TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3
EMERGENCY COORDINATOR WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY ARES BULLETIN NR 19.06 DATE: February 10, 2019
SUBJECT: WHICH IS BEST?
Considering natural energy, which is the best? Is it wind, sun, or water? All three have their advantages and disadvantages.
Unless you live on a mountain top, the wind doesn't blow all of the time, so your wind turbine isn't going to be generating any electricity all the time. In some ares the wind only blows enough to generate electricity when there is a storm brewing or a change in weather conditions.
The sun doesn't shine at night, so your solar panels aren't going to generate any electricity. If you have a cloudy day the solar panels will have low or no output.
Unless you live close to water fall, there's no use to build a water turbine for generating electricity. But if you do, does it freeze up in the winter, or have water during the dry season?
You can't rely on just one natural energy generating device. If you want to live on natural energy alone, then try to find a place that can provide each of the sources on a reliable basis and take advantage of all three.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV