The cost of electricity has been steadily increasing for years, and this is not expected to change. The supply of fossil fuels that power our homes and businesses will eventually run out. The world needs an alternative source of energy that is sustainable in the long term.

Wind turbines are used to generate clean renewable energy when there’s enough wind; solar panels can be installed on rooftops or in large fields to harvest the sun’s rays. Read on more to find out about the wind vs solar cost comparison.

But First, What Is Wind Energy?

Wind energy is created by converting wind into rotational kinetic energy using turbines. These are tall structures which are made up of blades, a nacelle, and a rotor.

The blades are connected to the nacelle at their axis point. As the wind turns the rotor, it causes the rotation of gears inside the nacelle that eventually connect to the stage shaft. The stage shaft is what turns the generator to produce electricity.

According to the Global Wind Energy Council, there were 432,883 wind turbines around the world in 2016. Of these, just over 70% are found in Asia where China had more than half of them. Europe had 21% followed by North America which had 9%.

What Is Solar Energy?

Solar energy is created using photovoltaic (PV) cells and solar panels. These collect the sun’s rays and create an electric current that can be used to power homes or businesses. PV cells work by converting sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. With grid-connected solar PV systems, batteries are also needed to store excess electricity for use when there is little or no sun.

Solar farms also exist with either single-axis tracking systems which track the sun’s path across the sky; or fixed twin-axis tracking systems which follow it more closely.

To create enough energy to power houses, both wind and solar farms need a lot of space based on how much electricity is required.

The Pros and Cons of Wind Energy

The Pros Of Wind Energy

The Cons Of Wind Energy 

wind-vs-solar-cost-comparisons

The Pros and Cons of Solar Energy 

The Pros Of Solar Energy

The Cons Of Solar Energy

Which renewable energy is better, wind or solar?

Well, that depends on which criteria you use to decide.

The cost of wind energy is roughly the same across all regions around the world whereas solar panels are much more expensive in some areas than others.

Adding batteries to solar panel systems makes them even more expensive and increases their maintenance costs so it’s best suited to locations where there’s plenty of sunlight. Wind energy is still the cheaper option overall but the cost varies around the world so both sources have their pros and cons depending on where you live.

There are other things to take into consideration, too. Panels need a lot of space so they’re not suitable for densely populated areas which makes them better placed in open spaces whereas wind turbines are better placed in windy locations.

Other considerations include noise pollution, visual pollution, and environmental impact on surrounding wildlife and vegetation for both systems.

So, the best renewable energy choice will depend on which criteria you value most highly among cost, space-efficiency, power generation potential using available space, etc.  

Which is more efficient?

It depends again on which renewable energy source you’re talking about.

Wind turbines can be up to 80% efficient whereas solar panels are only around 20% so wind has the upper hand there. The gap between the two is closing, though, with a new design of solar panel that boosts efficiency by using a mixture of monocrystalline and polycrystalline cells.

Even with this panel, though, solar panels can’t compete with wind turbines when there isn’t enough sunlight to generate enough energy, which is why it’s best suited for locations where there’s a good amount of sunlight.

Wind vs Solar Cost Comparison

Which is cost-effective?

Both wind and solar energy are cost-effective for home use as they both produce electricity without any additional costs after installation like fuel or water.

The cost of installing solar panels varies widely depending on your area and what you need to help make up the initial cost can be included in a house improvement loan. The cost of maintaining them is low and you can even sell any excess electricity back to the local power company.

Wind energy is cheaper initially but it’s not suitable for homes as there isn’t enough space in most urban areas. On a large scale, though, wind turbines are much more cost-effective as they’re quicker and easier to build and maintain than solar panels.

Which is better environmentally?

Solar panels have a smaller environmental impact but it varies from place to place. They’re made using silicon, a non-toxic material that’s mined and processed into wafers. There may be issues with how the raw materials are produced depending on where the panels are manufactured though if they’re not locally produced then the transportation costs have to be taken into account.

Wind turbines can have a negative impact on their surroundings depending on where they’re built and how they’re made.

Their towers stand upright so they take up a huge amount of space but you can use them for other things like growing crops or animal rearing alongside the energy generation which makes them more land-efficient than solar panels. Their blades chop up any birds or bats they hit so there are some drawbacks to consider when choosing where to build them.

The bottom line? Both wind and solar energy are great sources of renewable, clean energy but each has its own benefits and drawbacks that you’ll need to take into account carefully before making your final decision.

If you live somewhere with plenty of sunlight then solar energy is definitely the better option but if your area gets a lot of wind then wind turbines are the best renewable energy choice for you.

What is the best option?

The best option for you will depend on a number of different factors.

Wind turbines are better in windy locations and they can be used for other things like crops or rearing animals so the space they take up can potentially be put to use elsewhere. They also tend to be better suited for remote areas where there’s not much population because they take up so much space.

Solar panels are better where there’s plenty of sunlight, especially during the summer months when more electricity is needed. They can be more aesthetically pleasing but they produce less energy per square metre than wind turbines do.

There are other factors you’ll need to consider as well like how much space you have available, how much energy you need, and which has the lowest installation costs.

They’re both great renewable energy options but determining which is best for your specific location depends on how much attention you pay to these different factors when making your final decision. The more information you have then the better idea you’ll have of what’s best for you and your situation.

There are other factors you’ll need to consider as well like how much space you have available and which has the lowest installation costs.

Conclusion

Both solar and wind energy are great sources of renewable, clean energy. However, each has its own benefits and drawbacks that you’ll need to take into account carefully before making your final decision.

If you live somewhere with plenty of sunlight then solar energy is definitely the better option but if your area gets a lot of wind then wind turbines are the best renewable energy choice for you. The best option for you will depend on a number of different factors.

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