| The costs and benefits between solar and wind | | | | growth recently as well. By 2009, it is estimated |
| energy are very subjective. There are necessarily | | | | that another one point two gig watts of power |
| three factors that determine the economics: | | | | will be added to the world supply through solar |
| capitol costs, operating and maintenance costs | | | | energy. There are currently, massive projects |
| and fuel costs.These must be taken into | | | | underway in Spain and the U.S. The World Bank is |
| consideration when comparing renewable energy | | | | also sponsoring projects for thermal |
| sources with conventional energy sources as well | | | | -combined-cycle gas turbine engine plants in |
| as when comparing one form with the other. | | | | Morocco, Mexico and Egypt. Spain has one of the |
| Interestingly enough, the cost of renewable | | | | world's largest photovoltaic power plants which |
| energy is enjoying an inherent decreasing cost | | | | can produce 60 MW of electricity. In Germany's |
| curve while non-renewable sources are increasing | | | | Strasskirchen Solar Park, 54MW is made. Portugal |
| in cost. Generally speaking, costs for photovoltaic | | | | contributes 46 MW of electricity to the world |
| and concentrating solar power (CSP) produced | | | | production levels as well. |
| energy are higher in comparison to overall wind | | | | In many cases, these plants work in conjunction |
| energy costs. Incidentally, the costs of wind | | | | with agriculture, using innovative tracking systems |
| versus nuclear, coal and natural gas are | | | | which follow the suns' path across the sky, thus |
| comparable. | | | | generating energy more efficiently than the more |
| There is an increase in the cost of renewable | | | | commonly seen fixed-mounted types. These |
| energy when you consider the costs associated | | | | stations operate without fuel costs and without |
| with connecting it to the infrastructure that | | | | dangerous emissions. However, when considering |
| currently exists. Variability in things such as | | | | renewable energy PV systems, it isn't just the |
| weather, the load demand, and material costs | | | | large arrays that make a difference. Integrated |
| affect the costs and benefits between solar and | | | | photovoltaic systems built on site and matched to |
| wind energy. In the time between 2004 and 2008 | | | | the end use energy needs of communities and |
| the two industries experienced a massive increase | | | | individuals can be economical in terms of supplying |
| in productivity. Solar photovoltaic energy | | | | electricity close to where it is needed. So, the |
| production went up more than six hundred | | | | costs and benefits between solar and wind |
| percent. Wind powered energy production | | | | energy are very subjective according to the laws |
| increased by two-hundred percent in that time. | | | | of supply and demand and local economical |
| Solar heating and bio-diesel production saw | | | | factors. |
| significant increases during that time also. Wind | | | | Disclaimer: The content of this article is provided |
| power became established globally between 1996 | | | | for the purpose of education and illustration only. |
| and 2008. By this year, world wide wind farm | | | | This article may be freely reprinted or distributed |
| capacity reached almost 158,000 megawatts. This | | | | in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or |
| shows an increase of thirty-one percent in the | | | | website. The author's name, bio and website links |
| last year and accounts for one point three | | | | must remain intact and be included with every |
| percent of the global electricity consumed. | | | | reproduction. |
| The solar power industry experienced rapid | | | | |