In order to be effective wind turbines need to be situated high above any obstacles that would block the wind.
Wind turbine or solar panels which is better.
Maintenance on a wind turbine varies greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer.
But the enormous power generating capacity of wind turbines doesn t make wind energy a clear winner.
Wind turbines can convert nearly half of the wind hitting them into electrical power.
It really depends on your geographical location and energy requirements but given the substantial investment involved with either solar vs wind options it s critical to select the right system for your needs from the outset.
In fact one wind turbine can generate the same amount of electricity per kwh as about 48 704 solar panels.
Additionally solar panels installed in a field won t stand taller than 10 to 15 feet and are significantly less distracting than a large windmill.
However solar is much cheaper upfront and is typically lower maintenance.
On average a 4kwp 13 16 panels solar panel system will set you back around 6 000 whereas a wind turbine can cost anywhere between 9 000 and 30 000.
While impressive the major drawback of wind power is that wind will never blow at the same speed continuously making it hard to predict energy output.
Pro and con comparison of solar vs wind power.
Wind power is considered more efficient than solar because these systems use less energy release less carbon dioxide and produce more overall energy.
Getting it wrong can cause you not only great expense but major headaches.
Solar panels including charge controller and mounting hardware are generally less expensive than a wind generator.
Sunpower is at the top of that list with the industry s most efficient solar panels.
The negatives on solar panels are the effective charging time space required and problems with shadows on a sailboat.
Wind comes with a significant caveat however.
This means that they have the ability to generate power 24 hours a day whereas solar panels only generate power during sunlight hours.
The advantage to solar is the fact that there are no moving parts.
Wind turbines however are much more prone to damage and need repairs more frequently.
Compared to solar panels wind turbines release less co2 to the atmosphere consume less energy and produce more energy overall.
It s as simple as that.
On average solar panels are fully effective only 5 to 7 hours a day depending where you operate your boat.
But the energy produced by wind turbines doesn t make it a clear winner.
A single wind turbine can generate the same amount of electricity in kwh or kilowatt hours as thousands of solar panels.
Solar panels are easier and cheaper to maintain than wind turbines another advantage of solar energy is that solar panels and equipment usually require little maintenance over time.
Solar s rising popularity has led to a gradual decrease in price over the past decade.
Another problem with wind power is just to generate enough power for a single home a person will need to install an 80 foot windmill.