Using Solar and Wind energy

Solar and wind energy are the most widely used renewable energies worldwide. Solar energy can be converted into usable energy in different ways. On the one hand, the solar radiation can be absorbed by a thermal collector, which then heats a medium, such as water. On the other hand, the photons of which solar radiation is composed can be used to bring charged particles into motion and thus produce electric power in a semiconductor compound. This process is called ‘’photovoltaics.”

In the past, wind energy was used primarily in water pumps – we recall the slowly turning waterwheels in westerns, which pumped water into a tank to supply steam engines. Modern windmills, which drive generators to produce electric power, were developed later. Today, windmills are used worldwide almost solely to generate electric power. Let us take a closer look at these technologies for using renewable energy.

Solar Panels

Solar energy collectors are simple structures. Their task is to absorb the incident rays of the sun, and to use the energy to heat water. The simplest systems are in those areas of the world where high solar irradiation is present, such as the Mediterranean region, or India.

Find out more on what home solar power systems can do for you and your family. Learn how to build a solar panel at the comfort of home.

Wind Power
Western Europe is located in a zone of a good supply of wind energy, viewed on a world scale. The kinetic energy of the wind is a function of the wind speed to the third power. This formula means, for example, that the energy content of the wind increases eight-fold if the wind speed doubles. For this reason the best wind sites can be found along the coast or, further inland, at high locations. Under otherwise equal conditions, the difference in wind supply can cause the electric-power yields of a good coastal site and a mediocre inland site to differ by 25%. There are also differences of up to 20% in wind energy supply between one year and another.

Useful information renewable energy:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/renewable_energy.html
 
Useful information home solar power systems:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Home-Solar-Power-Systems-Uses&id=3547988

Learn how to build your own wind turbine:
http://buildyourownwindturbine.weebly.com/

Learn how to build a solar panel:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Learn-How-to-Build-a-Solar-Panel-to-Save-Electricity-in-Your-Home&id=2727558

Solar Power and Wind Power

Home wind turbines can be a good alternative to solar power, but probably achieve their best when implemented together with a solar system: a small wind turbine can generate electricity in a breeze even when the sun is not shining.

Small wind turbines do have disadvantages however, and are very site specific. Compared to large wind turbines used by the power companies, small wind turbines are not particularly efficient and need to be situated in an area of above average wind in order to generate reasonable amounts of power.

If you live on a windswept farm or close to the coast, a wind turbine can work well. If you live in a built up area or close to trees or main roads you will find a wind turbine unsuitable for your needs.

If you are planning to install a small wind turbine in combination with a solar electric system, a smaller wind turbine that generates a few watts of power at lower wind speeds is usually better than a large wind turbine that generates lots of power at high wind speeds.

Grid tied solar power systems are solar power systems connected directly into the national utility grid. During the day, when the sun is shining, instead of storing the electricity, excess electricity is sold to the electricity providers and used elsewhere. During the evening and night, when the solar panels are not providing sufficient power, electricity is bought in from the national utility grid as required.

Grid tied solar power systems effectively create a micro-power station and electricity can be used by other people as well as yourself. Owners of grid tied solar power systems get paid for each kilowatt of power they sell to the electricity providers.

Because a grid tied solar power system becomes part of the national utility grid, the system will switch off in the event of a power cut6. It does this to stop any electricity flowing back into the grid – which could be fatal for engineers working on repairing the fault.

Useful information Home wind turbines:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Using-a-Home-Wind-Turbine-to-Generate-Electricity&id=3460692


Useful information generate electricity:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Generate-Electricity-With-a-Magnetic-Power-Generator&id=3716166

Useful information solar power systems:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Home-Solar-Power-Systems-Uses&id=3547988