system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
How efficient are renewables right now?

By which I mean, at any give time, how much potential wind is being turned into electricity, is there a reason why it's so inefficient?

Also, what about solar? How much of the potential sun captured at any given moment is converted?
gpt
There are theoretical limits (Shockley-Quessier limit for solar, Betz limit for wind) - around 35% and 59% respectively - but in another sense you're asking the wrong question. 

Imagine two PV systems. They take the same amount of space. One that costs $1 million, is 30% efficient, and makes you $300,000 a year, and another that costs $500,000, is 20% efficient, and makes you $200,000 a year. Which is better? The one that generates more energy in the same amount of space or the one that pays for itself 25% faster? There is no shortage of places to put solar panels.