More and more people are becoming more environmentally conscious. Most of us are starting to look toward the purchase of our own power to supplement our energy needs. Some of us are still trying to eliminate the need to purchase electricity at all. This is more than likely why you're reading this right?
So the debate about life, against the solar wind. What is right for me? What is more profitable and provides the greatest benefits? Is there a cheaper solution precast solar panels or wind turbines?
First, we will begin our front of the solar wind energy debate looking at solar energy. Our beautiful sun, shining in the sky, providing as much energy to the planet on any sunny day. Sounds good for a source of alternative energy. The creation of solar panels on your roof, gathering all the light that the sun provides to generate electricity.
Let's look at the benefits of solar panels.
- The sun will not burn in the short term and to generate electricity for an average of 5-6 hours in one day of sun (depending on where you live, of course).
- Solar energy can be stored in battery banks for later use once the sun goes down.
- Solar panels last an average of about 20-30 years. A 10 kW solar system at home will produce more than 500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity over the life.
- Solar energy has absolutely zero impact on the environment. This is a clean source of energy.
- Solar panels pay for themselves over time, depending on the upfront costs you incur, which can be drastically reduced depending on you.
Now to be fair, let's look at the decline in solar panels.
- They obviously do not work when the sun does not shine.
- They generate less electricity in winter as the hours of sunlight per day decreases.
- They are very expensive up front to buy prefabricated panels and have someone come and install them (fear not, read on !!!).
Transfer to our other competitor in our Solar Vs Wind debate, we must consider wind energy. Let's take a brief look at the benefits and negative aspects of wind generators.
Wind energy is another great natural resource that we must take full advantage. Imagine, every time there was a nice breeze, you could be generating electricity for your home. Take a step further, and if a storm is generating TONS of electricity for your home. For people who live near the coast, or live in mountainous areas of the country, how often the wind stops blowing, really? Why not take advantage of other great natural resource?
The benefits of wind energy are:
- Wind energy is free, the wind never stops blowing. Yes, some days the wind is calm, but that is usually offset by the spring and autumn days and cold winter winds and storms to incur in the summer.
- Wind turbines are generally less expensive than other forms of renewable energy.
- wind towers occupy a small space on your property, some even can be mounted on the ceiling.
- The power available in wind is proportional to the cube of its speed, which means that doubling the wind speed increases the available power by a factor of eight. For example, 10 hours a mile wind will generate a certain amount of energy (depending on the size of the turbine). At 20 miles an hour wind to generate 8 times the power!
- Remote areas that are not connected to the grid can use wind turbines to produce their own renewable energy supply.
And now, fair play, the disadvantages of wind energy:
- Again, stating the obvious, if the wind does not blow, power is not generated.
- Wind towers can be seen as distasteful for some.
- Some wind turbines can be noisy, but again, free electricity? I can live with some noise.
Thus, to monitor solar vs wind debate, it seems that there are pros and cons of both. Picking a winner in the debate against the solar wind also appears to be set at an impasse.
The general made the choice of solar wind energy front, ultimately, is to use both to complement each other. If it's a sunny day, the wind can not be safe, solar power is the way forward. Complement your solar panel with a few wind turbines are not sunny days, and a storm is coming, and even power generation. Then there are the wonderful days when the sun is shining, and there is a big breeze, and the debate against the solar wind energy is converted into solar and wind work together to generate more electricity than you need.