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Mar 28 2009

Windpower and Solar Power

Posted by Wind Power Man in Winds Of Change Misc, tags: Wind Power, Wind Power and Solar Power, Windpower

Windpower and solar power are two forms of energy that are generated through deriving energy from the wind and sun respectively. These sources of energy are renewable forms of energy and help preserve the planet since these sources of energy do not deplete natural resources in any way.

When the sun’s rays unevenly heat the atmospheric air, some patches of air become hotter than the other. When these warm patches of air rise above the other patches and cooler patches of air replace them wind is created. Wind power is made by converting wind into electricity by using turbines that are tall towers with propellers.

Although currently only 1.5% of the electricity used worldwide is made from wind power this number is rapidly increasing. The capacity factor helps determine the actual productivity in a year and is an important factor for farming and agriculture. Wind power has a capacity factor of 20% - 40% however this can differ according to your geographical area and season.

Wind power has been used since 5,500 years to help mankind. Listed below are a few traditional uses of windpower and solar power.

· Sailors would use wind power to propel sail boats and architects have also used windpower to design natural ventilation shafts for buildings.

· The Chinese and Babylonians were making use of windpower to pump water and for irrigating crops.

Wind power and solar power were traditionally used mainly in factories and for commercial purposes however, since a decade windpower and solar power are being used by consumers to power their homes.

Solar power is derived by using solar cells made from crystalline or amorphous materials and these cells generate electricity when they come in contact with the sun’s rays. Solar cells are then arranged in a series or array to make a solar panel that is connected to batteries. Each solar cell is connected to a diode to prevent energy from being wasted at night and when the clouds are high in the sky. Solar panels that work on solar power have to be mounted on building tops or RV tops depending on the type of solar panel.

Since windpower and solar power are not constant sources of energy, invertors, batteries and other back up devices are used to store energy. Certain states offer some exemptions and other benefits to people who utilize windpower and solar power instead of using conventional forms of electricity. By utilizing windpower and solar power, a person can also lower his electric bills tremendously.

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