Solar & wind profitability calculator
Solar & wind power may seem expensive investments which never pay off. Depending where you live you can in best cases get ROI values that beat the stock markets. Many countries have different kind of incentives or grants for people who invest in renewable energy. This can be substantial part which makes investment not only environmentally but also economically sustainable.
There are many varibles which should be taken account when you plan to make an investment into renewable energy in larger scale. Even if you want to be environmentally aware and save carbon dioxide emissions with your own solar or wind installations why not to make the best possible choice regarding your location and site wind and solar conditions? If they fail you might still have possibilities for hydropower or biogas production.
Below are few tools and links to get you started.
Make clear to yourself what are your needs for renewable energy and that you choose the right energy source or combination for your site location.
Carefull studying and measuring location conditions is allways cheaper than start big and notice by experience mistakes you have made.
Useful tools:
EPA US renewable energy grants | calculators for small solar/wind/hydro energy production, both grid & offgrid
Checklist
There are many varibles which should be taken account when you plan to make an investment into renewable energy in larger scale. Even if you want to be environmentally aware and save carbon dioxide emissions with your own solar or wind installations why not to make the best possible choice regarding your location and site wind and solar conditions? If they fail you might still have possibilities for hydropower or biogas production.
Below are few tools and links to get you started.
Make clear to yourself what are your needs for renewable energy and that you choose the right energy source or combination for your site location.
Carefull studying and measuring location conditions is allways cheaper than start big and notice by experience mistakes you have made.
Useful tools:
EPA US renewable energy grants | calculators for small solar/wind/hydro energy production, both grid & offgrid
Checklist
- How much & how evenly distributed electricity you need? Totally off grid installation or grid/grid tied installation? Hybrid solarwind or solar/wind/hydro
- What grants & incentives are available? Search widget below on page (USA only).
- What kind of wind/solar/hydro production capabilities are actually on your site? Wind average speed can usually be found on national wind atlases but it can differ greatly locally. If you plan to make an bigger investment in wind energy you should allways put an anemometer on the planned location at the planned height of windmill. Wifi & logging capabilities on windspeedmeters (anemometer) costs about 120$ and can make a huge difference. Log at least 3 months windspeeds & compare to wind-atlas -> repeat in other prominent locations. Solar radiation is of course much easier because it doesn't differ greatly. On the other hand you should take account the optimal placement, no shadows & right angle depending on your location. 45 degrees most likely is not the right one. Also if you live in colder climate snow can cover your panels sometimes for long periods.
- Do you plan to make installations yourself or outsource? Note that you can make most of installation work usually yourself but you should consult & know enough so that you don't make costly mistakes & reduce performance for the whole lifespan of installation.
- Use links in this page and compare options. If someone in your area already has renewable energy installation ask experiences and actual efficiency. Use search engines. Ask why? Learn as much as possible before you make final decision. Careful planning and learning not only make you avoid costly mistakes but also may give you substantial increase in income.