Cleaner energy
Faster than many thought possible, and despite long doubt about renewable energy's practicality, a momentous transformation is now well underway. We are moving from an economy fuelled primarily by climate- warming fossil fuels, to one in which we will cleanly pluck most of our energy out of water, wind and the fire in the sky. Let's try to figure out which type can better suit your needs.
For suburban settings and applications, solar power is usually the best choice. As solar panels can be installed on the rooftops of houses, schools, and businesses, they are more practical for suburban or urban regions. Transparent solar panels are coming to retrofit roofs and windows. A solar power system has no moving parts and is less space- consuming. It has better reliability and a 25- year warranty. Moreover, solar is totally silent in operation. Solar power is also less susceptible to lightning and high wind damage. Solar requires less monitoring and less maintenance, and provides a more predictable energy output. It allows for quicker installation with minimal cables.
On the other hand, a wind turbine is comfortable in rural areas. Most of the local government authorities are against erecting wind turbines in townships, as it creates noise and might raise complaints from the neighbours. While wind turbines are not suitable for urban areas, they are ideal for rural regions, far from cities, that are most in need of power. A wind turbine can generate the same amount of electricity as about 48,704 solar panels. It can be built on existing farms or ranches. It doesn't affect the farmers working in that land, as it uses only a fraction of the land. They will also receive the rent paid by wind power plant owners for using their land.
The main concerns of wind turbines are the noise from moving parts and visual impacts to the landscape. Wind turbines affect local wildlife, as birds and bats get killed by the spinning of turbine blades. The downside of wind energy is that it is not always strong enough to turn a turbine. And sometimes it is too strong and can damage it. And finally, wind turbines need regular maintenance because of their moving parts.
The efficiency of solar panels and wind turbines is dependent on how well they can convert sunlight or wind into usable electricity. Even the most efficient solar panels convert only about 22% of energy harnessed from sunlight into actual electrical energy. Wind turbines can convert up to 60% of the energy they harness from the wind into usable electrical energy. Wind power is more efficient, but it is not easy to capitalise on wind power, whereas utilising solar power is much easier.
Based on the daily usage of electricity, the average amount of sunshine received, and the individual output of panels, one would need around 24 solar panels to meet the energy demands of an average household of six. On average, solar panel costs will range between $11,000 and $15,000, not including installation costs. Annual average wind- speed of an area and the size and energy needs of a house determine whether a wind turbine can power a house. Based on the size and height of the turbine and the equipment used, an average wind turbine installation will cost somewhere between $50,000 and $70,000.
That all may sound very expensive now, but in the last decade, solar power capacity has increased by 20 times. Solar cost is predicted to decline 40 times in 30 years, and wind cost by 30 times in 40 years.
All in all, there can never be one clear winner in such things, as it is not a race in which all the industries are competing. The path to a low- carbon future is not just solar energy or just wind energy, but the two technologies working in tandem.