A combined vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) and vertical axis solar turbine (VAST) is disclosed. The apparatus has a plurality of counter rotating solar/wind collection panels which are mounted on respective counter rotating collars. The orientation of the panels is controlled by servo motors. Torque from the counter rotating collars is combined by a set of gears with the combined torque driving rotation of a power collecting column. Torque from the power collecting column is transmitted to a power transfer column through gears in a gearbox and then to a flywheel which has an armature as part of a motor generator whereby mechanical energy can be converted to electrical energy with the motor generator. Solar energy from the PV panels is routed to a power conditioning unit which is also connected to the motor generator.