Wind and Solar Power for electricity generation has become a widely used source of alternative energy for a while. Both are expensive investments; therefore they both require comparative and fair feasibility study based on accurate simulations.
Solar power at any location and time is a very strong function of weather condition. A cloudy day can bring the harvested solar energy to 10% of a sunny day at the same location at the same time. Similar argument applies for wind energy. Wind turbines can only generate electricity for wind speeds between their specified “cut in” and “cut-off” wind speeds. Since power generated by wind is related to the cube of wind speed this brings in even a larger variation in the harvested wind energy. In addition to that wind is not present all the time but solar energy is always present during the day and non-existent at night. On the other hand wind can be present any time, day or night! Electrical energy conversion efficiencies of solar and wind plants are also different. All these uncertainties can be taken into account by the use of WindOrSolar.
WindOrSolar calculates the maximum possible amount of solar energy at any location on earth. From the received solar power with user specified electrical conversion efficiency factor it calculates the maximum electrical energy possible from the solar panel. Using the user specified wind turbine wind “cut in”, “cut-off” speeds and electrical energy conversion efficiency, it plots the time necessary to generate the same amount of electrical energy as a function of wind speed! This “Wind Equivalence Plot” is a very quick and a safe way of determining which choice is more efficient without a lot of data base investigation which has too many seasonal and daily variations for both solar and wind energies for the same area. So, with a very simple single plot one can see what wind speed for how many days a year wind energy will be more efficient for the same area any where on earth. With the “Break Line” plotted on it one can easily see which method becomes better for the case under investigation.
WindOrSolar employs a very accurate solar power calculation capability as in its companion product SolarPower. It uses proven patent pending “OEA Astronomical and Navigational utilities” to calculate the sun’s position very accurately in seconds on a smart phone, with an incredible accuracy of 0.0003 degrees anywhere on earth, at any altitude, from the South Pole to the North Pole, at any date and time, past future or present! The atmospheric attenuation of solar radiation is performed by the numerical solution of the Maxwell’s equations, taking the wave-length dependent absorption and Raleigh scattering in the atmosphere into consideration for the entire solar spectrum. Planck radiation law is used to calculate the spectral power density distribution of the sun light in the upper atmosphere, which gives the initial value of the problem. This approach gives very accurate prediction of the entire solar power spectrum from sun rise to sun set for any altitude.
Using GPS for timing and exact location determination along with the advanced global mapping capabilities provided in WindOrSolar, one can easily calculate the current or any virtual location on earth for accurate solar and wind power calculation. Using the GPS, magnetic compass and the inclinometer capabilities of the smart phone the panel orientation is obtained by just a touch of a button with many easy to use options. The user can quantify and compare the optical loss between tracked and fixed panels and study the “Wind Equivalence Plot” under any senario to make the right choice in selecting the alternative energy solution for any location on earth.
WindOrSolar is highly educational professional product for energy professionals as well as for any one and supports 39 languages.
"Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life."