Solar and Wind Power Residential Systems: Are They Worth It?

The world faces an imminent energy crisis. This is because our reserves of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum are diminishing rapidly. Moreover, there is the perpetual threat of environmental pollution. As a result there is a conscious effort everywhere to switch to alternative modes of power generation that do not pollute the environment, are sustainable and do not rely on the consumption of our already dwindling reserves of fossil fuels. Wind power is one such popular alternative source of energy. Wind power technology is not a novel invention, but actually dates back to the time of the early settlers who used the power of the wind for crushing grains with the help of gigantic windmills having ‘sails’ measuring 10 to 20 feet. However, it was not until 1979 when Danish engineers developed small (and practical) electricity generators fitted with light PVC blades capable of producing electricity that wind power became practically feasible and commercially viable. This paved the way for the wind power turbines that we see today.

The success of the Danish engineers didn’t go unnoticed by the world and other nations were quick to follow in their footsteps. As a result, soon after their first appearance, wind turbines came up in great numbers all across the US and the UK. What made alternative energy so popular was their ability to help the user save on electricity bills and also lessen their dependence on the local utility company. However, wind energy was not without a few disadvantages. The most serious drawback was due to the highly unpredictable nature of the wind itself. Low wind speeds have always posed a major problem for wind turbine systems. Another problem with the turbines was the noise associated with them. No wonder, they were often dubbed as ‘roaring monsters’ due to the great noise made by the rotors. However, use of better bearings and careful redesigning of the inner mechanism have reduced the noise to a mere intermittent ‘wheezing’ heard during times when the turbines are spinning at high speed. In fact this is one of the top reasons why wind turbines are rarely installed in residential areas or close to human habitation.

So much for wind power. Let’s look at another very popular form of alternative energy, viz. solar power. Solar power has had a very curious history of its discovery. Calvin Fuller, Gerald Pearson and Daryl Chaplin of Bell Laboratories accidentally discovered, what is widely regarded as the mother of the modern solar cell, silicon semiconductors which had very strong solar properties while researching on the behavioral pattern of non-metals. Following this seminal discovery, the first solar cell was soon developed and everybody was amazed to find out how effective they were in generating electricity, especially when made to work in clusters. Solar power became an instant hit and caught the people’s imagination like wildfire. Very soon companies and manufacturers everywhere got themselves busy making and installing solar panels all across the land. The US government also encouraged the use of this new technology by staring to offer incentives, grants and rebates for every installation undertaken within the country. Solar power promised a world of benefits to the user. The main benefit came in the form of slashed electricity bills and hassle-free supply of current that needed no raw material or virtually zero maintenance. The only drawback that solar power suffered from was its inability to perform in the absence of the sun, especially after dark.

The unavailability of solar power after dark is a problem that is not completely irresolvable. To ensure uninterrupted power supply for 24 hours, and also to significantly reduce electricity bills one might go for the following setup.

• Consider installing both solar panels as well as wind turbines within the same premises. While the solar system will generate power during the day, the turbine will ensure uninterrupted power supply at night.

• Add a battery bank to the system as a stand-by unit. Batteries can easily store some amount of the generated power that can be used during times when both the systems are unavailable.

• Get the system connected to the grid so that all surplus power can be sent back to the grid, helping you make earn from selling power to the utility.

• It doesn’t take much to make money from the system. With both units running simultaneously, the consumer will not only need any current from the grid but will actually be able to sell back to it his or her own generated current.

With every passing day, more and more people everywhere are enthusiastically adopting alternative power. The demand for solar and wind power for residential use has already picked up considerably, and will continue to climb up the popularity curve in the following years. Even though there are still a few technical glitches, they are not of a very serious nature and will be resolved in the near future through continuing research and development.

So, are you all set to make the switch to ‘solar’ and ‘wind’ power? People across the world now know the advantages of installing a solar or a wind power system at home. By doing this you are now only contributing to clean up the environment, but the benefits are financial as well as you can reduce your power bills. Take help of a manual that will help you install it step by step by showing you where to set it up, how to do it, how to wire the system, where to get the parts and the batteries from and will inform you about the safety instructions too. This is the best way to get things started off smoothly, especially if you are new to the subject of alternative energy.