Solar or wind energy: which is more efficient?

Save
Save
Reading time: 5 min

Before we begin our reasoning, we would like to remind you that both energies are renewable, and therefore both are great energy options to turn in order to improve our planet and to break our addiction to oil and gas.

Today we will try to answer a question that we often ask ourselves when we are interested in renewable energies: between solar and wind energy, which is the most efficient?

Solar and wind energy in a nutshell.

First, let’s take a look at what renewable energy means. Renewable energies are all those sources of energy that are obtained from natural resources. These sources are: sun, wind, water and plant or animal biomass.

Among the various renewable alternatives for generating electricity, solar and wind energy are the most popular options. In this sense, their role is decisive in the reduction of GHG emissions. The technologies to transform these energy sources are solar panels and wind turbines, respectively. First, solar panels convert solar radiation into energy. The truth is that wind is also generated by solar energy. This is due to the difference in atmospheric pressure caused by solar radiation. Basically, it is an energy based on movement. Then, when the wind impulse turns the generator’s propellers, the turbine transforms the kinetic energy into direct current.

Undoubtedly, sunlight and wind are sustainable, abundant and inexhaustible sources of energy.

Descubre nuestra solución más eficiente

The data to retain on wind energy

Wind energy can be produced at any time of the day, so the use of batteries to accumulate surpluses is optional. A 5kW wind turbine can generate enough energy for a household with six members. This is equivalent to the amount of energy produced by 24 photovoltaic solar panels.

At the utility level, land-based and onshore wind recorded a decline of approximately 9% year-on-year between 2010 and 2019. In this way, it reached 5.3 dollar cents or 4.5-euro cents per kWh and 11.5 dollar cents or 9.9 euro cents/kWh. As we said, wind turbines are not suitable for urban environments where there are buildings or other elements that interrupt the flow of the wind.

La energía eólica es eficiente?

The moving parts of wind turbines produce noise. Apart from that, its visual impact on the landscape and its effects on fauna cause many controversies. Another aspect of wind energy is that the use itself wears out the turbines of wind turbines. As a result, they need more frequent and expensive maintenance than a photovoltaic system.

Also, an important consideration when thinking about wind energy is that it will not fully meet your energy needs, as it will only provide you with electricity. In fact, its energy demand is made up of electricity and heat. The heat part is the one that is consumed the most and the one that has the most impact on both the bill and the environment. Thus, with the wind turbines option does not provide a truly effective and complete answer, this is also demonstrated by the fact that wind turbine installations are carried out at sea or in the field, therefore, far from the places of consumption, which means a transport of this energy. This energy transport involves huge losses.

La energía eólica es eficiente?

The data to retain about solar energy

Certainly, solar panels can be installed on the roofs of industrial warehouses, rooftops and terraces of buildings for self-consumption in companies. Of course, they can also be mounted on the roofs of houses in the communities of residents for shared self-consumption. In addition, they can be available on the ground to provide energy to small farms and large agro-industrial companies. According to this objective, the agrivoltaic modality can be implemented, to create synergy between crops and facilities. For this reason, solar energy is practical for both urban and rural areas and industries.

A solar energy system has no moving parts and takes up less space depending on the solar panel you choose. In addition, its installation is faster, with minimal wiring.

So it requires less supervision and is less expensive to maintain. In general, quality solar panels have a lifespan of 25 years or more. Solar energy is less susceptible to lightning and damage from high winds. On the other hand, solar energy is completely silent when it works.

In short, if you want to really take advantage of everything that solar energy offers and get a complete response to your energy demand, you need to get hybrid solar technology. This technology produces both electricity and heat, allowing you to respond to your energy needs, making better savings on your energy bills and really lowering your CO2 emissions. Because the greatest CO2 emission comes from heat, you can’t forget that!

Descubre nuestra solución más eficiente

In terms of efficiency, are they the same?

Finally, we come to the part that may interest you the most: the performance of these two energies. When we talk about performance, we mean the amount of energy produced. According to an experiment conducted by Inland Power and Light, solar energy is the more efficient of the two. Both compared a nearly 11-meter wind turbine to an array of solar panels, ensuring that both could generate the same amount of electricity under optimal conditions. They both also had the same cost of $22,000.

The solar panel apparently generates five times more energy than the wind turbine, mainly due to variations in wind speed that prevent the turbine from generating power. Solar power, it seems, is less intermittent than wind.

Another advantage of solar panels is that they are easier to integrate architecturally. However, considering the amount of energy we need to run this planet, it’s nice to have both options. Undoubtedly, under certain conditions, wind power will be more useful than solar energy and vice versa. The point is to continue developing both technologies to make them increasingly efficient and profitable.

Descubre nuestra solución más eficiente
Did you find this content useful?
Save
Save

Do you know that…

Did you know that modern wind turbines can be very large, with blades often exceeding 70 meters in length each? These giant turbines can efficiently and economically generate electricity from the wind. They have become symbols of renewable energy and are used in many countries to diversify energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

abora, what is it?

Abora Solar, a Spanish manufacturer of hybrid solar panels, is an innovative and visionary company in the field of renewable energies, more specifically in the solar energy sector. Founded in 2017, the Spanish manufacturer has quickly positioned itself as a major player in the development of sustainable and high-performance solar solutions.

At the heart of Abora Solar’s identity is a global approach to solar energy, offering the latest generation hybrid solar panel with the highest performance on the market, while providing a vision that encompasses the entire process, from design to manufacturing, including the monitoring of installations. This allows the company to offer its customers turnkey solutions for projects in industrial, tertiary and residential buildings.

In short, Abora Solar embodies the future of solar energy, combining technological innovation with a deep commitment to the environment, accessibility and the improvement of society. The company is a major player in the energy transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.

You may also like

Sign up for our newsletter

Mantente actualizado con las últimas noticias de la industria y siga nuestros consejos energéticos.

The information you have provided is not valid. Please check the format of the field and try again.
Your subscription has been made.