications towers: Critical communication towers need steady power in remote areas. A hybrid system increases uptime by balancing day-night and seasonal variability.
Research stations and weather sites: Environmental instruments, cameras, and sensors are usually built on mountaintops or in deserts. Hybrid solar and wind power systems keep them operating year-round.
Emergency services facilities: This includes fire stations and emergency communication systems in isolated areas
Rural grid-tied homes: The system can be beneficial for homes in rural areas seeking energy independence and backup power during grid outages.
Commercial facilities with unreliable grids: Factories, cold chains, and data huts need stable power to avoid losses. A hybrid solar wind system covers gaps and lowers the total cost of backup.

What Are the Advantages of a Solar Wind Hybrid Power System?

The biggest advantage of a solar wind hybrid power system is that it offers a very reliable and consistent power supply because solar and wind compensate for each other when one of the sources is low or absent. For instance, solar panels produce consistent power during the daytime when the wind is not strong. On the other hand, wind turbines take on power generation at night or during storms and cloudy conditions when sunlight is absent or very low.

Let’s check out all the advantages of solar and wind hybrid systems in detail:

Reduced intermittency: A hybrid wind solar system smooths out ups and downs because wind produces power when solar doesn’t, and vice versa. Hence, the electricity supply is steadier across the day.
Extended daily generation: Solar covers daylight hours while wind kicks in during evenings, nights, and storms. This gives a longer window of power production every 24 hours.
Seasonal balance: Winter usually brings stronger winds when solar output is lower, and summer brings stronger sun when winds may be slower. Hence, the two sources balance each other across the year.
Weather resilience: If clouds cut solar radiation or calm air reduces the wind speed, the other resource can still deliver power. It makes the system more reliable in changing weather conditions.
Lower battery requirements: Because charging happens more consistently from two sources, you can often use a smaller battery bank.

What Are the Disadvantages of a Wind Solar Hybrid System?

Wind solar hybrid systems are very expensive to install, and the investment doesn’t justify the returns in urban areas where grid supply is very reliable and wind speed is not as high as it would be in remote and uncrowded rural areas. Furthermore, since these systems require combining two very advanced systems (windmills and solar systems), setting them up is quite complicated, too.

Let’s check out all the main disadvantages of a wind solar hybrid system in detail:

It’s a complicated and costly setup: You have to be very mindful of whether one common hybrid charge controller can handle input coming from both panels and wind turbines or whether both systems need separate charge controllers of their own. This increases the system’s complexity and requires highly skilled technicians to set up the system. Hence, the hybrid solar wind system that’s also costlier than both windmills and solar systems becomes even more expensive.
It’s not meant for urban areas: In crowded cities, tall buildings block wind flow. As a result, wind turbines underperform. With reliable grid electricity available, installing a solar and wind hybrid system doesn’t justify the cost. In cities with a reliable grid, installing a rooftop on-grid solar system is much cheaper and more reliable for reducing electricity bills and switching to clean energy.
High maintenance requirements: Wind turbines have moving parts that wear out, need lubrication, and can break down. Combining them with solar means more components to monitor and maintain.
The performance is highly site-dependent: A hybrid wind solar system only works well if both wind and solar resources are strong at the installation site. In areas with poor wind or limited sunlight, one side of the system becomes underutilized, wasting the investment.
Space and siting challenges: Wind turbines need vast open land and tall masts to perform properly. Solar panels need unobstructed areas where they get direct sunlight throughout the day. Finding enough suitable space for both can be difficult.
Noise and visual impact: Wind turbines generate a lot of noise. This limits places where they can be installed without disturbing nearby settlements.

Why Isn’t a Solar and Wind Hybrid System Suitable for Urban Areas?

Solar and wind hybrid systems face significant challenges in urban environments, making them impractical or impossible to implement effectively. These limitations are a result of space constraints, as hybrid systems require vast open lands to be set up, and the urban environment’s impact on wind resource quality.

Let’s check out all the reasons why a solar and wind hybrid system is unsuitable for urban areas:

Multiple barriers make these systems impractical for cities: Urban areas have several barriers, including noise concerns and safety considerations. These factors make solar and hybrid wind systems unsuitable for most city and suburban applications.
Tall buildings make wind energy less impactful: Wind turbines perform best when the wind speed is very high. In cities, tall buildings reduce wind speed. And these systems can’t be mounted on rooftops as windmills require open lands. Instead, just an on-grid rooftop solar system is a much better investment in such areas, as it doesn’t require open lands and is quite affordable and reliable.
Not all turbine types fit all sites: Horizontal-axis turbines work best in steady, open wind. Vertical-axis turbines can handle shifting wind but make less power. Hence, picking the right type is tricky, increasing the complexity of the system.
Controller compatibility is easy to get wrong: Most small turbines result in highly fluctuating 3-phase AC because wind speeds can greatly vary. Only a highly compatible controller can manage such voltage and current variations. If you choose the wrong controller, the system can be damaged or result in poor efficiency. In both cases, the return on your investment will be affected.

Why Install an On-Grid Rooftop Solar System in Urban Areas?

Installing on-grid rooftop solar for housing societies and homes is extremely beneficial in urban areas with a reliable grid because a solar and wind hybrid system is not only extremely expensive for residential installations, but since the wind strength is not high in urban areas, there’s no point in integrating solar with wind, as the latter won’t come into use much.

Here are the multiple reasons that make on-grid solar systems a much better deal in urban areas:

On-grid rooftop solar is cheap: Whether you compare their cost with off-grid solar systems, hybrid solar systems, ground-mounted solar systems, or solar and wind hybrid systems, on-grid rooftop solar systems are the cheapest because they do not require a battery bank to store excess solar electricity generated by the panels. Any excess current is sent to the grid through a bi-directional net meter that can also import electricity from the grid at night or whenever required.
The government offers a subsidy for installing solar: Homeowners and housing societies can claim a subsidy under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana for installing only on-grid rooftop solar systems. This assistance will not be offered for commercial rooftop systems, off-grid systems, hybrid solar wind systems, or ground-mounted systems.
The payback period is quicker: The initial investment breaks even in just 3 to 5 years. After that, the solar system continues generating free solar electricity for its entire lifespan, which, with proper solar panel cleaning, is 25+ years. Not having to pay for electricity throughout the system’s life results in savings of tens of lakhs of rupees, which would have otherwise been spent on settling hefty electricity bills that become costlier by 3-6% every year.

Wondering how much exactly can a rooftop on-grid solar system save for you in 25 years of its life? Use SolarSquare’s free solar power estimator to calculate the cost of installing a solar system that can meet all your energy requirements vs the money this system will save in 25 years of its life.

For demonstration, we’ve created this table that walks you through the cost of installing a 4 kW solar system in India with subsidy, alongside the solar savings that the system will offer in 25 years:

City	4 kW Solar Panel Price in India With Subsidy (Starting Price – Indicative for Base Variant)*	Solar Savings in 25 Years*
Pune	~ Rs. 1.72 lakh	~Rs. 21.48 lakh
Bhopal	~ Rs. 1.72 lakh	~Rs. 14.85 lakh
Lucknow	~ Rs. 1.42 lakh	~Rs. 11.70 lakh
Jaipur	~ Rs. 1.87 lakh	~Rs. 14.44 lakh
Ahmedabad	~ Rs. 1.62 lakh	~Rs. 16.48 lakh
Bengaluru/ Bangalore	~ Rs. 1.97 lakh	~Rs. 12.97 lakh
Hyderabad	~ Rs. 1.72 lakh	~Rs. 12.32 lakh
Delhi	~ Rs. 1.52 lakh	~Rs. 9.50 lakh
Chennai	~ Rs. 1.72 lakh	~Rs. 11.94 lakh

*Please note: The above-mentioned 4 kW solar panel price in India with subsidy is indicative as of 22nd September 2025 for the SolarSquare Blue 6ft variant. The actual 4 kW solar plate price depends on your DISCOM charges, city, product variant opted for, panel type, inverter type, mounting structure height, type of after-sales service, savings guarantee, roof height, etc. Prices are subject to change. Additionally, when calculating savings, we have considered an annual tariff escalation of 3% and an annual degradation of 1%. The actual final savings from for a 4 kW solar panel system depends on the types of solar panels you’ve installed and their efficiency, intensity of sunlight your rooftop receives, orientation of the panels and tilt angle, the pollution level and weather conditions in your city, the temperature, shadow on the roof, impact of dirt/dust, and how well you maintain your panels after installation.

Conclusion

A solar and wind hybrid system is a sophisticated device that uses both solar and wind energy to generate electricity. The power generated from this hybrid system is higher because solar takes care of power generation during the day when wind is not strong, and wind generates electricity at night or during a storm or cloud cover when sunlight is absent or weak.

Despite resolving the issue of intermittent power generation that’s present in solar and windmills as separate technologies, hybrid solar and wind systems aren’t worth the investment in cities because urban areas are crowded by buildings that reduce strong winds. Plus, solar and wind hybrid systems require vast and open areas of empty land, away from population. These requirements make hybrid solar wind systems unfit for urban areas.

In urban areas with a reliable grid, you should invest in on-grid rooftop solar systems instead. For any further queries about rooftop solar, book a free solar consultation with SolarSquare.

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FAQs

Q1. Which is the first solar wind hybrid plant in India?

Ans. In September 2017, Siemens Gamesa expanded one of its wind projects in India by adding nearly 29 megawatts of solar capacity to an already operating 50-megawatt wind farm, marking the country’s first utility-scale hybrid installation.

Q2. How long do solar and wind hybrid systems last?

Ans. Solar and wind hybrid systems have component lifespans of 20-25 years for solar panels, 15-20 years for wind turbines, 5-15 years for batteries, and 10-15 years for electronic controllers.

Q3. What is the biggest disadvantage of a hybrid solar wind system?

Ans. It’s extremely expensive and complex to set up a hybrid solar wind system. Plus, the returns are not worth the investment if either of the two energy sources is inadequate.