Wind Energy

• An alternative to solar power for residential energy, is wind energy. Where solar panels create electricity from sunlight, wind turbines are used to create free electricity from the wind.

Your Home Solar Energy is obviously dedicated to energy from solar panels, but the overall goal is to encourage greater energy independence and becoming more energy efficient. Therefore, it is important to also discuss the options for domestic wind turbines to create energy.

Most people are familiar today with the massive wind turbines erected to generate electricity for the grid. These structures are wonders of modern technical engineering and aeronautical design efficiencies. Unfortunately, whole “farms” of such turbines are generally not considered to be a particularly attractive enhancement of the landscapes that they occupy, and for those who live close by the noise of the huge blades moving through the air can be troublesome.

However, the technology is sound and with modern designs it can also be more efficient than solar panels provided that there is a consistent breeze available.

At a residential level, obviously much smaller wind energy units are capable of supporting domestic energy requirements.

• It is quite common to see small wind turbines mounted on RVs or yachts to maintain batteries, and where space for a suitable solar panel array might be limited.

Obviously the wind turbine will not generate any energy if there is no wind, but unlike the solar panel, a wind energy system will still work at night if there is enough breeze. However, the efficiency of a wind turbine is also affected by turbulence or if the wind is too light or too strong. Turbulence is one of the biggest challenges in a residential setting due to the way the breeze may be directed by surrounding houses, terrain and trees. This may not prevent the wind turbine from generating electricity, but it could affect the efficiency and output of the unit. Due to the mechanical engineering involved in the construction of a wind turbine, it is also likely to need more frequent specialized maintenance than a solar panel system.

Despite these constraints, it would seem logical to have a wind turbine as well as a solar panel system. Unfortunately, the main case for not adding a wind turbine to supplement the energy generated during the day by a solar panel array, would be the additional costs. The costs involved seem to suggest that if you have a solar array but you need more power, or want that power available at night, that it might be more cost effective to increase the size of the solar array and/or add deep cycle batteries for energy storage.  Of course, actions to make the home more energy efficient, to reduce the demand for electricity, should also be taken in order to get the maximum value from any investment in solar panels or wind turbines.

Of course, many people live in areas more suited to a wind energy system than solar panel arrays, so that should be the option that they investigate first. For those living in suburban areas with reasonable sunlight hours and available roof space aligned appropriately, solar panels are more likely to meet their energy and local planning requirements.

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