#HOME WIND TURBINE VS SOLAR FULL#
And regardless if there’s not enough sunlight, you’d still be able to gather energy though not as much as when there’s full sunlight available.
#HOME WIND TURBINE VS SOLAR INSTALL#
Pretty much, solar panels can be left alone after installation, provided that you install them correctly. OperationĪnother advantage that solar has over wind power is operation. Regardless of how favourable the conditions are for both energy sources, there will always come a time when something will go wrong along the way. However, the reality is that there’s no such as thing as perfect in this world. Maintenance of solar panels is relatively easier Solar panels rely on sunlight which is only available during the day, so it puts it in a slightly disadvantageous position compared to the always-available wind. With wind energy, you have a guaranteed and steady supply of energy. But if both power sources are used in ideal situations, wind power would have the upper hand.
When it comes to efficiency, it would appear that both wind and solar power have their own sets of pros and cons. They may also fail to utilise the power when faced with strong turbulent winds. Small wind turbines are not as efficient as the bigger ones which means they won’t produce as much energy as they should. Unfortunately, there’s nothing that can be done about this vulnerability of wind turbines yet.Īnd while it’s true that you can opt for smaller turbines to cut down on the cost, doing so puts you at a disadvantage too. Aside from the long cables which you’ll have to invest in, being up high makes them at risk of getting hit by lightning. Wind turbines, being way up above, makes installation difficult. There’s also less cable needed since the ideal location for solar panels is the roof of your house. They don’t have moving parts and require less space to operate allowing for an easier set up compared to wind turbines. Solar power is the clear winner as far as setup is concerned. And again, wind turbines are more at risk of wear and tear because of the moving parts. Because they’re situated high above the ground, the maintenance of wind turbines is already a tough task. Wind energy, unfortunately, is somewhat behind in this aspect. This means that you can expect your solar panels to work for years with very little maintenance. This is very true especially in the UK because of the rain it receives which makes the cleaning of solar panels easier. The maintenance of solar panels is relatively easy compared to wind turbines.
In this case, the choice between the two will mainly depend on where you’re located and how much energy you need to be generated. Solar energy, though limited because of day and night, can be installed pretty much anywhere.
However, that ‘perfect location’ is not as easy to find especially for urban areas. Wind energy is slightly at an advantage here because once wind turbines are installed in an area that receives strong and consistent winds, you’re sure to have a steady supply of energy. This can be remedied by having more batteries for energy storage but doing so means you’ll have to spend more. While it’s true that solar panels can easily be installed anywhere (ideally on the roof), they’re limited since they can only gather sunlight during the day. Locationīoth wind and solar power need to be installed in suitable sites to get the best results. At the moment, solar power seems to be the winner in this department. This means that you’re likely to spend more maintaining wind turbines than solar panels. You also have to make sure that wind turbines are installed a certain height above the ground for optimum energy production which adds more to its cost.Īnother thing to note is that wind turbines have a lot of moving parts which make them more susceptible to wear and tear, unlike solar panels which are stationary most of the time. Wind energy, on the other hand, costs more. This is mainly because the costs of solar panels, as well as installation, have steadily been decreasing.Īn average solar array for a home costs around £6,000 to £8,000 including installation. Though wind energy has long been a favourite among corporations, many see solar power leading the way for the next few years. Read on to find out how wind and solar power fare against each other when it comes to these factors. If you’re planning on switching to off-grid electricity, you have to consider factors such as the costs involved, your location, maintenance, ease of installation, efficiency, and the manner that each operates. Now, for argument’s sake, which is better between the two? Renewable energy, such as solar and wind, are the safest forms of energyĪmong the different sources of renewable energy sources, solar and wind are the most widely used.
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