When considering an off grid or grid connect power system the two main options for renewable energy equipment all narrow down to wind turbines and solar panels. So which is the superior, wind energy or solar power?

Let’s just carry on with this whole argument by making a quick overviewing.

“Going green” is what many people are considering these days. Because we consume energy in such huge quantities, it only makes sense to look for a renewable, alternative, more environmentally-friendly ways to generate energy. Wind generator versus solar panels is a common comparison: both forms of energy utilize natural, renewal energy sources, respectively from the wind and from the sun.

Solar panels generally consist of solar cells, which convert sunlight into energy we can use for solar home heating, solar water heating, and other uses. You may have seen residential homes covered with solar roof tiles to capture the sun’s rays.

On the other hand, wind generators exploit wind to generate electricity. A wind turbine converts the wind’s energy into mechanical power, which in turn is converted into electricity via a spinning generator. Basically, the wind spins the blades of the turbine, rotating the shaft. This shaft connects to a generator which converts the energy into an end electricity. You may have seen “wind farms” from a distance – the many huge wind turbines grouped together is quite a sight. People have remarked that the turbines look like large, sharp, metallic “windmills”.

Interestingly, wind power is a form of solar power, too. Wind is created when the earth’s surface is unevenly heated by the sun. Some parts of the world (eg. the equator) get more sun than others, and some types of land (forests, sand, water, mountains, etc…) absorb more sun than others. Warmer air rises, causing the cooler air nearby to flow in to fill in the “gaps”. This is what results in wind.

Both wind power and solar power have its pros and cons…