These may help you take a more in-depth view and determine further what you’re looking at. There are various charts and ways of viewing the overall costs of energy per watt by various types of sources and regions of the world. – but I have created a few example charts based on averages across the USA for a specific fictional client who’s heavily debating this option.
I cannot give an exact estimate on your cost per watt for a number of reasons – different equipment costs different amounts, installation fees vary, rebates from the government vary, etc. The easiest way to break down this aspect of the debate is at a per-watt-of-power figure. Much as we’d all like to be “green first,” we do have some considerations when it comes to money that help us make decisions on which route we need to take in this solar vs wind energy comparison. I’ve compiled a list of information on each of the topics that can help you make this wind turbine vs solar panel decision, from cost to installation time to the pros and cons of both. Now that you have the basic understandings of how solar energy and wind energy are produced, we’re ready to start making some comparisons by looking at various solar energy vs wind energy facts. Which Should You Use? Solar vs Wind Power for Home And this is what creates the electricity that can then power your home appliances. So, when these rotors are attached to a generator, the energy speeds up the rotation and translates this aerodynamic force into the generator’s components that rotate in turn. The wind blows across the blades, the air pressure decreases on one side of the blade, and this creates a different pressure across the two. The wind the turbine does this by turning the wind energy into electricity via the aerodynamic force that rotator blades create, kind of like an airplane propeller works. Wind turbines and windmills use this kinetic energy from the wind and convert it into mechanical power or electricity via a generator. Wind energy is a source of kinetic energy, which literally is the energy of motion. Wind energy can also turn the blades of a windmill or wind turbine, which can create electricity or mechanical power. For example, wind can power a sailboat without any type of electrical needs – it pushes the sails, which in turns moves the boat forward. This wind is then used to create usable forms of energy through various means. These three elements work together to create wind. You see, the sun unevenly heats the atmosphere of the earth, which concurs with the irregularities of the earth’s surface, placement of the earth and rotation of the planet. This wind energy is created by heat aspects of solar radiation rather than light waves. All right, you might now need to ask how is wind energy related to solar energy? Wind energy is technically a type of solar energy. But is it still viable and powerful enough to be worth considering? You’ve seen paintings of windmills from hundreds of years ago, and these employ this long-known energy source. More on that below.īut if you’re also considering wind power, you need to understand how exactly that energy source works. If you do not, there are some alternatives beyond the “standard” solar power system that can still work for you. If you live in an area where you have lots of sunlight and/or daylight, you will do well with solar power energy systems. The electricity is then translated into a generator, device, or the external wiring that then powers your electronics or appliances. The solar inverter converts DC energy into usable AC power. Once the cells pull in this power, they then convert the solar radiation into electricity.
The solar panels must be placed in direct or near direct sunlight where they can draw in energy from the sun. These cells are made of silicon and positioned in a grid-like pattern into a metal frame – often aluminum – and covered with weather and heat resistant glass.
Home wind power cost series#
The simple explanation is that solar panels are made up a series of photovoltaic cells that we often refer to as solar cells. The reason? Solar panels and setups are easy-to-install, more budget-friendly than some options, and don’t require much maintenance.īut as you look into whether or not solar energy is for you, you should understand at least the basics on how this technology works. Solar energy is one of the most popular forms of renewable energy in multiple areas of the world, including the USA. Why We Recommend a Combination of Solar and Wind Energy in Most Circumstances How Does Solar Energy Work?