Each renewable source converts a different flow of natural energy into electricity through its
own physics: photons knocking electrons loose in silicon, moving air spinning a rotor, and falling
water turning a turbine.
Solar: P = η·A·G (G = irradiance, η ≈ panel efficiency)
Wind: P = ½·ρ·A·v³·Cp (Cp ≤ 0.593, Betz limit)
Hydro: P = ρ·g·Q·h·η (Q = flow rate, h = head)
- Solar irradiance — sunlight intensity hitting the panel array; scales solar output linearly.
- Wind speed — air speed through the turbine rotor; output scales with the cube of speed, so small changes matter a lot.
- Water flow rate — volume of water per second driving the water wheel; scales hydro output linearly (fixed head assumed).
- All / Focus wind — camera view toggle: see the full renewable farm or zoom in on the turbine's Betz-limited rotor.
Real-world relevance: grid planners blend solar, wind, and hydro precisely because their outputs
vary on different (and often complementary) time scales — sunny/still days lean on hydro, windy
nights need no sun at all.