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gpmyesterday at 8:14 PM2 repliesview on HN

Just build more solar. You generate excess electricity in summer and enough in winter. This isn't a problem.


Replies

Youdenyesterday at 10:15 PM

I live in Switzerland and my house currently consumes 35-40kWh of electricity each day. I'm in the process of installing as many panels as possible on my roof and right now in winter, they're forecasted to produce ~18kWh on a good day.

While it'll be possible for me to be more than fully self-sufficient in summer, I'd need roughly 3x more panels to come close to having a chance in winter, plus far more battery storage than is reasonable.

I suspect it might be more doable somewhere with milder winters, like Italy but especially as you go further north and the days get shorter, there's just no chance.

For it to work in places with large seasonal differences, we need something else (e.g. nuclear) and/or storage.

buckle8017today at 1:09 AM

The over build causes these rosey projections about power prices from solar to turn on their heads.

6.5 cents/kWh is pretty good, 65 cents though is terrible.

Actually difference is more than 10:1 too