Solar-Plus-Storage Projects: Why C&I Hybrid Systems Are The Future

AFRY has been chosen by Cenergi Aeropolis Renewable Energy Sdn Bhd to serve as Owner’s Engineer for a 36 MWp solar PV plant with a 10 MW battery storage system in Sepang, Malaysia.

The Shift Toward Hybridization

While this project is based in Malaysia, the underlying mechanics offer a roadmap for the European commercial and industrial (C&I) sector. We are moving past the 'solar-only' era. As grid volatility increases across Europe, the pairing of solar PV with battery energy storage systems (BESS) is no longer a luxury—it is a requirement for serious C&I players.

Why This Matters for European Installers

European installers must pivot their sales narrative from simple ROI based on feed-in tariffs to value-based propositions centered on energy independence and grid services. For your business, this means:

Upskilling your technical team to handle complex BESS integration and energy management software (EMS).
Reframing client conversations to focus on peak shaving and demand-side management, which are the real drivers for large-scale C&I adoption.
Standardizing hybrid designs to reduce the engineering overhead that currently makes these projects feel 'bespoke' and risky.

Market Implications

Large-scale projects like KLIA Aeropolis demonstrate that developers are prioritizing dispatchability over pure generation capacity. In Europe, where land is scarce and grid congestion is high, the ability to store energy for peak-time release is the most valuable asset a developer can have. If you are an installer, you should be watching the BESS supply chain closely. The firms that secure reliable battery hardware partnerships today will be the ones winning the EPC tenders of tomorrow. Don't wait for the market to demand storage; start pitching it as an integrated solution to your C&I clients now.

Why it matters: Integrate battery storage into your commercial offerings to secure high-value contracts and solve your clients' grid volatility challenges.