Many people are considering switching to green energy but hesitate between solar and wind energy to supply their homes with electricity.
Wind energy and solar energy are both renewable and free energies, available for all! However, the resources of both of them may change greatly from one location to another, and also depending on the season! Considering buying a home appliance is not like choosing the most worthy for your case between solar or wind energy!
Let’s see what depends on the choice of a solar power system or wind turbine to supply your house with electricity.
Technologie solaire photovoltaïque
Solar energy is generated by solar panels. They capture solar radiation to convert them into electricity, via a mechanism called photo-electric effect.
Technologie des éoliennes
Wind energy is generated by wind turbines. They are turbines with a large vanned wheel that is rotated by wind to generate electricity. We can distinguish two families of wind turbines: Horizontal axis “HAWT” wind turbine, and vertical axis wind turbine “VAWT”.
– Eoliennes horizontales: These turbines have the main rotor shaft and electrical generator at the top of a tower and must be pointed into the wind. Small turbines are pointed by a simple wind vane, while large turbines generally use a wind sensor coupled with a yaw system.
– Eoliennes verticales A vertical axis wind turbine is a type of wind turbine where the main rotor shaft is set transverse to the wind while the main components are located at the base of the turbine.
Perspectives de l'énergie solaire/éolienne
Solar energy and wind energy exploitation for electricity production at home are gaining great popularity thanks to more mature technology, better and more various state support programs, and global and local democratization of access to solar and wind energy..
Aux USA par exemple, L'énergie solaire is the center of a great program to accelerate its expansion in the country, with different economic incentives, like cost reduction, safer and more reliable cost reduction, and rapid solar deployment. This policy are developed are monitored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). However, concerning the wind energy, the situation is different, because wind resources change greatly according to the geographical location, and wind resources in the region. Actually, China is leading the world in the matter of yearly En terme de capacité d'énergie éolienne additionnelle annuelle..
On the individual scale, there’s still a contrast between both energy sources: While Solar panels are still gaining popularity and they became more more affordable as their cost decreased significantly in the past few years, the future of wind energy is still blurred.
Voyons pourqu'oi?
Eoliennes
1- Not enough wind for small wind turbines
Les petites Eoliennes for households are worthy only when the wind is strong enough where you live. The amount of electricity generated from wind turbines depends to a large extent on the strength of the wind. The wind speed at 10-15m height (maximum allowed height for small wind turbines) is usually quite low. Hence it has a low cost-effectiveness. In general, wind turbines have started to be worthy in rural open spaces. That’s why checking the wind speed map and yearly data in your region is crucial if you prefer a wind turbine to solar power to supply your house with electricity.
2- Faible puissance de sortie
Many people have installed wind turbines in their houses, but they complain later that the power effectively produced is far too low compared to what claims the manufacturer. For instance, tests on small wind turbines in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have shown that actual production was 15 to 17 times lower than the maximum capacity claimed by manufacturers!
3- Exigences relatives aux permis de construire
Vous devez obtenir un permis de votre administration locale pour installer une petite éolienne à domicile. Les exigences et le processus dépendent de la région. Certains endroits peuvent même nécessiter une audition, ce qui peut allonger le processus. D’autres peuvent également limiter la hauteur de la turbine.
Energie solaire
1- Ressources solaires
In contrast to wind energy solar energy is a more affordable solution to supply your home with electricity, even in northern countries. Even on cloudy days, solar panels still capture sunlight. In fact, when the sky is completely cloudy, there is no more direct radiation, but diffused solar radiation. Diffused solar radiation, is the sun’s radiation that can succeed in moving through the cloud layer, and reaching the ground.
In other words, L'installation des panneaux solaires photovoltaiques can produce electricity for the whole year (the energy production may vary from one day to another according to the weather conditions, and the geographic zone). In short, at an individual scale, a solar power installation is more cost-effective than a wind turbine.
However, for greater energy needs, large wind turbines are more cost-effective than solar power plants! Cost-effectiveness is a relative notion then, and depends on the case scale.
2- Permis d'installation
In general, you don’t need planning permission to install solar panels in your house. You need only an unshaded roof for your solar panel installation. So you don’t need to worry about planning permission anymore!
3- Pas d’espace libre nécessaire
Solar panels for individual use are usually installed on the roof. So you don’t need to have a garden, or a free space to install your power plan, which is not the case for a wind turbine installation!
4- Installation cost
Photovoltaic solar installation costs dropped drastically in the past few years, so it become also an affordable option for low-middle-income households. The state’s incentives make it also a furthermore attractive investment.
5- Maintenance
Solar panels don’t need any special maintenance. The only reflex required is regular cleaning for optimal power production. The only part that needs change during the installation life span is the inverter DC/AC. The inverter needs to be changed each 12 years of service.
However, small wind turbine requires a yearly checkup, which can include:
– Vérification et serrage des boulons et des raccords électriques
– Vérifier la corrosion et les fils de fixation pour une tension appropriée
– Remplacer les composants tels que les aubes de turbine et/ou les roulements, au besoin.
Regular maintenance may be part of your purchase contract if not it can be done independently by a specialized technician.
6- Durée de vie
A solar panel installation has a life span of over 30 years. However, wind turbines can last longer than 20 years.
Conclusion
At a household scale, investing in photovoltaic solar energy is more cost-effective than wind turbines to supply your home with electricity. In addition, solar panels offer an ROI or return on investment shorter than small wind turbines. However, at a greater scale and for a higher energy demand, Wind farms are more cost-effective than solar panels.
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