Small wind turbine or solar panels | Ecoways

• In the Netherlands, solar panels typically produce only 10 to 25% of their summer output during winter due to shorter days, low sun angle, and frequent cloud cover.
  
  
• Wind energy usually peaks in the same winter months when solar drops, providing electricity day and night.
  
  
• Most farms use power around the clock, not just when the sun is shining.
  
  
• Combining solar panels, a small wind turbine, and battery storage creates a far more balanced energy setup across all seasons.
  
  
• For farms aiming to reduce grid reliance and keep operations running through winter, wind often fills the gaps solar leaves behind.

TL;DR: Solar covers summer days. Wind carries winter nights. Together, they deliver steadier farm energy year-round.

For many farms looking to become energy self-sufficient, the journey starts with solar panels.

It makes sense. Summer production is strong. It’s reasonably affordable. Installation is straightforward. And on sunny days, you can cover a large part of your electricity use straight from your own roof.

But then winter hits. Days get shorter. The sun sits low. Clouds roll in. At the same time, your energy demand peaks: lighting, ventilation, milking, cooling, feeding systems, heating in stables…the list goes on.

That’s when many farmers notice the gap. Solar alone does not always match how farms actually use electricity. So the question comes up: Should you add more solar panels, or does a small wind turbine make more sense?

In this article, we’ll walk through:

• What solar panels actually produce in winter
  
• Why wind energy fits naturally alongside solar
  
• When a small wind turbine makes sense on a farm
  
• A practical example from the farm
  
• How solar, wind, and storage work together
  
• Clear FAQs to help you decide your next step

What is the energy output of solar panels in winter?

Solar panels rely on daylight and sun angle. In winter, both drop sharply.

In the Netherlands:

• Days are much shorter
• The sun stays low on the horizon
• Cloud cover is more frequent

The result is a big seasonal swing in production.

According to Bricknest’s analysis of Dutch solar performance, panels typically generate only 10 to 25% of their summer output during winter months. For example, one panel might produce approximately 20.5 kWh per day in summer, compared to 5.2 kWh in winter.

All the while, energy demand moves in the opposite direction.

On farms, winter brings:

• More lighting hours
• Higher ventilation needs
• Increased heating in certain buildings
• Continuous operation of milking, feeding, and cooling systems

And of course: At night, solar production sits at zero.

So while solar panels do an excellent job in spring and summer, they usually can’t cover year-round electricity needs on their own. Which is why many farmers start looking at alternatives.

Why wind energy works when solar falls short

Wind follows a different rhythm than sun.

Across Europe, research consistently shows:

• Solar production peaks in summer
• Wind production is strongest in autumn and winter

A large-scale European analysis published on ScienceDirect confirms this seasonal pattern: wind power output rises during the darker months, precisely when solar drops.

Dutch national data tells the same story.

Statistics Netherlands reports that wind generation in the Netherlands is higher in the windier half of the year, while solar output declines as sunshine hours decrease.

In the first half of 2024 alone, the Netherlands generated:

• About 17.4 billion kWh from wind
• About 11.7 billion kWh from solar

Within each year, wind performs relatively better in winter, while solar dominates in summer.

Put simply:

• Solar delivers most when days are long
• Wind delivers most when days are short

"They complement each other, with the added bonus that wind turbines generate electricity day and night. That matters on farms, where energy use rarely follows office hours.

When does a small wind turbine make sense?

A small agricultural wind turbine is not a replacement for solar. It fills the gaps solar leaves behind.

In practice, it makes sense when:

• You already have solar, but still fall short in winter
  
• You need electricity outside daylight hours
  
• Your site has open space and reasonable wind exposure
  
• You want to rely less on the grid
  
• You’re aiming for steady production across the whole year
  
  
  

A practical example from the farm

Let’s look at a realistic farm scenario.

Farm profile (fictional, based on typical Ecoways projects):

• Mixed farm with 80 dairy cows and 3,000 piglets
  
  
• Annual electricity use: approx. 60,000 kWh
  
  
• Existing system:
  
  
• Roof-mounted solar panels (10 kW)
  
  
• One small EAZ-model wind turbine
  
  
• Small battery for short-term storage and backup
  
  

What happens in practice?