• Question: do solar panels make more power than the average 24 meter windturbine

    Asked by dan33 to Cathy, Jaz, Mark, Roma, Rory on 19 Jun 2014.
    • Photo: Mark Greaves

      Mark Greaves answered on 19 Jun 2014:

      Hi Dan,

      A 24 metre turbine could be rated up to around 100 kW (a domestic kettle would be around 2 kW). You could get a solar panel system that will match that power output – it all depends on how much land/space is available.

      Remember though that both solar panels and wind turbines have their disadvantages. For instance wind turbines need a certain wind speed to work and will automatical turn off in high winds and solar panels don’t work at night.

      Mark

    • Photo: Roma Agrawal

      Roma Agrawal answered on 19 Jun 2014:

      Mark’s got this one covered!

    • Photo: Jaz Rabadia

      Jaz Rabadia answered on 19 Jun 2014:

      agree with mark – did you know the UK is considered to be the best place in europe for wind power….?!

    • Photo: Cathy Fraser

      Cathy Fraser answered on 19 Jun 2014:

      Fab answers engineers – Mark is right, both could make the same amount of power!

      One thing to think about with both wind and solar power is that you don’t control when it comes on/off – this doesn’t always match with when we as a nation want/don’t want power! there’s a bit more about that on this link here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01tlp7s

    • Photo: Rory Hadden

      Rory Hadden answered on 19 Jun 2014:

      Thats super interesting! I love learning from you guys. The building I work in is solar powered but in Scotland I don’t think we get enough sun!

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