Solar panels vs wind turbines, which is better?

A quick guide on how to choose what eco-friendly, renewable energy system is
right for you.

	Solar Panels	Wind Turbines
Location	Can be placed almost anywhere since sunlight is very abundant. Also, since these are primarily placed on roofs, it helps to place solar panels on roofs that sunlight doesn’t hit at a large angle.	Not suitable in as many locations as solar panels since you need consistent wind.
Cost	High initial cost.	Lower initial cost and can yield a lower cost/watt in an area with consistent, strong winds.
Reliability	Reliable power output in most locations.	Reliable power output in most locations.
Battery Pack	Large battery pack is necessary in case of low sunlight conditions over a couple days.	Large battery pack is necessary in case of low wind conditions over a couple days.
Environmental Impact	Very low impact as it’s stationary, silent, and consumes little space.	Produces small humming noise (depending on size) and can kill birds flying by as it creates a vortex during strong winds.
Maintenance	Very low as there is no moving components and therefore very little wear over time.	Has components that are always moving which causes wear over time. It can be very inconvenient, depending on where it’s installed to perform regular maintenance.
Current cost per watt (as of April 23, 2008)	$930/120Watt = $7.75/Watt	$680/400Watt = $1.7/Watt

Conclusion: Aside from location (which is the most critical concern when
considering purchasing an off the grid system) a Solar Panel system is more
convenient as it’s a lot lower maintenance, last longer, and has a lower impact
on the environment. On the other hand, if you don’t mind doing some quick
maintenance once in a while, and want to save money on the initial cost, a wind
turbine is for you.

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Solar panels vs wind turbines, which is better?