The two most popular alternatives in renewable energy are solar and wind power. When the two are used together they are not only earth-friendly but available 24/7. You can even mount them onto a system that is connected to a utility grid to supply most of the energy to your home and only use your utility company's service as a backup.
In a solar power system, the light from the sun is the source of electricity. Solar panels are mounted onto a roof, poles, or on the ground. The panels are lined with a semiconductor material that creates electricity when hit by the rays of the sun. Most mounts are equipped with motors that let you tilt the panels to face the sun as it moves through the sky.
The electricity that is generated by solar power systems is then routed through a regulator/controller then to an inverter depending on your installation then to your electrical system or battery array or storage system which is then routed into your structures electrical system.
Electricity follows the same basic path in a wind power system with the exception of the generation portion which takes place in the body of the turbine, which most of us consider the “giant fan” which spins away at the top of the enormous towers they are sometimes mounted on.
For a wind power system, the wind first turns the blades of a wind turbine. The turbine is connected by a shaft to a generator and as the shaft turns, electricity is generated. The electricity is then sent directly to the electrical system and can augment or substitute any solar power system you may have, or can be stored.
Wind power requires slightly less initial equipment costs as the bulk of the equipment cost is the turbine which is significantly less expensive than most solar arrays. The downside is that the turbine is going to have to be mounted fairly high off the ground on a tower style mount that is stronger but more expensive to install. An installation of this type will more than likely require zoning approval from the municipality that it is installed in and a great deal more planning.
When you combine a solar power setup with a wind power setup, you can plan for each section to work together to both compensate and complement the other. Wind power can be generated round the clock while solar has its inherent limitations.
In a solar power system, the light from the sun is the source of electricity. Solar panels are mounted onto a roof, poles, or on the ground. The panels are lined with a semiconductor material that creates electricity when hit by the rays of the sun. Most mounts are equipped with motors that let you tilt the panels to face the sun as it moves through the sky.
The electricity that is generated by solar power systems is then routed through a regulator/controller then to an inverter depending on your installation then to your electrical system or battery array or storage system which is then routed into your structures electrical system.
Electricity follows the same basic path in a wind power system with the exception of the generation portion which takes place in the body of the turbine, which most of us consider the “giant fan” which spins away at the top of the enormous towers they are sometimes mounted on.
For a wind power system, the wind first turns the blades of a wind turbine. The turbine is connected by a shaft to a generator and as the shaft turns, electricity is generated. The electricity is then sent directly to the electrical system and can augment or substitute any solar power system you may have, or can be stored.
Wind power requires slightly less initial equipment costs as the bulk of the equipment cost is the turbine which is significantly less expensive than most solar arrays. The downside is that the turbine is going to have to be mounted fairly high off the ground on a tower style mount that is stronger but more expensive to install. An installation of this type will more than likely require zoning approval from the municipality that it is installed in and a great deal more planning.
When you combine a solar power setup with a wind power setup, you can plan for each section to work together to both compensate and complement the other. Wind power can be generated round the clock while solar has its inherent limitations.