ABSTRACT
The maximum utilization of renewable energy as an alternative to fossil sources is the driving force behind a revolutionary global energy supply chain transition. Several efforts have been made to introduce innovation in the processing and storage of renewable energy. Breakthrough developments in energy storage systems have enabled a sustained energy supply for an extended period with a high load capacity. Since each renewable source is associated with some limitations, being utterly reliant upon it as a sole power supply is not feasible. Therefore, integrating different energy sources or hybridizing renewable energy systems (HRES) is a transformative approach to address these shortcomings and deliver a steady, reliable energy supply. Implementing innovative grid technology with energy management systems, AI-based logic control, and robotic enhancements has further leveraged its efficiency, making HRES easily adoptable across the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Hybridization has brought numerous benefits, generating power to support remote, underdeveloped, and off-grid areas, while also critically empowering hospitals, schools, and emergency service facilities. Simultaneously, the advent of on-grid mode has enabled users to become producers, which may mitigate the supply-demand gap. In this chapter, we have explored future trends and innovations, emerging technologies and their challenges, research directions, and market scenarios for hybridizing different types of renewable resources. This chapter highlights the technological transition in the renewable energy arena through the synergistic integration of renewable resources as a sustainable approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and, consequently, mitigating the global warming effect.
