We all constantly hear how good solar power is, but one cannot present a convincing argument without looking at both sides of the story. While solar power has many benefits, it also has its drawbacks. The first is also the most obvious. Namely, that the sun does not always shine. While cool weather on overcast days does not cause solar panels to stop functioning entirely, such conditions will reduce their output.

For this reason alone, the likelihood of solar power being the only solution to the energy crisis of the future is slim.

It is simply not possible, even in the hottest regions, to depend on solar energy entirely for a country’s electricity supply.

This is an important consideration, but not one that is particularly dominant if you are merely thinking of having solar panels installed on your roof.

In the average homeowners case, the demands on your solar panels will be far less than an entire country could generate.

You will not be expecting it to power your home entirely forevermore, so providing you acknowledge the possible limitations of solar panels during the coldest and wettest months, you should be able to get by.

The other important disadvantage of solar power is the cost. Again using the idea of an average homeowner; the installation of panels and conversion of your energy sources is a time consuming and costly process.

While you will eventually recoup any investment by saving on your usual utility bills, for many the up front costs are prohibitive.

However, while these considerations are not small, they do not mean that solar power is not one of the most viable ways of generating renewable energy.

The sun is our greatest resource, and it is somewhat surprising it has taken until now for us to utilise it fully.

Expensive, But Worth It

You may have noticed that over recent years, more and more companies are springing up and advertising solar panels. This, in turn, has led to more people installing solar panels on their homes – so you may be wondering if this is the move for you.

Having solar panels fitted to your roof is expensive, no doubt about it. The installation varies from around £3000 to £50,000 depending on the type of system you have installed.

The difference depends on the size of your house, your requirements from the panels themselves and how much electricity you are hoping to generate.

In basic terms, the larger the panels and the more you want – the bigger your bill, though even a basic system can be tough on the wallet.

Firstly, most solar panel installation companies will offer some form of credit – perhaps even ‘buy now pay later’ type deals, which allow you to suspend repayments for a year or more.

Almost all will offer a traditional credit scheme, where you have the panels installed and then pay them off.

This is one of the most expensive ways to get solar panels installed, as you will be charged for the credit, but nevertheless it is an option.

The best option for most is to save a dedicated fund for their solar panels. Using the old school system of putting a little money by each week, many households can afford solar panels within a couple of years without having to pay credit purchase rates.

Whichever way you choose to do it, solar panels are expensive. There isn’t any way of getting around that, though as the technology improves prices should fall.It is always worth remembering, however, that solar power is beneficial both to your wallet in the long run, and to the environment.

So Why are Solar Panels So Important?

Solar panels convert the sun's energy into usable forms. Solar panels can be a certain kind of device that attracts the sun to use the sun to power machinery that can transfer the heat from the sun into whatever they need. We could use solar panels to convert the heat from the sun into the energy we need to power things that run. Solar panels are common and can be seen in a lot of different products, such as calculators, satellites, or even space ships. Solar panels are an effective way to redirect the sunlight and use it for electricity.

The cost of Solar Energy

Solar energy is a natural source of energy that comes directly from the sun. When solar energy hits the earth it spreads over the earth’s surface and provides warmth evenly. If you could capture the sun’s rays into a particular area for a long period of time it would provide enough warmth for nighttime or on cloudy days.

Learning where to find solar energy can help you to get started today. Solar energy does not cost anything because it comes from the sun. The source that you choose may cost some but in the long run it should be your only expense, unlike gas or oil heaters that you continue to pay for monthly in order to have power or gas heat in your home. Solar power can provide heating, cooling and ventilation.

If you want to make your own solar power to capture the energy for heating its easy to do if you can find a solar collector, which is anything that attracts the heat from the sun in a concentrated amount, such as glass or clear plastic. Getting into your car that has sat out in the hot sun all day long can be extremely hot and you have to roll down your windows to cool it off inside.

That is because the glass has attracted the sun and the objects in your car, including your seats, have trapped the heat, not allowing it to escape. When you roll your windows down you are allowing the heat to escape causing your car to cool down. The same thing is true about greenhouses. The glass or clear plastic can attract the sun and not allow it to escape causing the greenhouse to maintain the heat for the plants to grow effectively.

In order to heat your home using solar energy, you need to know the information on a passive and an active home. These two types of solar homes offer the homeowner options to choose from and your cost of heating may be down. Solar energy does not only heat your home but it also heats your water and if you use solar energy lights it can light your home at night.

Passive homes do not use any equipment to heat the home. Passive homes use windows that are made to allow the maximum amount of sunlight into your home. The sunlight is controlled by keeping the doors closed in the hottest part of the day, not allowing any heat to escape. At night thick curtains may be used on these windows so that the warmth stays inside during the night. This allows the sun to naturally heat your home without any help.

Active homes do use equipment to help circulate the heat in the home. Some of the equipment that may be used includes pumps, blowers and an alternative heating source in case the sunlight was not enough during the daytime. In order to heat the home with sunlight these homes use special boxes on the outside that attract the sunrays to it.

They are made from a dark colored metal to help attract the sun more. The water or air that is carried in the pipes and ductwork is heated by this glass box that has captured the sunlight. Then the heated water or air is then carried to the rest of the home.

In the long run, solar energy helps to heat the home naturally and without depending on a company to supply it for you. Solar energy can be found anywhere the sun is.

If you want to make your own solar power to capture the energy for heating it's easy to do if you can find a solar collector, which is anything that attracts the heat from the sun in a concentrated amount, such as glass or clear plastic. 

You can find lots of useful items here too tinyurl.com/24lk8t9d just search solar.

Getting into your car that has sat out in the hot sun all day long can be extremely hot and you have to roll down your windows to cool it off inside.

That is because the glass has attracted the sun and the objects in your car, including your seats, have trapped the heat, not allowing it to escape. When you roll your windows down you are allowing the heat to escape causing your car to cool down. The same thing is true about greenhouses. The glass or clear plastic can attract the sun and not allow it to escape causing the greenhouse to maintain the heat for the plants to grow effectively.

In order to heat your home using solar energy, you need to know the information on a passive and an active home. These two types of solar homes offer the homeowner options to choose from and your cost of heating may be down. Solar energy does not only heat your home but it also heats your water and if you use solar energy lights it can light your home at night.

Passive homes do not use any equipment to heat the home. Passive homes use windows that are made to allow the maximum amount of sunlight into your home. The sunlight is controlled by keeping the doors closed in the hottest part of the day, not allowing any heat to escape. At night thick curtains may be used on these windows so that the warmth stays inside during the night. This allows the sun to naturally heat your home without any help.

Active homes do use equipment to help circulate the heat in the home. Some of the equipment that may be used includes pumps, blowers and an alternative heating source in case the sunlight was not enough during the daytime. In order to heat the home with sunlight these homes use special boxes on the outside that attract the sunrays to it.

They are made from a dark coloured metal to help attract the sun more. The water or air that is carried in the pipes and ductwork is heated by this glass box that has captured the sunlight. Then the heated water or air is then carried to the rest of the home.

In the long run, solar energy helps to heat the home naturally and without depending on a company to supply it for you. Solar energy can be found anywhere the sun is.

Solar Power Efficient Appliances

Solar power is the latest technology in saving the planet and conserving our energy which has great results when you use both energy and conservation. With solar power becoming more popular there is also the need for solar power products like the ones here: https://bit.ly/3p13xBj or copy the link to your browser to view.

People are now building solar power houses to live in more efficiently. They also want appliances, lighting, heating, water pumps and water heaters to be solar power efficient as well. That is why we now have a way of purchasing solar power appliances to use in the kitchen. Appliances are usually the most costly appliance in a home as they usually run almost continuously and get used often.

With solar powered appliances it is easy to become solar all the way.

Refrigerators: The one great thing about solar power refrigerators is that they offer the convenience of a refrigerator and freezer in one at a minimal amount of cost. They are thermostat controlled which allows you to set the temperature of your refrigerator and freezer. There is minimal noise as it runs because the power to it is a natural constant flow. They also come in a variety of sizes as well as colors in order to fit into any solar power kitchen.

Appliances that are Efficient: Not all appliances can be solar powered and for that reason appliances that are efficient are the next best thing. They conserve the energy that it takes to run that appliance and provide you with the service that you expect out of that appliance. Chest freezers, dishwashers, stoves, microwaves, washers and dryers are all appliances that can be purchased with efficiency to save on energy and money. When you use appliances that are efficient they usually cost more up front but in the long run they are worth the effort and can last you a lifetime with proper maintenance.

Today most of the products and appliances that we buy are energy efficient and guaranteed to run on minimal energy which saves you money when you purchase it. Although you won’t be able to see the cost decrease all at once you may notice it over time. There are several other ways that you can reduce the cost of appliances such as drying clothes on a clothesline indoors or outdoors to keep from running a clothes dryer.

Washing the dishes by hand instead of in a dishwasher or using one or two days per week to wash clothing instead of one or two loads everyday is a great way to cut down expenses. Over time these helpful tips will decrease your bill and allow you to see a noticeable difference. When you save energy it benefits everyone. Once we can all use solar power to provide energy we will all see a difference in the cost of energy. Using energy efficient appliances is a great investment that will last for years.

Why you should choose to use Solar Power

Life on earth is fuelled by the light and heat from the sun. Approximately, 3850 Zettajoules (ZJ) per year is the total amount of solar energy available to the earth. The sun's energy travels to the earth by way of electromagnetic radiation like radio waves but the frequency range is different. Some of this energy is absorbed as it comes through the atmosphere. Heat and light are the primary forms of solar energy.

Solar energy has many advantages over conventional energy. The energy from the sun is free, the only expense is from recovering the energy. The cost of recovering the sun's energy is recovered faster than with conventional energy. The recovering units don’t have to be connected to natural gas or power grids, they stand alone. The supply of solar energy is limitless. It has no emission gases to harm the earth’s atmosphere.

There are several ways to recover solar energy:

Focusing collectors: This has a movable mirror, known as heliostats, is pointed to the sun and can provide a temperature around 4000 degrees C. This temperature is used for a solar furnace in industries and research. These solar furnaces don’t contaminate our environment. The heliostats can focus the energy to a boiler that turns water into steam. To generate solar electricity, focusing collectors can be used.

Flat plate collectors: These collectors can be used in schools and homes to provide heat using water that is heated in pipes. They cannot provide as much heat as the focusing collectors because they are smaller.

Solar distillation: Solar distillation is about the same as flat plate collectors but provides distilled water instead of heat. Sea water is put in tanks or ditches on the roof of a house and the heat from the sun heats and evaporates the water and turns the water vapor into liquid water that is distilled.

Solar electricity: By using focusing collectors and Photovoltaic cells, made of thin pieces of semiconductors, convert radiation from the sun into electricity.

Solar energy would not be affected by the supply and demand of fuel for it is free and it doesn’t pollute the atmosphere. It is natural and pure. It would provide us with better health.

There are several ways that we can work together in order to get the best of natural and renewable resources. Using solar power is not only helpful but it is inspiring to others.

The expenses to use solar energy are less than the cost of using other resources for heat, including electricity and gas. When you use electricity and gas you may have a low cost up front but in the end you end up paying for it from now on.

With solar power you may have an initial investment to turn your home into solar power but after that you have no reason to pay for it any further, unless you use electric or gas for a back up heating source. Solar power was available yesterday, it’s available today and hopefully it will be available for us in the future.

Solar Powered Cars -The Future?

For most, upon glimpsing a true solar powered car they will be strongly reminded of the children’s TV series ‘The Jetsons’. After all, most solar powered cars are oddly shaped – sometimes even flying saucer-esque – and are covered in little mirrors and panels to suck energy from the sun.

These cars look odd, but they do exist. In fact, in the Australian Outback (which benefits from glaring sun rays) a car powered purely by the sun was about to reach speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour!

Not particularly impressive given the world’s fastest combustion engine car, the Bugatti Veyron, can reach 250 mph – but not bad.

The effect that solar powered cars have on the environment is virtually nil, and while the shape and design are still somewhat bizarre, that is something that can be tampered with over time.

So, does the future see us starting the solar panels on our cars rather than the engine?

Well, not quite. While 80 mph may seem pretty good, the cost of getting to that speed was extortionate – well out of the reach of most household budgets.

The other flaw is the design; solar panels on solar powered cars need to cover a large area atop the car to function, which leads to designs including wide wings and flat roofs. Not aesthetically pleasing, and not practical either.

The problem is momentum; rather than just generating steam like traditional panels, the solar panels on cars are trying to create enough force to move a stationary object.

While there is a chance in the future someone will see a way around this problem, for now, solar powered cars remain the playthings of scientists – not the new family vehicle.However that said solar cars do exist already right now seelink here where you can pre order one www.squadmobility.com

The Past May Be Dim, But The Future Is Bright For Solar Energy

Where would we be without inventions? Well, the answer is fairly easy to surmise; sitting around in our mud huts hoping the cow will produce some milk, and that our vegetables will grow. Inventions have given humans the edge over the other species on the planet, as our collaborative minds create a new world bigger and better than the one before.

The problem is, humans are fallible – and what’s more, arrogant. Humans have, throughout the centuries, had an uncanny ability to invent things that will improve our lives forever – but we’re just as likely to boast about our discoveries, too.

This desire to show the world what we have uncovered and just how very clever we are has led to many good inventions being tried before they were ready; they subsequently failed, and the idea was pushed to the back of a drawer, banished from history forever.

The inventions that have survived have done so for one of two reasons: firstly, the inventor was wise enough to perfect his invention before unveiling it to the general public in a blaze of glory.

Or, as is more likely, a good idea may have experienced a bad start, but has been good enough for people to persist and perfect the technology as it works along.

Solar panels very nearly suffered the fate of numerous other inventions that were revealed to the public too soon and proven to be disastrous, thus shoved to the back of the drawer and forgotten about.

Excited scientists proudly told the world how the dependence on fossil fuels would be able to end, and all thanks to something called solar panels and their ability to generate electricity.

Yet they went public too soon, with an imperfect technology, and solar panels quickly got a reputation as unreliable.

However, the idea stuck, and now we exist in a world where solar panels are almost becoming the norm. Solar panels have thus proven that even after a bad start, the good ideas tend to stick.

How Do You Find Renewable Energy?

We already know that the use of electricity, gas and coal are all resources that we may eventually run out of. These are the non-renewable resources that we rely heavily on today. We use these non-renewable resources to do many things, including supplying us with power, heating our homes, businesses and schools and more.

When we use all the non-renewable resources up and there are no more to gather, then what? How will we go without the convenience that we are so accustomed to? It’s nice to flip a switch to get power and it is even better when the latest technology allows us to press a button to do all the things that women and men had to work for hours to accomplish. We are fortunate to live in a world with so many modern gadgets. Unfortunately when we lose it we may be so accustomed to the modern perks that we will not know what to do when we don’t have them any longer.

What we have to rely on in the future is renewable resources. These resources are all resources that offer us an abundant supply and will never run out. They recharge and allow us to enjoy them again and again. The renewable resources consist of Solar, Wind, Biomass, Hydrogen, Geothermal, Ocean, and Hydropower. We need all of these and right now we have access to each one of them. What do they do and how do they help us with solar power? Let’s find out:

Solar refers to the solar energy that we get everyday either directly or indirectly from the sun. Solar energy can be used for several things, such as heating, electricity to home, schools, businesses, or buildings, heating water, cooling and ventilation.

Wind helps the sun's heat down to earth. When the wind combines with the heat of the sun, it causes evaporation. When the water turns into precipitation it produces energy that can then be captured by hydropower.

Hydropower takes energy from flowing water and captures it, turning it into electricity. Hydropower is very complicated and requires a great deal of technology in order to successfully accumulate energy from water.

Biomass is an organic matter that can help to make up the plants. It can be used for the production of electricity, transport fuels or chemicals.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element found on earth, usually with other elements. If hydrogen is found alone it can be burned or converted into electricity.

Geothermal looks toward the inner parts of the earth for heat and can be used for power, heating, and cooling.

Ocean produces thermal energy using the heat from the sun. It can also use mechanical energy for the tides and waves.

As you can see, renewable resources are all around us. We know what they do and how we can use them. There are so many benefits to using renewable resources. If we don’t use them now we may not have a choice later. The knowledge we learn from today will help us use energy more wisely.At present, the vast majority of the world’s energy resources come from the burning and manipulation of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels include oil and coal; essentially, generating electricity from already-formed substances found on earth.

Most of us have seen gigantic oil rigs towering on the horizon and coal mining is still an important industry for many countries; it is from these industries we get most of our energy and electricity.

However, there is a problem. Fossil fuels such as oil and coal are not sustainable resources; in essence, one day, they will run out.

Oil and coal generate over thousands – if not tens of thousands – of years, and humans have been tapping these resources ever since the Industrial Revolutions of the 19th century. While it may sound like scare mongering, one day these fuels will cease to exist.

Various estimates can be found on how much fossil fuel is left, though most scientists agree we have mined over the ‘half way’ point.

This means that the Earth only has around 40% of its total supply of fossil fuels left to give, and it would take millennia to create more naturally.

Therefore, the search for renewable and sustainable energy has become pressing. Various options are being presented, most of which capitalize on the free natural resources of the planet we live on.

Wind and solar power are increasingly spoken of as the natural alternatives to fossil fuels, while tidal and water power are also viable alternatives.

Whichever method is chosen as the way forward for energy generation, they will need to be both viable and sustainable so they can meet the world’s increasing demand for energy.

The Benefits of Wind Energy & What Is A Wind Turbine?

Dotted across landscapes throughout the world, one can now see small, stick-thin structures with three spokes poking out from the central column. These structures are alarming, and almost sinister, the first time you see them.

The world now recognises them as wind turbines, and their presence in the modern world is becoming more apparent.Wind turbines are man’s primary way of generating electricity using the power of the wind. The versions of wind turbines we see now are merely an extension of an old idea; using the wind for power is no new concept.

What is new is using the wind to generate electricity.

In the past, farmers would use windmills – the forerunner to the wind turbine, which in design they closely resemble – to power machinery to grind corn.

These windmills can still be seen around the world, with Holland a well known location for windmills. The white structures we see across fields today are simply the 21st century version.

Wind turbines usually have three spokes, which when caught by the wind cause the mechanism to revolve. The spokes spin around driven by the force of the wind, and this in turn is used to power a machine – just like the windmills of old.

However, the machines these turbines now power do not grind crops, but rather generate electricity through a traditional generator.

Wind turbines are one of the most – if not the most – effective ways of generating electricity. The energy produced is clean and, more importantly, renewable.

So while these turbines may still cause mild shock when viewed in a place one did not expect them, they are nevertheless the future.

Wind turbines are white structures with three or more blades which are used to generate electricity from the wind – are one of the most efficient methods of generating renewable energy.

This is a simple fact, and the continued development and licensing of turbines is further testament to this.

The reason for this general opinion is that, when one views the statistics, wind turbines are powerfully useful.

For example, with older energy generation techniques such as using fossil fuels, to generate electricity one must use some of the earth’s natural resources.

In the case of fossil fuels, these will one day run out.

Wind turbines have no effect on the earth’s composition and do not need to dig into anything to be able to generate.

They take nothing from the earth as an organism, and this makes them a mighty weapon in the battle against climate change.

Wind turbines do not produce any emissions, be it carbon dioxide – the cause of climate change – or other such chemicals which may be harmful.

Though the construction of a wind farm or turbine requires electricity and source material, it is estimated it takes a mere nine months for a single wind turbine to ‘pay back’ what it has taken out.

What is more, after that initial nine months pay back time, wind turbines do not require anything but the wind to operate.

The biggest benefit of wind turbines, however, is that they take a natural source and make it useful.

The wind blows everywhere in the world, and all wind turbines do is take the previously unused kinetic energy of natural weather phenomena and create usable electricity.

Put simply, the benefits of wind turbines and wind power are overwhelmingly convincing.

Wind Power

Wind power is taking the energy generated from the wind and using it in more productive ways. Wind turbines are a machine that can transform the kinetic energy found in wind and convert it into mechanical energy. Mechanical energy works with kinetic energy to balance into the mechanical system. When the mechanical energy is converted into electricity it can be called a wind turbine.

There are two different types of wind turbines; Horizontal axis and Vertical axis. The most common of these two are the horizontal axis. Horizontal axis features the main rotor shaft and generator at the top of the turbine.

The horizontal axis is pointed into the wind. Most of these horizontal axes have a gearbox that allows the blades to turn quicker to generate more electricity. The tower is what provides turbulence. The turbine can be pointed somewhat upward and stand well above the blades. The blades are made of durable material capable of withstanding high winds.

When you see these turbines in the field you may think that they are no longer helpful but there are several people who still believe in using them still. Horizontal axis wind turbines can either turn upward or downward.

 If they choose to turn the blades upward, they don’t hold well together for longer periods of time. They begin to crack and break down in high winds. When the blades are downward facing they stay in line with the wind longer and they can outlast through the high winds without breaking. Because they are so durable it keeps the cost down as well.

Types of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines

Windmills consist of four or more blades, usually short, and wooden blades. These were used to grind grain. As the winds picked up it would rotate a mechanism inside allowing it to run the grain through a mill crushing it.

Rural Windmills was originally from Australia but later moved over to the USA. Farmers found that this type of windmill was good to pump water and electricity to the barns and fields. This windmill had several blades and can still be seen today in fields. They were constructed of metal usually in order to carry electricity for lights or maybe a radio.

Modern Turbines are what we have now standing in fields. They feature three blades that are pointed at the ends. The reason for their unusual shape is because they have been proven to exceed wind velocity up to 6 times more, allowing for high efficiency and reliability.

The advantages of this type of wind turbine include stability, tallness, bendable, durable and strong. The disadvantages may include being unable to operate well close to the ground, hard to transport over sea, difficult to install, not in big demand, there are concerns with how they affect radar, structural damage done with storms and wear.

There are good points and bad points to owning these types of turbines. They have been proven to work and you can have one or thirty one out in your field. They do help to generate electricity and other great things that we would normally have to go without.

The Forgotten Environmental Effect of Wind Turbines

When people talk of the environmental effect of wind turbines and wind power, they often forget to mention the problems wind turbines cause to local wildlife.

Birds are an obvious problem to wind turbines; as many turbines are erected at cruising level for birds, many ecological campaigners were convinced bird fatalities would increase due to interference from turbines.

Wind turbines are usually painted white, so they seemingly blend with surrounding clouds.

This, however, is what makes them such hazards to birds; who may not notice the turbines until they are fatally close to the revolving blades.

Statistics show that the effect wind turbines have on birds is negligible. That is, wind energy from turbines is no more costly to bird welfare than other forms of renewable energy production (such as nuclear power) and is actually 20 times less dangerous than traditional fossil fuel production plants.

While birds are safe, it is becoming apparent that bats are not.

Nocturnal and blind, winged bats are becoming the silent victims of wind turbines as their usual navigational tools which help them avoid collisions are interrupted by the rotating blades.

As well as collisions, bats have to deal with the low pressure caused by wind turbine tips. If they are lucky enough to avoid colliding with the tips themselves, the low pressure generated can cause a condition known as barotrauma.

Bats lungs are damaged by exposure to this low pressure, and it can be fatal. Birds have more robust lungs and are not affected by this condition.

So while birds are doing well with wind farms, further research is required on the effects on the bat population.

The most obvious solution is placing radar transmitters on top of turbines; bats avoid these, as they trigger their sonar navigational systems.

Individual Wind Turbines

Wherever they may be located, wind farms are now being seen as the modern equivalent to the old coal power plant.

Scores of wind turbines all working in unison can now be seen both on and offshore throughout the world, but a wind turbine does not need a friend to be useful.

Wind farms are incredibly productive, as anything that combines a singular might will be. However, there is still a place for the individual wind turbine being used to power a specific area or even ones home?

One wind turbine alone can generate a lot of electricity. For example, a singular wind turbine in Reading, England generates enough power to satisfy the electricity demands of 1,000 homes nearby.

Individual wind turbines also have an advantage over wind farms in that they do not require a lot of space.

Numerous wind turbines combined to create a wind farm will require acres of land on which to erect the turbines and their electricity generators; just one wind turbine obviously only needs a fraction of this space.

For this reason, individual wind turbines are being considered a viable solution for urban areas, where there is not enough floor space to erect anything more than a singular turbine.

While it is unlikely the future includes the idea of every street having its own wind turbine generating close-by electricity, the idea of individual wind turbines is growing.

We could well see a day when town planning includes the usual wind turbine to generate electricity, and from an environmental point of view alone, this is wonderful progress.

Wind turbines are used for several reasons but the main reason is to generate energy from the wind. This may sound difficult but it is possible. You experience energy from the wind whenever someone runs past you quickly or a large vehicle passes you by-the slipstream. 

Offshore Wind Farms

While we may all have seen wind farms on grassy fields, the most likely place for wind farms to really come into their full efficacy is out at sea. Offshore wind farms are becoming more common and many experts predict they are the future of wind power. The reason for this is simple:  offshore, the wind is more powerful as it is not obstructed by surface objects. Particularly in deep water, the resistance on the surface of the water is minimal, and the wind can be extremely powerful.

This was, of course, once used by sailing ships before the days of the engine, and this wind power is now finding a new purpose.

Offshore wind farms are built, as the name would suggest, in the sea. Turbines that look exactly the same as their onshore counterparts are erected into the sea bed, and protrude above the water line, with their blades in the open air catching the powerful winds.

The energy generated is then transported back to shore using undersea pipes. It is a simple case of: more wind, more power generated.

These wind farms are more expensive to construct than typical onshore wind farms, as they involve placing the base of the turbine in the sea bed.This initial cost and workload is, however, rewarded by increased efficiency. The job is also made easier by offshore wind farms being built on areas of ocean that have naturally raised sections of the sea bed.

Offshore wind farms also solve the associated humanist issues with turbines – such as noise levels, shadow flicker and aesthetic issues – and increase electricity production. Once more, man turns to the sea for its answers.

Wind Turbines and ‘Shadow Flicker’

If you do not live near a wind turbine, it is unlikely you will have ever heard the term ‘shadow flicker’ in everyday usage. The problem however is being discussed fervently by those who reside near onshore wind farms, and the matter is having to be settled by the courts in some cases. Like all large structures however, wind turbines cast a shadow. If one lives near enough to an active wind farm, this shadow may fall on your home at various points of the day.

To many homeowners, this in itself is annoying, particularly if they live in rural areas and did not expect to have to deal with shadows falling on their property.

However, this is not the sole concern of those living near an active wind turbine. Unlike almost every other type of structure, wind turbines have three rotating blades.

In the case of shadows cast on to a house, these blades themselves cast a shadow. However, the blades are in motion, so the shadow is a constantly moving menace that is extremely disturbing to witness.

The constant passing of this shadow can occur for hours per day, and if residents are at home during that time, there is no escape.

Many energy companies refuse to exist, shadow flicker is a problem, which has led to many residents forming action groups. The solution is actually very simple, as shadow flicker will not occur if a turbine is placed 3,000 feet away from the nearest home.

However, some energy companies have placed certain turbines as close to residences as 1,100 feet. Many anticipate changes in the law will prevent this from happening again, based on the evidence presented by annoyed existing residents who have to live with shadow flicker.

The Effects of Wind Turbines on Humans

Wind turbines and farms are becoming an evermore familiar sight on the landscape, and while generally accepted as a useful resource for electricity generation, they have not been without their critics. One of the major criticisms of wind farms is that they are damaging to the humans who live near them. This effect is both psychological and physical, though there is more evidence for the former.

The issue of physical health problems caused by living near a wind farm are a matter of much debate in the medical community.

The psychological problems are more basic. Many of those living near a wind farm find it difficult to sleep due to the noise of the turbines

While the noise is not excessive (it equates roughly to the noise of medium-level traffic, which most of us ignore without thinking) it can be annoying for those in rural areas.

As wind farms are more likely to be erected in rural areas – where the general noise level is much lower than cities – there have been complaints over the noise generated. The problem, however, is not considered to be substantial.

The physical health concerns are far more rare, and generally center around the low-threshold noise produced by wind turbines.

Continued exposure to very low noise can upset the inner ear and cause problems such as headaches, but there is no reputable study that has proven wind farms are the cause of this.

When wind turbines are erected, they do pose a minor danger to those living nearby. If a brake on a turbine fails, the turbine can have blades spin loose and scatter.

For this reason, turbines are constantly monitored.

The Benefits of Wind Energy & What Is A Wind Turbine?

Dotted across landscapes throughout the world, one can now see small, stick-thin structures with three spokes poking out from the central column. These structures are alarming, and almost sinister, the first time you see them.

The world now recognises them as wind turbines, and their presence in the modern world is becoming more apparent.Wind turbines are man’s primary way of generating electricity using the power of the wind. The versions of wind turbines we see now are merely an extension of an old idea; using the wind for power is no new concept.

What is new is using the wind to generate electricity.

In the past, farmers would use windmills – the forerunner to the wind turbine, which in design they closely resemble – to power machinery to grind corn.

These windmills can still be seen around the world, with Holland a well known location for windmills. The white structures we see across fields today are simply the 21st century version.

Wind turbines usually have three spokes, which when caught by the wind cause the mechanism to revolve. The spokes spin around driven by the force of the wind, and this in turn is used to power a machine – just like the windmills of old.

However, the machines these turbines now power do not grind crops, but rather generate electricity through a traditional generator.

Wind turbines are one of the most – if not the most – effective ways of generating electricity. The energy produced is clean and, more importantly, renewable.

So while these turbines may still cause mild shock when viewed in a place one did not expect them, they are nevertheless the future.

Wind turbines are white structures with three or more blades which are used to generate electricity from the wind – are one of the most efficient methods of generating renewable energy.

This is a simple fact, and the continued development and licensing of turbines is further testament to this.

The reason for this general opinion is that, when one views the statistics, wind turbines are powerfully useful.

For example, with older energy generation techniques such as using fossil fuels, to generate electricity one must use some of the earth’s natural resources.

In the case of fossil fuels, these will one day run out.

Wind turbines have no effect on the earth’s composition and do not need to dig into anything to be able to generate.

They take nothing from the earth as an organism, and this makes them a mighty weapon in the battle against climate change.

Wind turbines do not produce any emissions, be it carbon dioxide – the cause of climate change – or other such chemicals which may be harmful.

Though the construction of a wind farm or turbine requires electricity and source material, it is estimated it takes a mere nine months for a single wind turbine to ‘pay back’ what it has taken out.

What is more, after that initial nine months pay back time, wind turbines do not require anything but the wind to operate.

The biggest benefit of wind turbines, however, is that they take a natural source and make it useful.

The wind blows everywhere in the world, and all wind turbines do is take the previously unused kinetic energy of natural weather phenomena and create usable electricity.

Put simply, the benefits of wind turbines and wind power are overwhelmingly convincing.

Wind Power

Wind power is taking the energy generated from the wind and using it in more productive ways. Wind turbines are a machine that can transform the kinetic energy found in wind and convert it into mechanical energy. Mechanical energy works with kinetic energy to balance into the mechanical system. When the mechanical energy is converted into electricity it can be called a wind turbine.

There are two different types of wind turbines; Horizontal axis and Vertical axis. The most common of these two are the horizontal axis. Horizontal axis features the main rotor shaft and generator at the top of the turbine.

The horizontal axis is pointed into the wind. Most of these horizontal axes have a gearbox that allows the blades to turn quicker to generate more electricity. The tower is what provides turbulence. The turbine can be pointed somewhat upward and stand well above the blades. The blades are made of durable material capable of withstanding high winds.

When you see these turbines in the field you may think that they are no longer helpful but there are several people who still believe in using them still. Horizontal axis wind turbines can either turn upward or downward. If they choose to turn the blades upward, they don’t hold well together for longer periods of time.

They begin to crack and break down in high winds. When the blades are downward facing they stay in line with the wind longer and they can outlast through the high winds without breaking. Because they are so durable it keeps the cost down as well.

Types of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines

Windmills consist of four or more blades, usually short, and wooden blades. These were used to grind grain. As the winds picked up it would rotate a mechanism inside allowing it to run the grain through a mill crushing it.

Rural Windmills was originally from Australia but later moved over to the USA. Farmers found that this type of windmill was good to pump water and electricity to the barns and fields. This windmill had several blades and can still be seen today in fields. They were constructed of metal usually in order to carry electricity for lights or maybe a radio.

Modern Turbines are what we have now standing in fields. They feature three blades that are pointed at the ends. The reason for their unusual shape is because they have been proven to exceed wind velocity up to 6 times more, allowing for high efficiency and reliability.

The advantages of this type of wind turbine include stability, tallness, bendable, durable and strong. The disadvantages may include being unable to operate well close to the ground, hard to transport over sea, difficult to install, not in big demand, there are concerns with how they affect radar, structural damage done with storms and wear.

There are good points and bad points to owning these types of turbines. They have been proven to work and you can have one or thirty one out in your field. They do help to generate electricity and other great things that we would normally have to go without.

The Forgotten Environmental Effect of Wind Turbines

When people talk of the environmental effect of wind turbines and wind power, they often forget to mention the problems wind turbines cause to local wildlife.

Birds are an obvious problem to wind turbines; as many turbines are erected at cruising level for birds, many ecological campaigners were convinced bird fatalities would increase due to interference from turbines.

Wind turbines are usually painted white, so they seemingly blend with surrounding clouds.

This, however, is what makes them such hazards to birds; who may not notice the turbines until they are fatally close to the revolving blades.

Statistics show that the effect wind turbines have on birds is negligible. That is, wind energy from turbines is no more costly to bird welfare than other forms of renewable energy production (such as nuclear power) and is actually 20 times less dangerous than traditional fossil fuel production plants.While birds are safe, it is becoming apparent that bats are not.

Nocturnal and blind, winged bats are becoming the silent victims of wind turbines as their usual navigational tools which help them avoid collisions are interupted by the rotating blades.

As well as collisions, bats have to deal with the low pressure caused by wind turbine tips. If they are lucky enough to avoid colliding with the tips themselves, the low pressure generated can cause a condition known as barotrauma.

Bats lungs are damaged by exposure to this low pressure, and it can be fatal. Birds have more robust lungs and are not effected by this condition

So while birds are doing well with wind farms, further research is required on the effects on the bat population.

The most obvious solution is placing radar transmitters on top of turbines; bats avoid these, as they trigger their sonar navigational. 

Individual Wind Turbines

Wherever they may be located, wind farms are now being seen as the modern equivalent to the old coal power plant.

Scores of wind turbines all working in unison can now be seen both on and offshore throughout the world, but a wind turbine does not need a friend to be useful.

Wind farms are incredibly productive, as anything that combines a singular might will be. However, there is still a place for the individual wind turbine being used to power a specific area or even ones home?

One wind turbine alone can generate a lot of electricity. For example, a singular wind turbine in Reading, England generates enough power to satisfy the electricity demands of 1,000 homes nearby.

Individual wind turbines also have an advantage over wind farms in that they do not require a lot of space.

Numerous wind turbines combined to create a wind farm will require acres of land on which to erect the turbines and their electricity generators; just one wind turbine obviously only needs a fraction of this space.

For this reason, individual wind turbines are being considered a viable solution for urban areas, where there is not enough floor space to erect anything more than a singular turbine.

While it is unlikely the future includes the idea of every street having its own wind turbine generating close-by electricity, the idea of individual wind turbines is growing.

We could well see a day when town planning includes the usual wind turbine to generate electricity, and from an environmental point of view alone, this is wonderful progress.

Wind turbines are used for several reasons but the main reason is to generate energy from the wind. This may sound difficult but it is possible. You experience energy from the wind whenever someone runs past you quickly or a large vehicle passes you by-the slipstream. 

Offshore Wind Farms

While we may all have seen wind farms on grassy fields, the most likely place for wind farms to really come into their full efficacy is out at sea. Off shore wind farms are becoming more common and many experts predict they are the future of wind power. The reason for this is simple offshore wind is more powerful as it is not obstructed by surface objects. Particularly in deep water, the resistance on the surface of the water is minimal, and the wind can be extremely powerful.

This was, of course, once utilised by sailing ships before the days of the engine, and this wind power is now finding a new purpose.

Offshore wind farms are built, as the name would suggest, in the sea. Turbines that look exactly the same as their onshore counterparts are erected into the sea bed, and protrude above the water line, with their blades in the open air catching the powerful winds.

The energy generated is then transported back to shore using under sea pipes. It is a simple case of: more wind, more power generated.

These wind farms are more expensive to construct than typical onshore wind farms, as they involve placing the base of the turbine in the sea bed.This initial cost and workload is, however, rewarded by increased efficiency. The job is also made easier by offshore wind farms being built on areas of ocean that have naturally raised sections of the sea bed.

Offshore wind farms also solve the associated humanist issues with turbines – such as noise levels, shadow flicker and aesthetic issues – and increase electricity production. Once more, man turns to the sea for its answers.

Wind Turbines and ‘Shadow Flicker’

If you do not live near a wind turbine, it is unlikely you will have ever heard the term ‘shadow flicker’ in everyday usage. The problem however is being discussed fervently by those who reside near onshore wind farms, and the matter is having to be settled by the courts in some cases. Like all large structures however, wind turbines cast a shadow. If one lives near enough to an active wind farm, this shadow may fall on your home at various points of the day.

To many homeowners, this in itself is annoying, particularly if they live in rural areas and did not expect to have to deal with shadows falling on their property.

However, this is not the sole concern of those living near an active wind turbine. Unlike almost every other type of structure, wind turbines have three rotating blades.

In the case of shadows cast on to a house, these blades themselves cast a shadow. However, the blades are in motion, so the shadow is a constantly moving menace that is extremely disturbing to witness.

The constant passing of this shadow can occur for hours per day, and if residents are at home during that time, there is no escape.

Many energy companies refuse to exist shadow flicker is a problem, which has lead to many residents forming action groups. The solution is actually very simple, as shadow flicker will not occur if a turbine is placed 3,000 feet away from the nearest home.

However, some energy companies have placed certain turbines as close to residences as 1,100 feet. Many anticipate changes in the law will prevent this from happening again, based on the evidence presented by annoyed existing residents who have to live with shadow flicker.

The Effects of Wind Turbines on Humans

Wind turbines and farms are becoming an evermore familiar sight on the landscape, and while generally accepted as a useful resource for electricity generation, they have not been without their critics. One of the major criticisms of wind farms is that they are damaging to the humans who live near them. This effect is both psychological and physical, though there is more evidence for the former.

The issue of physical health problems caused by living near a wind farm are a matter of much debate in the medical community.

The psychological problems are more basic. Many of those living near a wind farm find it difficult to sleep due to the noise of the turbines.

While the noise is not excessive (it equates roughly to the noise of medium-level traffic, which most of us ignore without thinking) it can be annoying for those in rural areas.

As wind farms are more likely to be erected in rural areas – where the general noise level is much lower than cities – there have been complaints over the noise generated. The problem, however, is not considered to be substantial.

The physical health concerns are far more rare, and generally center around the low-threshold noise produced by wind turbines.

Continued exposure to very low noise can upset the inner ear and cause problems such as headaches, but there is no reputable study that has proven wind farms are the cause of this.

When wind turbines are erected, they can pose a minor danger to those living nearby. If a brake on a turbine fails, the turbine can have blades spin loose and scatter.

For this reason, turbines are constantly monitored and if one appears to be in trouble, all efforts will be made to close it down before a problem occurs.

Nowadays there are numerous job openings in the industry such as solar panel installers and turbine blade fitters offering a welcome and much needed boost to the countries economy.



So there you have it my own personal guide to solar and wind use for the home.I hope the above tips have been a source of interest and inspiration for you and like me you will consider improving your home using some or all of the methods and systems described.

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Thanks for reading

Regards Tim Duncombe MBAE