The dream of harnessing the elements on your own rooftop to generate clean energy and slash electricity bills is becoming increasingly popular. Two main contenders often come to mind: solar panels and small wind turbines. But beyond saving money, can these installations actually earn you money? And if so, which technology offers the better return on investment for a typical homeowner?
Let’s break down the earning potential of rooftop solar versus rooftop wind.
Understanding How You “Earn” Money
Before comparing, let’s clarify how rooftop renewables generate financial benefits:
- Bill Savings: The most direct benefit. Generating your own electricity means buying less (or none) from the grid, directly reducing your monthly bills.
- Net Metering: In many regions, if you generate more power than you use at any given moment, the excess flows back to the grid. Your utility company credits you for this excess power, often at the retail rate, further reducing your bill or even resulting in a credit.
- Feed-In Tariffs (FiTs): Some policies involve the utility paying you a set rate (sometimes premium) for all the electricity your system generates, regardless of whether you use it yourself or export it. These are less common now in many places than net metering but can be lucrative where available.
- Subsidies & Incentives: Government rebates, tax credits, or subsidies can significantly reduce the upfront installation cost, boosting the overall financial return.
The “earning” primarily comes from a combination of bill savings and credits/payments for excess generation.
Rooftop Solar Panels: The Sunny Side Up
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are the go-to for residential rooftop energy generation, and for good reason.
- How they work: Convert sunlight directly into electricity (DC), which an inverter changes to usable AC power for your home or the grid.
- Pros:
- Mature Technology: Highly reliable, well-understood, with long warranties (often 25 years for panels).
- Falling Costs: Prices for solar panels and installation have dropped dramatically over the past decade.
- Predictable Output: While weather-dependent, solar irradiance levels are relatively predictable for a given location over the year.
- Low Maintenance: Generally require occasional cleaning and inverter checks. No moving parts on the panels themselves.
- Wide Availability & Support: Many installers and established government incentive programs exist globally (though specifics vary).
- Silent Operation: No noise pollution.
- Cons:
- Sunlight Dependent: Only generate power during daylight hours. Output drops significantly on very cloudy days.
- Space Requirement: Need sufficient, unshaded roof space facing the optimal direction (often south in the Northern Hemisphere, north in the Southern Hemisphere).
- Earning Potential: High. Strong bill savings are almost guaranteed. Access to net metering is common, allowing credits for excess generation. Where FiTs exist, direct earnings are possible. Strong government incentives often improve the ROI significantly.
Rooftop Wind Turbines: Harnessing the Breeze
Small wind turbines designed for residential use exist, but they are far less common than solar panels on homes.
- How they work: Wind spins blades connected to a generator, producing electricity.
- Pros:
- Can Generate 24/7: Unlike solar, can produce power day or night, if the wind is blowing sufficiently.
- Potentially Higher Output (in ideal conditions): A turbine matched perfectly to a very windy site could generate more energy than solar panels occupying the same footprint.
- Cons:
- Wind Consistency is Crucial: Most residential rooftops, especially in urban or suburban areas, do not have the consistent, strong, non-turbulent wind needed for efficient operation. Trees, buildings, and other obstructions create turbulence that drastically reduces efficiency and increases wear.
- Higher Upfront & Maintenance Costs: Small wind turbines often have a higher cost per watt than solar. They have moving parts requiring more regular maintenance.
- Noise & Vibration: Can generate noise and vibrations that may be objectionable to homeowners or neighbours.
- Regulatory Hurdles: Zoning laws, permits, and height restrictions can be significant barriers. Fewer installers specialise in residential wind.
- Aesthetics & Space: Can be visually intrusive and may require more complex mounting than flat solar panels.
- Earning Potential: Generally lower and less reliable for typical residential rooftops. While the mechanisms for earning (savings, net metering, FiTs) are often the same as solar, the actual energy generated is frequently disappointing in non-ideal locations. The higher costs and maintenance also eat into returns. Wind turbines are typically more viable in rural, open areas with consistent high winds and mounted on tall, dedicated towers, not directly on a standard house roof.
The Verdict: Which Earns More on a Rooftop?
For the vast majority of homeowners looking at rooftop installations: Solar panels almost always offer a better, more reliable path to earning money (primarily through savings and net metering credits).
Here’s why:
- Better Suited to Environment: Most homes have access to adequate sunlight. Very few homes have the consistent, high-quality wind resource needed at roof level for a small turbine to be effective.
- Lower Costs: Solar installations are typically cheaper upfront and have lower ongoing maintenance costs.
- Predictability & Reliability: Solar output is more predictable, and the technology is generally more reliable with fewer moving parts.
- Incentives & Support: Solar enjoys more widespread and established government support and a larger network of qualified installers.
While a rooftop wind turbine might theoretically be profitable in an exceptionally windy, open rooftop location with supportive regulations, these scenarios are rare compared to the widespread viability of solar PV.
Key Takeaway
If you’re looking to generate renewable energy on your home’s roof and maximize your financial return through savings and potential grid credits, solar panels are overwhelmingly the more practical and financially sound choice in most situations today. Always get quotes specific to your location and energy needs, and investigate local incentives and net metering policies thoroughly before making a decision.