Solar and wind power in the home are probably the most widely used forms of alternative energy. When used in conjunction they form a totally green, round the clock hybrid energy system. They can even be wired into the utility grid connected system to supply the majority of your energy needs while the utility company functions as your backup energy source.

In a solar power system, the light from the sun is the source of electricity. Solar panels are mounted onto a roof, poles, or on the ground. The panels are lined with a semiconductor material that creates electricity when hit by the rays of the sun. Most mounts are equipped with motors that let you tilt the panels to face the sun as it moves through the sky.

The electricity generated through a solar panel is passed to a regulator/controller and then onto an inverter. the inverter converts the direct current to alternate current (AC). This is done because most homes run on AC. Once it is converted it can go into the home and used to power all your appliances and facilities. If it is not converted it can be stored in batteries as direct current.

Electricity follows the same basic path in a wind power system with the exception of the generation portion which takes place in the body of the turbine, which most of us consider the “giant fan” which spins away at the top of the enormous towers they are sometimes mounted on.

In a wind power setup the wind turns the blades of the wind turbine the shaft of which is routed into a generator which as it spins creates the electricity. That electricity is then routed into your structure’s electrical or storage system to provide power on its own or as a backup to your solar power.

Wind power needs a bit less in initial equipment costs, since the bulk of the price is the turbine, which is typically less costly than many solar arrays. The negative point is that the turbine must be mounted up well off the ground on a tower like structure, which is stronger but costs more to install. This kind of installment typically needs zoning approval from your community and usually takes a little more thinking ahead.

When you connect a solar power system with a wind power system, each part can operate in tandem to compensate and complement each other. Wind power can be produced at any time while solar has its natural limits based on the hours that the sun shines and bad weather. Conversely bad weather for a solar system maybe good weather for a wind generator. Both these systems can be built quite cheaply depending on the amount of power you want to create. Some guide suggests this figure could be as low as $400. However a professionally designed and installed system would cost much more than this.

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