Pros and Cons of Relying on Wind and Solar Power for Future Energy Production

For decades, many experts have extolled wind and solar as the solution to all our energy woes. However, while advances in technology combined with government incentives have led to rapid growth in renewables, it’s still a long way off from replacing oil’s dominance in energy production.

In light of promising advancements in wind and solar, is it wise to rely on these technologies as the future of energy production? Not quite: due to new research, it’s a mixed bag, and there are pros and cons of relying on wind and solar for the foreseeable future.

The Pros of Wind Power

Wind power has serious potential to be a major player in energy production in the United States. It’s been estimated that using only the resources available today, wind power could fill close to 10 times the energy needs of the current population. Additionally, the nation’s wind supply has increased at an average rate of 30% per year, and the world’s has increased by an average of 28% per year. The fact that wind is renewable and will always be around makes wind power a serious contender in energy production.

In addition to the steady decrease in the up-front costs associated with wind power, the cost to maintain and operate a turbine is also very low. A new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency reports that the cost of wind energy could even decrease as much as 35% by 2025. So, once the initial costs are paid off, you should end up with a means to generate power for your home or business that is completely free. Having access to wind power allows you to be more self-sufficient, something more people are looking to become these days.

The Cons of Wind Power

While wind energy is good in theory and has the potential to do great things, it has one fatal flaw—the intermittency problem. Wind does not blow all the time, and there is no way to gather and store the kinetic energy produced by wind to compensate for those days. In addition, wind turbines, which are necessary for the wind-to-energy conversion, aren’t legal to erect in many cities as they tend to be very large, and are oftentimes considered an eyesore.

Even though wind energy is theoretically free, a lot of energy and resources are needed for the construction of wind turbines. This collection process actually sends harmful byproducts into the ozone and uses up non-renewable resources. Wind energy currently only accounts for less than 2% of the world’s energy production. The energy necessary to make up the other 98% is generated by fossil fuels, which somewhat defeats the purpose of using wind energy in the first place.

Even though the up-front costs for wind energy are decreasing, the initial investment is still costly. Wind turbines that are under 100 kilowatts of capacity run $3,000 to $8,000 per kilowatt. Therefore, if someone is planning on powering a good sized home, it might cost them in the range of $50,000-$80,000.

The Pros of Solar Power

Most Americans are familiar with solar energy, as solar panels can be seen topping the roofs of many homes not only across the country but around the world. Solar energy is created with the use of the sun’s rays, a completely clean and renewable resource that will be around for eons to come. While you may think solar panels just work in climates where the sun is prevalent, you need only look to Germany, where sunny days are limited, yet somehow they remain world leaders in the production of solar energy.

As with wind turbines, solar panels are a hefty investment for anyone looking to shift to alternative energy. Although the initial price may seem high, after anywhere from six to 10 years of monthly payments, most people find their solar panels paid off, leaving them with no power bill as long as their panels are able to generate enough energy. The early savings exist because government subsidies have helped solar companies to decrease the cost of solar power to 1/150th of the level it was at in the 1970’s.

The Cons of Solar Power

Solar power, like wind power, requires the use of more resources than just the sun to make this alternative energy possible. Since solar panels are necessary to make the conversion, you should consider the energy and nonrenewable resources needed to make them. The biggest concern with solar energy is the diluteness problem--since this energy is not nearly as concentrated as the energy created with fossil fuels, and therefore not strong enough to produce the amount of energy necessary to power the entire country, let alone the world.

While Germany is considered a leader in alternative energy, there is another side to the impact alternative energy is having on the economy there. The term “energy poverty” is prevalent in Germany because the cost of energy has risen so drastically since solar power has become such a staple in energy production. Where solar energy comes up short, energy generated by coal is used to fill in the gaps, and, as with wind power, the purpose of solar energy seems to be undermined in the process.

Can We Really Rely on Wind or Solar Power?

There is a lot to consider when deciding whether renewable energy sources truly are environmentally friendly and beneficial enough to generate large amounts of energy and money long term. While there will always be arguments in favor of wind and solar power, and those against it, it’s largely left up to individual families, investors and businesses to decide whether or not the use of alternative energy is a good idea for their needs.

Whatever your belief, the rapid increase in the installation of solar panels speaks for itself—it appears that at least solar energy is here to stay, and will continue to be popular with homeowners, in large thanks to the federal government credit which is set to expire in 2021.