Give benefits and limitations of solar and wind power.

Q: Give benefits and limitations of solar and wind power.

Solar Power: Benefits: 1. Virtually maintenance free. 2. Relatively easy to install. 3. Solar panels can provide plentiful power during the long hours of summer sun. Limitations: 1. In areas that experience a lot of overcast or low light days, the output is not that good, though still considerable. 2. It is not available at night or when there is a dense cloud cover. This makes it unreliable. 3. Solar power is currently significantly more expensive and requires action by consumers e.g., installing solar panels. Wind Power: Benefits: 1. In high wind areas (at least 12mph), wind generators produce power, more cost effectively than solar. Wind's long-term technical potential is believed to be 5 times current global energy consumption or 40 times the current electricity demand. 2. A moderate proportion of wind generation can be connected without the need for a storage. The cost of maintenance and storage is comparatively lower compared to any other source of energy-renewable or non-renewable. 3. Power output from wind varies though it can be predicted with a fair degree of confidence many hours ahead. Limitations: 1. Repair (even under warranty) can be quite costly, especially on freestanding towers because of crane costs, labour for taking a wind generator down and putting it back up, shipping costs to the retailer or manufacturer etc. 2. Wind generators require foundation work such as concrete anchors, good wires etc., depending on the chosen tower design. 3. The trees might have to be cleared, a practice against the conservation of resources. The birds killed by wind turbines could also cause concern.

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Solar Power:
Benefits:

Virtually maintenance free.
Relatively easy to install.
Solar panels can provide plentiful power during the long hours of summer sun.

Limitations:

In areas that experience a lot of overcast or low light days, the output is not that good, though still considerable.
It is not available at night or when there is a dense cloud cover. This makes it unreliable.
Solar power is currently significantly more expensive and requires action by consumers e.g., installing solar panels.

Wind Power:
Benefits:

In high wind areas (at least 12mph), wind generators produce power, more cost effectively than solar. Wind's long-term technical potential is believed to be 5 times current global energy consumption or 40 times the current electricity demand.
A moderate proportion of wind generation can be connected without the need for a storage. The cost of maintenance and storage is comparatively lower compared to any other source of energy-renewable or non-renewable.
Power output from wind varies though it can be predicted with a fair degree of confidence many hours ahead.

Limitations:

Repair (even under warranty) can be quite costly, especially on freestanding towers because of crane costs, labour for taking a wind generator down and putting it back up, shipping costs to the retailer or manufacturer etc.
Wind generators require foundation work such as concrete anchors, good wires etc., depending on the chosen tower design.
The trees might have to be cleared, a practice against the conservation of resources. The birds killed by wind turbines could also cause concern.

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