![]() Whether you’re charging your batteries or powering your appliances, once the output of your solar panels meets your demands, the system achieves equilibrium and throws away incoming power that it doesn't need. This gets at one of the major differences between wind turbines and solar panels: wind turbines need an outlet through which they can safely discharge excess power, solar panels do not. Unless you purchase a wind and solar hybrid kit, which already includes a compatible controller, you need to look carefully at the charge control unit to make sure it can be used with both wind turbines and solar panels. Setting up a wind turbine and solar panel combination is very similar to setting up either system on its own, but with one major exception: your charge control board. When you install a wind turbine and solar panel combination system, you effectively cover your bases and go a long way to making your system more productive. This information really comes into play should you make the decision to expand your system (more on that below). You might experience even extended spells of windy or sunny weather, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wise to rely on either system on its own.Įven in an area with an especially solar- or wind-friendly climate, weather variations mean that a hybrid system may still be a smart investment.Įspecially if you’re moving to a new region, make sure to do your homework to get a sense of the weather patterns you can expect over time. Weather refers to the conditions in a given area on a day-to-day basis, climate is the pattern of weather over the years and decades in that area. ![]() While you may live in an area that favors solar over wind or vice-versa, these distinctions can help you make a more informed judgment when planning your system. It’s also important to understand the difference between weather and climate. Whether you’re working to keep your battery bank charged or just to maximize your power production compared to your consumption on a grid-tied system, going with a wind turbine and solar panel combination goes a long way to helping you achieve energy independence. When there’s not enough wind to turn your turbines, your solar panels can make up the difference. One of the big advantages of a combination wind and solar power system is that often-not always, but often-when sunlight decreases, wind increases and vice-versa. You must be conscientious about your power consumption while running on batteries, otherwise you’ll use it up faster than it can charge. While having a grid-tied system with a battery backup–a requirement when incorporating a small wind turbine–does help protect you from losing power when the grid goes down, it’s not foolproof. Depending on your specific utility, you may even be able to get money back on your bill (always check with your company or co-op first). This is called net metering, and it uses a bidirectional electrical meter to send excess power that your system generates back out. Installing a feed inverter with your grid-tied system also allows many customers to effectively supply power back to the grid. Installing a grid-tie system ensures that, when your renewable system’s output naturally dips, the existing grid picks up the slack. Low light or wind conditions doesn’t have to mean you are entirely without power. Fortunately, installing a hybrid system goes a long way to alleviating this issue. But your power demands can’t always conform to the availability of wind and sun. There’s night even in the sunniest places and calm times on the windiest plains. Today, we want to outline the reasons why this combination is more effective than either system on its own, discuss some ways to set up your system, and some possible expansions and customizations of your wind and solar setup. That improved experience helps turn renewable power doubters into believers. The combination of solar and wind technology helps you unlock the full potential of your turbines and panels. There’s a reason we’re not called Missouri Wind or Solar. ![]() Out of all these, installing a wind-solar hybrid system is the most impactful thing you can do to increase the effectiveness of your renewable energy system. After all, the sun can’t always shine and the wind can’t always blow. Our hybrid systems are designed to avoid the common pitfalls that can cause wind- or solar-only systems to come up short. A wind turbine and solar panel combination helps you get the best performance from your setup. That still holds true for renewable power systems. ![]() It’s advice most of us have heard since we were children: don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
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