Home Solar And Wind Power
Solar and wind power for the home are among the most widely used types of alternative energy. When combined they create an environmentally friendly, continuous alternative energy system that can be used to power your home. This system can also be hooked up to the grid so that any excess energy that is needed can be supplied by your utility company. This is a good backup plan should there be no wind or the weather is particularly inclement.
A solar power system will supply electricity generated by the rays of the sun. Solar panels lined with a semiconductor which generates electricity whenever the rays strike it can be installed either using a roof, pole, or ground mount. Such mounts are usually equipped with motors which let the panels be tilted during the course of the day so they can follow the sun’s path.
The electricity generated through a solar panel is passed to a regulator/controller and then onto an inverter. the inverter converts the direct current to alternate current (AC). This is done because most homes run on AC. Once it is converted it can go into the home and used to power all your appliances and facilities. If it is not converted it can be stored in batteries as direct current.
Creating electricity is the same when using a wind power system, except that it is generated in the body of a turbine. The turbine is the huge, fan-like part with blades at the top of iron towers we sometimes see on hillsides.
Wind causes the blades of the turbine to rotate. The center of the turbine is connected to a generator which creates electricity as it spins around. The electricity is then collected and sent into your structure’s electrical or storage system either to work on its own or supplementing any solar power available.
Wind power needs a bit less in initial equipment costs, since the bulk of the price is the turbine, which is typically less costly than many solar arrays. The negative point is that the turbine must be mounted up well off the ground on a tower like structure, which is stronger but costs more to install. This kind of installment typically needs zoning approval from your community and usually takes a little more thinking ahead.
When you connect a solar power system with a wind power system, each part can operate in tandem to compensate and complement each other. Wind power can be produced at any time while solar has its natural limits based on the hours that the sun shines and bad weather. Conversely bad weather for a solar system maybe good weather for a wind generator. Both these systems can be built quite cheaply depending on the amount of power you want to create. Some guide suggests this figure could be as low as $400. However a professionally designed and installed system would cost much more than this.
