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Does solar power generation really align with peak power usage... ? For most of Europe and the US, peak usage is during winter, and this is the time where the d

Does solar power generation really align with peak power usage... ? For most of Europe and the US, peak usage is during winter, and this is the time where the days are shorter, and the sun is lower in the sky.

Brybry 2y ago
Peak demand in the US is in the summer, specifically July/August, due to air conditioning. [1] Most of the cold climate areas in the US use non-electric heating like gas furnaces (and the non-cold climate areas don't really need a lot of heating). [2] [1] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=60602 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=60602 [2] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=30672 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=30672
jmyeet 2y ago
Here's a nice chart for the US [1]. You are correct that because of colder climates European power demand tends to peak more in winter. I can't find a similar chart to this (ideally broken down by country) but I did find this [2] > Even though it may seem counterintuitive due to their climate, Nordic countries are remarkably well-suited for PV installations. Solar irradiation levels during the long summer days, when the sun barely sets, make these regions perfectly viable for solar power generation. In fact, it’s a burgeoning industry that’s increasingly turning heads towards the north. > Solar PV cells operate more optimally at lower temperatures. Cold environments help maintain the cells’ operational temperature, allowing them to work at peak efficiency. The Nordic regions often enjoy strong sunshine, and when this is coupled with the reflective properties of snow, solar irradiance is significantly increased. A good example of this was during the first COVID lockdown when Western Europe saw record irradiance levels. [1]: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42915 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42915 [2]: https://ratedpower.com/blog/nordic-solar-success-story/ https://ratedpower.com/blog/nordic-solar-success-story/
- magicalhippo 2y ago
  Depends several factors though. My buddy, 59 deg N, has solar panels on his roof. During winter the sun is so low in the sky that a treeline quite away shadows most of the panels. He doesn't run microinverters so often zero output for an entire day. During summer through he's often self-reliant, including charging his EV. If he had a power-wall type battery he'd be fully self-reliant most of the summer.

Brybry 2y ago

Peak demand in the US is in the summer, specifically July/August, due to air conditioning. [1] Most of the cold climate areas in the US use non-electric heating like gas furnaces (and the non-cold climate areas don't really need a lot of heating). [2] [1] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=60602 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=60602 [2] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=30672 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=30672

jmyeet 2y ago

Here's a nice chart for the US [1]. You are correct that because of colder climates European power demand tends to peak more in winter. I can't find a similar chart to this (ideally broken down by country) but I did find this [2] > Even though it may seem counterintuitive due to their climate, Nordic countries are remarkably well-suited for PV installations. Solar irradiation levels during the long summer days, when the sun barely sets, make these regions perfectly viable for solar power generation. In fact, it’s a burgeoning industry that’s increasingly turning heads towards the north. > Solar PV cells operate more optimally at lower temperatures. Cold environments help maintain the cells’ operational temperature, allowing them to work at peak efficiency. The Nordic regions often enjoy strong sunshine, and when this is coupled with the reflective properties of snow, solar irradiance is significantly increased. A good example of this was during the first COVID lockdown when Western Europe saw record irradiance levels. [1]: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42915 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42915 [2]: https://ratedpower.com/blog/nordic-solar-success-story/ https://ratedpower.com/blog/nordic-solar-success-story/

magicalhippo 2y ago
Depends several factors though. My buddy, 59 deg N, has solar panels on his roof. During winter the sun is so low in the sky that a treeline quite away shadows most of the panels. He doesn't run microinverters so often zero output for an entire day. During summer through he's often self-reliant, including charging his EV. If he had a power-wall type battery he'd be fully self-reliant most of the summer.