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Wind and Solar Power

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Wind and Solar Power

Renewable energy is rising as innovation lowers costs and begins to live up to the

promise of a future of clean energy. Energy that comes from natural renewable sources is called

renewable energy. Even though renewable energy is frequently regarded as an innovation,

utilization of the power of nature has long been in use. Wind was used to propel ships and in

grain crushing by windmills. The sun provided light during the day and keep fires burning till

late. Nonetheless, mankind has progressively gone to non-renewable and cheap energy sources

like coal and oil. Renewables are turning into a more fundamental power source as we foster

more inventive and financially savvy strategies for catching and holding wind and solar power

(Kumar, 2022). Renewable energy sources are growing at all scales, from roof solar panels to

gigantic wind farms. Solar and wind power is an excellent source of alternative energy because it

is renewable, it is economical, and it does not pollute the environment.

Wind energy refers to the process of generating electricity from the wind. The kinetic

energy of the wind is captured and converted into mechanical power by wind turbines. Turbines

convert wind to electricity by using the streamlined power of the rotor's sharp edges, which work

much the same way as a rotor edge of a helicopter. Whenever wind blows over the turbines

cutting edge, the gaseous tension is reduced on one side. The difference in pneumatic force

causes lift and drag. A greater lift force compared to drag force makes the rotor turn. The rotor is

connected to the generator either directly or through a shaft and a series of pinion wheels, which

allows for faster spinning and is regarded as a more modest generator. Electricity is produced by

converting streamlined power to generator rotation. Solar energy is the harnessing of the sun's

light and heat by different advances like solar photovoltaic, solar nuclear power, solar warming,

and solar design. Photovoltaic panels, otherwise called solar panels, are the most famous type of
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solar energy innovation. When the sun shines on a solar panel, the PV cells on the board store the

sun's energy. Because of an inner electric field in the cell, this energy creates an electricity

stream by causing electrical charges to move. Solar energy is collected and converted into heat

by mirrors focusing sunlight onto receivers; it can then be utilized to generate power or stored for

later use in CSP systems (concentrated solar-nuclear energy). Large power plants are the most

prevalent places where they can be found. Solar energy, when paired with capacity, has the

potential to reduce electricity costs, contribute to a more dependable electrical network, create

jobs and stimulate economic growth, offer backup power for evenings and blackouts, and work

on both small and large sizes.

Articles on wind and solar energy

Various articles have been written on wind and solar energy. Wind power and solar

power are the two most popular sustainable energy options. Solar and wind energy, being clean

technologies, considerably reduce pollution and have low operating costs. One such article is

EcoWatch; it expounds on the history of solar and wind energy. The first documented usage of

wind energy dates back to roughly 6000 to 5000 B.C. when the sail was invented to collect the

wind and drive boats. Wind power advancements over the years enabled people to grind grain,

pump water, and finally, around the late 1800s, create electricity from kinetic energy

(Neumeister, 2022). According to EcoWatch (Neumeister, 2022), one could argue that solar

energy has been used to ignite fire since 700 B.C. when mirrors were used to focus sunlight.

However, solar cells were not used to generate electricity until 1839, when Edmond Becquerel, a

young French physicist, observed and documented the photovoltaic effect. Solar energy has been

in the research and development stage for decades.

Another article on renewable energy, Investopedia, focuses on the positives and negatives

of solar energy. According to Investopedia, the pros of solar energy include the fact that it is a

sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, has a low environmental impact, and can be produced in

any country. The disadvantages are that it provides energy only when there is sunlight, and some

solar equipment requires the usage of hard-to-find components. Solar energy is a renewable

energy source with little environmental impact, promoting energy independence (Johnston,

2021). Rajasthan, India, is home to the world's largest solar energy plant. The Bhadla Solar Park,

The project, which is meant to be finished in April 2020, has remarkable numbers. The plant

covers 10,000 acres and has a capacity of 2,245 megawatts. The task's general capital is expected

to be around $1.4 billion, as per Investopedia. One remarkable benefit of solar energy is the

government's solar venture tax credit, which gives a 26% tax reduction to solar panels installed

on private and business properties (Johnston, 2021).

Regen Power is another article that emphasizes the need for a greener future. It analyses

two forms of renewable energy, solar and wind energy, based on advantages, efficiency, and

cost-effectiveness. According to Regen Power (2021), solar panels are the best option for

homeowners while wind is better in utility-scale production. Even the best solar panels convert

only 22% of their harnessed energy while wind turbines can convert up to 60% making wind

energy more efficient. Solar power is more efficient in suburban areas while wind energy is more

comfortable in rural areas according to Regen Power. It further speculates that one would need

about 24 solar panels to match the amount of energy produced by a 5 kW wind turbine, however,

installation costs of a single wind turbine costs four times as much as a solar panel. When it

comes to the overall share of electricity generated, wind power presently outpaces solar. Solar

energy is a lot more practical choice for households.

Articles’ relevance analysis

The three mentioned articles give an in-depth analysis of solar and wind energy. They

provide plenty of researched information on wind and solar energy. EcoWatch for instance

expounds on the past and present progress of solar and wind energy. It states that investments in

renewable energy often come about after crises. During the 1970s, oil embargos made the

expense of oil fourfold, prodding endeavors to diminish American reliance on petroleum

derivatives and track down elective wellsprings of force, including solar energy or wind power.

The 2008-09 worldwide monetary emergencies drove a few states to interface part of their

financial improvement into an interest in clean energy. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted an

uncommon energy shock, and following the shock in 2021, interest in environmentally friendly

power arrived at the most elevated levels since the Great Recession (Ortega, et al., 2020).

Investopedia delves deeper into solar energy's advantages and disadvantages. Solar

energy is cost-effective when used on a small scale. Solar panels have many advantages,

including long-term viability and low environmental effect. One of the biggest drawbacks of

solar energy is that it can only be produced where there is sunlight, which means that the supply

is limited at night. Another issue is that the development of some solar technologies necessitates

the use of uncommon materials. Nonetheless, this is more of a challenge for PV than CSP

innovation. Similarly, it's not so much a lack of referred to saves as it is the impossibility of

current creation to satisfy future needs: many of the fascinating materials are the result of various

cycles rather than the focus of individual mining activity. PV material reuse increases solar-cell

efficiency, which might help with supply at any time, but it's also possible that watching material

substitutions in higher overflow could play a role.

Regen Power covers the advantages of solar energy over wind energy, as well as the

advantages of wind energy over solar energy. Some of the advantages of solar energy versus

wind energy are as follows: (i) The output of solar energy is more consistent than that of wind

energy, (ii) unlike wind turbines, solar panels do not require specific installation locations and

(iii) solar panels create very little noise, whereas wind turbines produce too much. Some of the

advantages of wind energy over solar energy are as follows: (i) solar power is not harvested at

nightfall or during cloudy weather, but wind energy can be harvested at all times, (ii) wind power

is less harmful to the environment than solar energy and (iii) produce more energy than solar

panels.

From the above analysis, solar power is an immense source of directly useable energy

and ultimately creates other energy resources: biomass, wind, hydroelectric, and wave energy.

Development of this source of energy requires an accurate detailed long-term knowledge of the

potential taking into account seasonal variations. Renewable energy is providing affordable

electricity across the world right now and can help stabilize energy prices in the future. In

conclusion, renewable energy holds the key to a carbon-free future thus safeguarding

environmental quality.
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References

Johnston, M. (2021). Solar Energy: Benefits and Drawbacks. Investopedia. Accessed in

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/053015/pros-and-cons-solar-energy.asp

Kumar, G. B. (2022). Optimal power point tracking of solar and wind energy in a hybrid wind &

solar energy system. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering,

13(1), 77-103.

Neumeister, K. (2022). Solar Vs. Wind Power: The Ultimate Showdown. EcoWatch. Accessed in

https://www.ecowatch.com/solar-vs-wind-power.html

Ortega, M., del Río, P., Ruiz, P., Nijs, W., & Politis, S. (2020). Analyzing the influence of trade,

technology learning, and policy on the employment prospects of wind and solar energy

deployment: The EU case. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 122, 109657.

Regen Power (2021). Which renewable energy is better, wind or solar? Regen Power. Accessed

in https://regenpower.com/articles/which-renewable-energy-is-better-wind-or-solar/