Solar Power – Wind Power Combinations – The Pros and Cons
Not everyday in our lives is filled with sunshine, and even in the windiest parts of the country there are calm, quiet days. By having a solar power, wind power combinations, you can add an entirely new set of pros and cons to your renewable energy system.
At first glance, the solar power, wind power combinations seem to make perfect sense. You are reducing the number of potential days without one of your renewable energy sources being available. You are also increasing your power production capability. You can have both systems built to fulfill all your home power system needs, and then with a grid-connected system send your excess to the electric company for cash or credit.
At second glance, you will start to realize how much more complex, and expensive your system has just become. Instead of just having small wind power generators, or solar panel power inverters, you now have a system which will potentially require two inverters, and a control system to properly control the two sources of power. If you are using battery storage, you will need to carefully plan out your storage system, so it can work with both systems, and support potentially two incoming power sources.
Some days you will the jackpot and have just the right amount of wind, and a beautiful, clear sunny day. Your electric meter to the power company will be spinning quickly while you sell power back to the utility company. Then you will hit a series of cold, still, cloudy days. No power coming from either of your power systems. This may suddenly feel doubly distressing. You invested large amounts of money to have two systems, and now you are getting no power.
To determine if a hybrid system with home wind generators, and solar power inverters makes sense, you must do some careful study of your area. Get hold of a wind map and study the number of days you can expect wind power. Talk to a meteorologist and get figures on the number of sunny days, compared to cloudy days over the last couple years. With these facts you can determine if a single home wind power generators system, or a singe solar power system can fill your needs just as well.
As you study the possibilities of a solar power, wind power combination system, review all the tax incentive programs you were counting on. Many programs allow you to have rebates and credits for one system, but not for two. You do not want to go too far down the road of planning and buying products before you know the facts.
You will need to take more time in planning your wiring, your control systems, and even your voltage outputs when you elect to do solar power, wind power combinations instead of just high efficiency home wind generators. Only with careful research of your own situation can you discover if the plans for a hybrid system will bring you the results you want.
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