Choose The Best Generator For Your Needs
There are various generators for sale on the market, and they all basically fulfill the same need; generating electricity that can be used in your home. But not all generators are equally suited to different environments.
A generator is a big, lifelong investment, and before you buy a generator you need to carefully consider your needs and your environment. You need to carefully consider what natural resources, like sun and wind, you have at your disposal to use before you buy a generator.
Wind Generators
Wing generators are perfectly suited for areas with constant wind, like coastal areas or hilltops. In South Africa, Port Elizabeth is the windiest city with an average wind speed of 4.6 meters per second, and Cape Town is the second windiest city with an average wind speed of 4.1 meters per second.
But even if you don’t live in one of the windiest cities in South Africa, you can still harness the natural power of wind, if you live in coastal areas or on a hilltop or a mountain. Power generated from generators will vary greatly depending on the wind speed. At a wind speed of 29 km per hour you will be able to generate 300 Watts per square km. but at a wind speed of 58km per hour you will be able to generate 2500 Watts per square km. This means that on a windy day you will be able generate as much power as a small diesel or petrol generator. And the best part is that it is virtually free except for the initial installation costs.
Solar Generators
South Africa is world renowned for its almost constant sunshine. South Africa is ranked as one of the world’s sunniest countries, with Upington in the Northern Cape ranked as the fifth sunniest place in the world.
This means that South Africa is one of the best places in the world to invest in solar power. Solar generators can be used to supplement your conventional power supply or if you have enough solar panels it can be used as your only means of power. Using solar power is not only great for the environment, but Eskom even offers tax rebates to people who use renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind power. Furthermore, you will also not be left in the dark with power outages and you will be saving a lot of money.
Petrol Or Diesel Generators
Conventional generators that use fossil fuels like petrol and diesel generators are commonly used as a means to power important equipment and appliances during power outages. However, these types of generators are not a sustainable means to power your household on a daily basis as they can be costly to run, due to high fuel prices.
Diesel and petrol generators are capable of working anywhere and everywhere as they do not need specific natural conditions, such as wind or sun. This makes them great for camping or as an emergency backup supply of electricity during power outages.
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