Now that you have a basic understanding of how solar energy and wind energy are produced, we’re ready to start making some comparisons by looking at various solar energy vs wind energy facts.
I’ve compiled a list of information on each of the topics that can help you make this wind turbine vs solar panel decision, from cost to installation time to the pros and cons of both.
Solar Vs Wind Cost Per Watt of Power
Much as we’d all like to be “green first,” we do have some considerations when it comes to money that help us make decisions on which route we need to take in this solar vs wind energy comparison. The easiest way to break down this aspect of the debate is at a per-watt-of-power figure.
I cannot give an exact estimate on your cost per watt for a number of reasons – different equipment costs different amounts, installation fees vary, rebates from the government vary, etc. – but I have created a few example charts based on averages across the USA for a specific fictional client who’s heavily debating this option.
There are various charts and ways of viewing the overall costs of energy per watt by various types of sources and regions of the world. These may help you take a more in-depth view and determine further what you’re looking at. But I’ve got a basic breakdown for average costs across the United States to get you started.
Solar Energy Cost Per Watt
The average cost per watt of solar energy is about $3.05 for installation. This includes only panels and the cost of installation by a professional, however, so you’ll have to factor in generators, wiring, and other components of the system.
Solar panels – $80 to $200 per 100-watt panel
Solar wiring – $25 to $100 per 12-feet
Solar power inverter – $190 to $450
Digital monitoring unit – $15 to $25
Solar generator or batteries – $130 (low Wh) to $500 (high Wh)
Mounting hardware – $10 to $50 – many solar panels and kits include this
One-off solar devices – This varies widely from $10 for pathway lights to $500 for specific, high-end pieces like solar security setups
If you’re able to do the installation yourself, you’ll need to factor together the exact costs of your panels and other equipment, but typically you’re looking at $1-2 per watt, plus the wiring, inverters, etc.
In order to power the average home with solar, at 908 kWh per month, and 150 hours of sunlight per month, you’d need to install a 6.7 kW system. At $3.05 per watt, that comes out to roughly $20,435.
Wind Energy Cost Per Watt
Most of the figures available for wind energy is per kilowatt or megawatt, but if we break these down, we can see the basics.
A wind turbine of 10 kilowatts – enough to fully power a large house – will cost about $55,000.
Per watt, this translates into about $5.5 per watt. That’s more than twice the cost per watt of solar energy.
Below we’ll discuss the reasons why people would consider wind energy over solar energy, despite the difference in cost.
908 kWh per month Example
Solar energy for a home to be fully covered would be: 6.7 kW x $3.05/watt = $20,435.
Wind power for a home to be fully covered would be: 6.7 kW x $5.50/watt = $36,850.
Benefits of Wind Energy
So, if wind energy is so much costlier, why would anyone consider using wind instead of solar energy to power their home?
There are a few distinct reasons that solar energy cannot do as well as wind energy.
Terrain and Climate Advantages for Wind Power
Sunny Florida is great for solar power. But if you happen to live in a climate like Alaska on in a spot that sees more shade than daylight, you’ll find solar power is more challenging for fully powering your house. This is one of those places where wind energy is your friend.
If you live in a windy terrain – think Chicago, Kansas, Oregon, or Wellington, New Zealand – you’re going to do well with powering your place with wind energy.
Wind Energy Can Be Produced All Night Long
Unlike solar energy, darkness doesn’t affect how much power your wind turbine produces. This means that wind power is beneficial for locations in low-light areas or for homes that use a lot of power at night.
Solar energy can be saved up during the day to work at night, of course, but if you want to cut back on generators and batteries, wind energy can help with this as well.
Wind Turbines Generate a Lot More Power
Finally, the biggest advantage of wind energy over solar power is that wind turbines produce more energy than solar panels do, generally speaking.
For places that need a heck of a lot of power – think large houses, farms with multiple buildings, et cetera – wind energy is a logical choice, assuming there’s enough space to house the turbine.
Benefits of Solar Energy
On the other hand, solar energy has a lot of benefits and advantages that wind power does not.
Terrain and Climate Advantages for Solar Energy
If you live in an area that’s lined with trees or tall buildings, wind power is going to be restricted by these barriers.
This means that solar energy – assuming you have a climate that provides you with enough bright, sunny days – will be more advantageous to city dwellers.
Solar Energy is More Predictable Than Wind Energy
Solar energy is more consistent and predictable than the wind. You can basically understand how much sun you’re likely to get by a simple perusal of the local almanac or even a website that tells you how much sunshine your location typically receives each year.
Obviously, if you live in a low-light area like Juneau Alaska or Tórshavn Faroe Islands, you’ll need to consider an alternative energy source. But that’s the thing: you can predict if you’ll be able to power solar energy at your home.
Solar Panels are Easier and Cheaper to Maintain Than Wind Turbines
Another advantage of solar energy is that solar panels and equipment usually require little maintenance over time. Wind turbines, however, are much more prone to damage and need repairs more frequently.
Pro and Con Comparison of Solar Vs Wind Power
To make it easier, we’ve created a basic table to compare the pros and cons of solar versus wind power.
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