Solar vs. Wind Energy: Which Wins Out?

In basic terms, wind energy is generated when dedicated turbines capture the wind’s kinetic energy.

When the wind flows through the rotor blades, the rotation converts this energy into mechanical power.

A generator then converts this mechanical energy into electrical energy (which can be fed into the grid).

The amount of power produced will depend on the speed of the wind, the size of the turbine and weather conditions. Higher elevations with stronger winds generate more energy.

On commercial wind farms, underground cables transport electricity to a transformer substation, which then distributes it to electricity companies, homes, factories, large buildings and anywhere else that requires energy.

Wind power is an amazing source of renewable energy as it’s inexhaustible, doesn’t use fossil fuels and doesn’t contaminate.

I’ll explore its benefits further later in this article.

Pros

• It’s a clean and renewable resource that’s incredibly cost-effective. The only time wind energy might produce greenhouse gases is during the building, construction and decommissioning phases.

• It allows landowners to lease their land in return for a payment (land rent) arrangement with their site operators.

• Long term, it’s an excellent economic resource as it can reduce the cost required to run large-scale operations (once the initial investment is paid off).

• Advances in technology mean that wind energy is now extremely efficient. Newer wind farms are more sophisticated, require less regular maintenance and are far quieter. Commercial turbines are becoming increasingly sleek and more attractive.

• On the whole, it doesn’t cause massive disruption to surrounding farmland as commercial turbines are largely space-efficient. Currently, just 0.2 per cent of the UK’s arable land is set to be affected by wind farms.

• It reduces a global reliance on fossil fuels by creating enough energy to power large parts of a country.

• Building wind farms (and maintaining them) can boost employment in the engineering and construction sectors. The most recent study from the UK Offshore Wind Skills Intelligence Report shows that 31,000 jobs are supported by offshore wind alone.

• It’s a viable alternative to nuclear power, which uses approximately 600 times more water than wind power.

Cons

• The initial start-up costs can be significant for developers as commercial structures can be over 100 feet tall.

• Commercial wind turbines are usually placed in rural areas, which means placing underground lines for power transference. This may bother local residents as they’re being installed.

• There’s a chance that large commercial turbines can be a danger to wildlife. For example, migratory birds can occasionally fly into the path of rotor blades. But you could also argue that skyscrapers, planes and even modern theme parks pose the same issues.

• Locals sometimes argue that wind power is a source of visual and noise pollution.

• Even the largest turbines can experience intermittent wind energy, which makes it somewhat unreliable. In reality, it’s tricky to predict exactly how much wind energy a single turbine will create. And if there isn’t enough wind to power the rotor? It simply won’t spin or produce any energy. It’s also important to mention that extreme weather could damage or impact your turbines, leaving large areas without power (if it’s the sole energy source).

• Commercial turbines depend heavily on location. You need to be in a relatively high-wind and high-altitude part of the country to get adequate wind flow.

Pros

• Solar farms are typically found in agricultural areas, which means that they’re minimally disruptive to surrounding homes.

• It’s a sustainable and clean form of energy.

• Compared to wind energy, solar panels are almost entirely quiet. At most, they emit a light buzz or murmur sound that is undetectable to most ears.

• Solar farms are largely low-maintenance operations that only need semi-yearly cleans and irregular checkups. They tend to be easier to maintain and manage than large wind turbines as they feature fewer moving parts.

Cons

• Building solar farms can cause a lot of noise pollution through drilling, road access and the general comings and goings of setup.

• The sun won’t always shine brightly enough in the UK to produce immense amounts of energy. Although solar panels function with cloud cover, smaller yields throughout the year can be problematic. Plus, solar energy can be particularly unreliable during the winter months because of lower light levels and shorter daylight hours. Overall, this can cause a problem for grid operators as they’ll need to find alternative sources to make up the shortfall.

• Solar farms sometimes require tricky-to-find substances like Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) and Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIGS) to operate properly. As these materials can be difficult to find, the initial setup costs of solar farms can be extensive.

Pros

• Wind is generally quite plentiful in the UK, which makes home wind turbines a decent long-term investment.

• They are a low-carbon alternative to traditional energy sources that you can generate on your own property.

• Wind turbines can save a large amount on your overall energy bill. Although you’ll need to invest in building the turbines themselves, generating your own energy typically saves you money. In some cases, you can even benefit from the Smart Export Guarantee if you generate excess energy.

• You can usually recoup the initial investment required to build a turbine within a few years (if that).

• There’s a chance of qualifying for tax incentives.

Cons

• The initial cost of installing a home wind turbine can be significant (between £12,500 and £23,000 for the average turbine).

• Wind turbines generally require quite a bit of land and are usually only suited to larger properties.

• Some areas don’t allow turbines in residential areas, meaning you’ll need to have the right planning permission.

• There’s a chance that you don’t live in an area that produces enough wind to make the investment worthwhile.

• As wind turbines typically operate at a 30 per cent capacity, generating enough energy to power your home can be tricky.

Pros

• Solar panels can save you a significant amount on energy bills across their lifetime. According to The Eco Experts, the average solar panel system will cost £7,860 but save you £608 a year. This depends on how much energy your panels produce and how much energy you use. But overall, you’re almost guaranteed to save something over the lifetime of your solar panel setup.

• Most homes in the UK won’t use all the solar power they produce, giving them the chance to benefit from the Smart Export Guarantee.

• It’s a clean and effective form of energy that prevents 1.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere every year.

• They’re largely silent as there are no moving parts (unlike with wind turbines).

• You can easily scale things up by adding more panels to your home. Developers arrange solar panels side-by-side, making it extremely easy to link in additional panels.

• Residential solar panels don’t need to be checked on regularly – they just need to be kept clean and unobstructed.

• Solar panels allow homeowners to be energy-independent.

• It’s thought that solar panel technology will only improve in the coming years, making them even more efficient.

Cons

• Solar panels usually run at 15 per cent capacity, which makes electricity production difficult at certain times of year.

• Installation can be expensive and take up a lot of roof space.

• Not all roof configurations are appropriate for solar panels. You’ll also need to make sure your roof tilts at a 30 to 45-degree angle and faces southward for optimal results.

• It’s largely weather-dependent as stronger rays produce more energy. They can produce an incredible amount of energy on clear and sunny days. But if you’re dealing with cloud cover (and the unreliable British weather), you may struggle.

• Pigeons love them, which can be a problem if you’re trying to keep your panels maintained and free from obstructions.

• If you plan to move house at any point (or remodel), you’ll need to remove these panels. Unfortunately, this comes at quite a cost as you’ll need to carefully transport and reinstall the panels.

• It can take up to 13 years to break even on your solar panels (based on savings of £608 per year).

• Solar energy needs to be used near-instantly or stored. Unfortunately, storage solutions can be expensive and require quite a lot of space.

The efficiency of solar vs. wind depends almost entirely on how well they convert energy and where they’re located.

• If you’re in a particularly sunny area with virtually no wind, solar panels will likely be more effective.

• If you’re in a relatively high-altitude and high-wind area with lots of cloud cover, wind turbines will perform better.

The most efficient solar panels can convert approximately 20 to 22 per cent of energy from sunlight into electricity.

In contrast, wind turbines can convert between 30 per cent and 45 per cent of energy into usable electricity. This can increase to approximately 50 per cent during peak wind periods.

This significant difference in conversion efficiency swings the dial in wind’s favour in the solar vs. wind debate.

As it’s far easier to capitalise on wind power as a developer, it’s no surprise that commercial wind farms tend to be more popular projects.

When it comes to upfront costs and maintenance, things are slightly more complicated than they might appear.

• Wind turbines are slightly more expensive but can lead to significant long-term savings.

• The average home turbine has a lifespan of 25 years, and a well-sited turbine can produce around 9,000 kWh per year, potentially saving over £610 per year on electricity.

• Solar panels offer similar annual savings, with figures around £608.

However, maintenance costs for solar panels tend to be far less than the average turbine.

So, bear this in mind.