Green energy is the buzz in the islands these days, with households looking for alternative, renewable energy sources to power their 21st Century lives. The emergence of consumer-scale renewable electricity generation systems has allowed individuals to choose the green alternative instead of relying on the big companies to add renewables to the grid. But along with these new technologies come a new set of choices—what type of generating unit is best? Wind, solar, geothermal, and others are emerging as possibilities, but for most residential applications in Hawaii, the choice is between solar and wind.
Let’s compare the two.
It’s true that a wind-driven turbine can produce enough electricity for a family household. A small unit can provide up to 50 kilowatts of electricity—which is more than enough electricity for even a large single-family home. With that said, solar units can provide the same amount of electricity but without some of the obvious (and not-so-obvious) drawbacks of a wind turbine.
Consider some basics first. What about simple aesthetics? You’ve worked hard to make your house a home, to make it beautiful and to make it your own. Now imagine the installation of a 55-foot steel pole with a large propeller at the top. This is probably not in keeping with the vision you had for your property.
And why do I mention 55 feet? Legalities and zoning laws. In Hawaii, as with almost every residential area in the United States, the height of structures is limited to 35 feet (and sometimes only 30). Interestingly, this limit was originally based on the fire-fighting capabilities of the early 20th Century, but has since become much more widely accepted as the proper scale for residential development. A turbine should be approximately 20 feet above any surrounding trees and structures, so if you live in a residentially zoned area, a turbine under 55 feet high won’t work. Special approval will have to be given by the city. This requires a “special use” permit which will probably require a public hearing. This process alone can cost thousands of dollars and might still end up with a veto from a neighbor who doesn’t want a giant pole in the middle of the neighborhood.
Photovoltaic cells require no such process or zoning approval. They lay flush with a house’s roof and are completely unobtrusive. From an aesthetic standpoint, they are clearly superior to a large wind turbine installation. From a legal and zoning standpoint, they are hassle-free.
It is also worth mentioning that the moving parts of a wind turbine, while potentially hazardous to birds, also have the potential to fail. Like all moving parts, wear can result in failure and a costly repair bill. Solar panels have no moving parts. Once installed, they simply work. There is nothing to wear out or fail as with the complicated mechanisms in a turbine.
Finally, I think I should mention the issue of bird safety. It may sound like a joke, but a rapidly spinning propeller blade in the sky will result in bird casualties. Hawaiians do not want to learn this lesson in the same painful way that people in other areas have learned it: by finding thousands of their beautiful native birds shredded in the fields. So far as I know, a solar panel has never hurt one of our feathered friends.
