Difference Between A Wind Turbine And Solar Panels

The two main choices for renewable energy equipment are wind turbines and solar panels.

Difference between a wind turbine and solar panels.

When considering a off grid or grid connect power system. The first is via the popular solar panels which directly converts sunlight into electricity. In fact one wind turbine can generate the same amount of electricity per kwh as about 48 704 solar panels. While a wind turbine is a rotating machine invented to replace the wind mills that can be used to grind and produce electricity from the kinetic power of wind.

After tax credits and depreciation commercial systems only the net system cost is 8 700. Wind turbines also have moving parts which can result in more wear and tear and higher maintenance requirements. So which is the superior wind energy or solar power let s examine the solar vs wind debate. One difference between wind power and solar power is cost of installation.

There are several distinct advantages of utilizing a solar energy system in comparison to a wind energy system. However there are maintenance and upkeep requirements in the case of wind power generators with moving parts which is not there in solar panels. Solar panels are still costlier than wind power installations. There is also a major difference in how wind power and solar power is extracted.

Solar is silent which makes it ideal for more populated areas. Large scale applications do best with wind turbines because of the amount of energy produced. Wind power is extracted mechanically via turning turbines that produce electricity. There are no moving parts and therefore it needs less maintenance than wind.

Unless you choose ground mounted solar panels with a tracking system a technology generally reserved for utility solar installations your solar pv system will be stationary and require limited maintenance. The gross system cost is approximately 39 000. A solar panel is a group of solar cells that are neatly set out in a grid like design on the top of panels which helps to convert the free and never ending sun rays into electricity. Panels work in cold climates as air temperature doesn t matter as long as the panels are catching rays.

A 10 kw wind. The energy is easy to generate and transport. Compared to solar panels wind turbines release less co2 to the atmosphere consume less energy and produce more energy overall. A solar panel generator requires far less maintenance and upkeep costs as they are quite efficient and sturdy.

In contrast there are two ways to extract solar power. For small scale applications solar power is the best option. Panels can be installed on almost any home or building including those that don t receive direct sunlight and achieve success. It really depends on your geographical location and energy requirements but given the substantial investment involved with either solar vs wind options.

Below i will compare the net system cost of a solar array and a wind turbine both with an annual energy output of 16 500 kwh.