If you asked the average person on the street about green energy, they will usually know more about solar power than wind and a good portion will assume that it’s the better source of energy. In reality, solar power has lots of flaws compared to wind power, and there are many things that wind energy can do that solar panels can’t. Even for residential properties, the choice between wind and solar isn’t as clear-cut as many people think. Let’s take a look at which energy source between solar and wind is the best.
The Pros and Cons of Wind Power
One of the biggest benefits of wind power over solar power is that it can generate energy day or night and isn’t dependent on the sun. With that being said, the amount of energy turbines generate will be dependent on the amount of wind, so they still need to be used with a storage solution if you want to get a steady supply.
Wind turbines can also work in more geographical areas. It’s not uncommon for certain places to only get three to four sunny days per year, which makes wind a much better option than solar there. You also have regions with long rain seasons. Solar panels would not generate much energy there during that time, but wind turbines would be working at full capacity, so that’s a major advantage for wind power.
Another thing people often don’t realize about wind power is that it’s more space-efficient than solar power. This is because solar power farms can only be used to generate solar power while other activities can still be performed around wind turbines. Lastly, wind turbines are much more powerful than solar panels and one giant turbine can generate as much power as 48,704 solar panels, which allows them to save even more space.
The Pros and Cons of Solar Power
Solar power is usually a better option for the average homeowner since panels can easily get installed on roofs. Solar power is also more affordable and versatile. You can get average solar panels, but you could also get transparent solar panel tiles that will provide your home with solar power without making a change to the esthetics of the house. Solar power is also a better option for people who live in areas that get a lot of sunlight.
If you live in the country and have lots of land, however, then wind turbines might be a better option. As we said earlier, wind turbines can generate much more energy, and if you have enough space for them, you could have one or multiple wind turbines. You can use those to not only power your home, but send some back into the grid and get paid for it.
So, Which One is Better?
It really depends on the application. If we’re talking about a massive source of energy that can be used to power cities and whole economies, then wind makes much more sense. The amount of energy turbines can deploy can never be duplicated by solar, and entire forests or acres of arable land don’t have to be destroyed to install them. But for homes with limited space, solar energy still gets the edge.
At the end of the day, the less we rely on carbon fuels for energy, the better the planet will be. Both options should be looked at and added to the country’s energy mix at a greater scale if we want to make a difference.
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