Alternative energy is becoming more popular by the day – and sure enough, the sales of wind-solar hybrid systems for homes are going through the roof. Given their prices that get more affordable and the amount of energy they can generate, it’s not surprising.
In this article, we are comparing the top wind and solar hybrid systems that you can get for your home. But before we get into the juicy parts, let’s get to know these alternative energy generators a little better.
What is a Wind Solar Hybrid System?
A wind-solar hybrid system is an alternative energy generation system that combines wind turbines and solar panels to generate electricity. Having a wind turbine and solar panels can ensure that the system can generate power regardless of the weather or seasons.
For example, in many parts of the United States, wind speeds are typically very low in the summers, but that’s when the sun shines the brightest. Conversely, wind speeds are significantly greater in the winter, and that’s when you can barely see the sun.
Wind-solar hybrid generator systems are highly popular for this reason. When the solar panels barely generate energy in the winter, the turbine makes up for it by generating more power due to the stronger winds. The roles are simply reversed during the summers.
Check out our latest article – Why You Should Consider a Wind and Solar Hybrid System for Home.
Find the Best Wind Solar Hybrid Systems for Your Home
If you’re looking to get the best wind-solar hybrid system on the market, these are the best items that our experts have rounded up.
Best overall product: Giosolar Flexible 1000 Watt Wind Solar Kit
- Value: 9/10
- Power Generated: 8/10
- Ease of use: 8/10
- Build quality: 8/10
The Giosolar Wind Solar Kit has five 120W monocrystalline solar panels and a 400W wind turbine generator. It is best suited for those looking to start generating alternative energy for their homes.
The solar panels are rated to generate power with high efficiency using the recommended voltage at 18v and 6.67 A. Each panel comes with reinforced metal frames with pre-drilled holes for easy installation. Giosolar also promises IP67 water and dust resistance, making the panels suitable for various installations like boats, yachts, docks, cabins, or homes.
Giosolar uses an aluminum alloy body with a relatively low starting speed at 5.5 mph and can survive up to 78 mph for the wind turbine. With a 3.93ft rotor diameter, the 400W wind turbine can effectively generate energy even in days with relatively low wind speed.
The retail packaging also comes with everything you need to get started, including
- 5m solar cable with connectors
- 3m battery cable with alligator clip
- 2 Y branch connectors
- 12/24v Hybrid charge controller
Key features of the Giosolar 1000 Watt Hybrid Kit:
- Solar panels: 4x @120W monocrystalline panels
- Wind turbine: 12-24V DC
- Starting speed: 5.5 mph
- Survival speed: 78 mph
- Other specs: IP67 water-resistant solar panels, aluminum body turbine, pre-installed mounting holes
Giosolar’s high-quality panels combined with the robust wind turbine can ensure that you can still generate power despite the season or weather. While 1000 watts are certainly not enough to power an entire house, it’s still plenty to provide renewable backup electricity.
Pros:
- All-in-one package for an easy starter kit
- Low turbine starting speed
- IP67 water-resistant
- Robust build quality
Cons:
- Doesn’t include a battery for off-grid setup
- The wind turbine is slightly on the heavier side
Best Value Product: Pikasola 400W Wind Turbine for Home
- Value: 9/10
- Power Generated: 6/10
- Ease of use: 7/10
- Build quality: 7/10
If you’re looking to get started with alternative energy, there’s no better option than the Pikasola 400W Wind Turbine. Its rotor can generate up to 410W of power with a relatively low start-up wind speed of 5.5 mph.
Its 3-phrase AC generator uses a Neodymium Iron Boron magnet and can provide 12V electrical with -40oF ~ 176oF operation temperature, which means it can sustain even the roughest weather.
This home wind turbine can start generating power at 5.5 mph wind and is rated to survive up to 27 mph wind. Thanks to the 51.81-inch blades, the Pikasola 400W can generate electricity more effectively.
Pikasola promises a high-efficiency wind turbine with an integrated voltage regulator, which enables automatic shut down when your battery is full. The turbine also has a built-in MPPT intelligent microprocessor that can effectively adjust current and voltage.
The wind turbine core is made almost entirely of high-quality aluminum with stainless steel fittings, whereas the blades are made of nylon fiber with anti-UV and anti-corrosion materials.
Key features of the Pikasola 400 Watt Wind Turbine:
- Wind turbine: 12-24V DC
- Starting speed: 5.5 mph
- Survival speed: 27 mph
- Design: 3-blades turbine
- Blades length: 51.81 inches
Given how affordable it is, the Pikasola 400W Home Wind Turbine is a great starting item for anyone looking to get some alternative energy into their homes. Not only that, but you can also integrate this wind turbine with after-market solar panels to set up a wind-solar hybrid generator.
The straightforward setup procedure also helps complete beginners to get themselves familiar with home wind turbines. There are only a handful of components you’ll need to assemble. You’ll be generating power within less than hours – as long as you follow the provided assembly manual.
Pros:
- Long blades offer better efficiency
- Durable and flexible nylon fiber blades
- Low start-up wind speed
- Controller and anemometer included
- Beginner-friendly
Cons:
- Solar panels not included
- Requires additional battery setup for an off-grid system
Best Charge Controller for Wind Solar Kit: Pikasola 1400W Battery Controller
- Value: 9/10
- Power Rating: 9/10
- Ease of use: 7/10
- Build quality: 9/10
An off-grid hybrid system requires setting up a battery system to store all the power generated by your wind turbine and solar panels. But for beginners, setting up a battery bank system could be a real head-scratcher.
The Pikasola 1400W Battery Controller is a reliable choice to help you set up a power storage system faster and easier. It can handle a wind turbine up to 800W and solar panels up to 600W. Pikasola implemented the booster Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology to store the generated energy safely.
This battery controller also has a sturdy aluminum body, which helps with heat dissipation when charging up. You’ll also find an LCD that you can use to monitor the power and load status with more practicality.
You’ll also get reverse-charging protection that can protect your solar panels and other components from power surges that can effectively kill them. It can connect with up to two DC loads with 12/24V batteries without needing extra configuration.
Pros:
- Sturdy build quality
- Great heat dissipation
- MPPT technology for faster charging
Cons:
- Bulky and hefty, not suitable for portable setups
- Display input keys can be improved
Runner Up Charge Controller: Marsrock 1400W Charge Controller
- Value: 8/10
- Power Rating: 9/10
- Ease of use: 7/10
- Build quality: 7/10
If you’re looking to expand your hybrid wind-solar generator setup, you may want to consider getting a better charge controller – and the Marsrock 1400W solar charge controller is one of the top products for that.
The Marsrock 1400W Charge Controller features a 1.12/24v auto-match charging system that can handle solar panels up to 600W and a wind turbine up to 800W. The MPPT technology is excellent since it can help store the small bits of electricity that your wind turbine generates on low-wind days.
On high-wind days, the Marsrock Charge Controller helps regulate the electricity so that you can safely store it in your batteries. On such occasions, the charge controller will automatically launch an unloading procedure to protect other equipment in the system from an electrical surge.
Pros:
- MPPT to ensure efficient charging
- Robust build quality
- Bult-in LCD display
- Versatile integration options
Cons:
- A bit pricier than others
What to Consider When Buying Hybrid Wind Solar Generators
You may want to pay extra attention to specific factors when buying hybrid generators for your home. Here are some of them:
Power Output
The main goal of having a hybrid wind-solar generator at your home is to establish an additional electricity resource. If you’re looking to get a meaningful amount of energy, get a kit that can generate enough power to at least run several appliances during a blackout. If you’re just getting started, a 1000W wind-solar hybrid generator should be enough to generate consistent electricity and store it up in your battery bank.
Solar Panel Efficiency
Solar panels are great energy generators, but not all are nearly efficient enough to amount to anything. Picking the kit with high-efficiency solar panels (at least 21%) should be one of your top priorities.
There are also models with flexible solar panels – you can curve these panels to still convert some of the reflected sunlight into energy. But the solar panels available today have improved so much over the last few years – you shouldn’t have any problem finding ones with high efficiency.
Wind Turbine Size and Design
There’s no clear-cut answer to whether a certain wind turbine design is better than the others. But the consensus is that the fewer blades a wind turbine has, the easier it is to spin. Generally speaking, fewer blades mean the wind turbine requires less material to make – and, therefore, more affordable.
But the science behind the wind turbine design also affects how efficiently it generates power from wind energy. In industrial applications, turbines typically have as few blades as possible to ensure that other turbines behind them still get a bit of wind power. But you shouldn’t worry too much about reducing wind speed for a home wind generator setup.
You should also consider the wind turbine’s length, weight, and overall build quality. With heavier turbines, you’ll also have to set up a more robust mounting pole – which could become more troublesome than you’d think.
Charge Controller
A charge controller is an electronic device that helps regulate the voltage output of a solar panel and wind turbine. While they may be alternative energy generators, your hybrid wind-solar setup can produce much more raw energy than you’d think.
The job of a charge controller is to transform the raw energy into a form of usable power. The charge controller avoids over-charging batteries or blowing fuses by regulating the flow of power, and it can also be set to turn off the solar panel and wind turbine when the batteries are full.
Most kits include a charge controller out of the box. But for a more advanced application or high-power hybrid kits, you should consider upgrading the charge controller to prevent the electrical surges that can kill your equipment.
Why not consider just a wind turbine for home? Check out our latest article – The Best Home Wind Turbines For Greener Living
Our Verdict – The Best Wind-Solar Hybrid Systems for Home
It’s not news that harnessing wind and solar power is the best way to generate energy and reduce our carbon footprint. Since consumer-grade solar panels and wind turbines are readily available now – there’s no reason NOT to do it.
You get some extra juice for your appliances and help reduce the planet’s carbon footprint. In some cases, you’ll also get some significant reduction in your electricity bill – which is fantastic for many reasons.
You also need to set up a power storage system in off-grid wind-solar hybrid systems. But there are already hundreds of recommended battery systems on the market as well as tutorials on how to set them up – you shouldn’t have any problem finding them.
So why not start today? Get started with your wind-solar hybrid system for home – and you’ll be generating renewable energy before you know it.
