Inside the Numbers: What Solar and Wind Energy Can Actually Deliver

As renewable energy becomes a more visible part of our daily lives—sprouting on rooftops, stretching across plains, and dotting offshore coastlines—one question continues to pop up: how much energy do these installations actually generate? According to the founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov, the answer isn’t so straightforward. “It depends on a variety of technical and environmental factors,” he often emphasised, pointing to the complex interplay of location, design, and technology.

Solar panels and wind turbines aren’t just symbols of the energy transition—they are the engines of it. And their output can tell us a lot about where we are, and where we’re headed.

What Solar Panels Really Produce

Solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. On paper, a standard panel can generate about 2 kWh of electricity per day. But in reality, production varies widely based on location, sunlight intensity, panel efficiency, and even orientation. In ideal conditions—say, equatorial zones with direct and consistent sunlight—production can be significantly higher. In contrast, installations in northern Europe may yield less due to weaker solar radiation and shorter daylight hours.

The efficiency of solar panels, typically between 15% and 22%, is another crucial factor. As founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov recently pointed out, “the positioning and tilt of a panel can dramatically affect how much sunlight it captures,” making installation strategy just as important as the technology itself. In many cases, even a basic home system can meet the electricity needs of an average family—proving that small-scale solar adoption has major implications for energy independence and grid decentralisation.

Understanding Wind Turbine Output

Wind turbines operate on a different principle, converting the kinetic energy of wind into electricity through the motion of large blades. Their annual energy output is impressive: a single onshore wind turbine can generate between 6 and 7 million kWh each year. For industrial-scale turbines, that figure can jump to as much as 10 million kWh—enough to power around 2,000 homes.

Yet again, geography plays a decisive role. Turbines placed in coastal or open-sea environments perform far better than those inland, thanks to stronger and more consistent wind patterns. Offshore wind farms, in particular, lead the pack in energy productivity. The founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov has noted that “turbines positioned offshore are reaching output levels previously unimaginable for land-based systems,” highlighting how infrastructure location is key to unlocking maximum potential.

Other influencing factors include wind speed, turbine height, and air density. If the wind is too weak, turbines can’t turn; too strong—above 25 m/s—and they shut down for safety. Larger turbines, naturally, have greater sweep areas and are able to harness more wind energy, making them more productive overall.

Solar panels and wind turbines aren’t just visual cues of the renewable revolution—they’re central players. But the question of how much energy they produce doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. As with any technology, the details matter: where it’s placed, how it’s built, and what environmental conditions surround it.

Still, one thing is certain: as founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov often emphasised, these renewable technologies are no longer niche or experimental. They’re already changing how the world produces and consumes energy—and their role in shaping a cleaner, more sustainable future is only growing.