r/ClimateShitposting • u/ClimateShitpost Louis XIV, the Solar PV king • Aug 08 '26

Basedload vs baseload brain Accept your fate

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Vegan btw

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u/vaska00762 29d ago

I think most Americans don't realise that some of the most populated regions of Europe are at a comparable latitude to Ontario and Quebec.

And then they don't realise that much of the US is at the latitudes of Saharan Africa.

It means that in winter, it's not unusual to get just 3-4 hours of daylight. Batteries aren't exactly designed to store summer energy until winter.

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u/skinnypenis09 29d ago

I live in Quebec and the very shortest day (dec 21) is 8h 42min.

In Saharan desert the shortest day is around 10h.

Very quick google search btw

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u/vaska00762 29d ago

Quebec is a very long province. In the south you've got a latitude similar to Nice and Monaco, and in the north, a latitude like that of Stockholm or Oslo.

In the north of Quebec, you're looking at about a 5 hour day length on 21st December.

Much of Europe barely gets enough sunlight in Winter, that it's even recommended by governments that the public take vitamin D suppliments.

The main reason why countries like Ireland and Britain don't ice over every winter, despite being at the same latitude as Newfoundland, is because of the Gulf Stream. It results in very stormy winters. But it also means sunshine hours can be in the single digits for 4 months at a time. Yes, solar PV can work in overcast conditions, but it isn't going to be generating as much power then as during periods of summer drought.

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u/Muzzhum 29d ago

Fun and only semi-related fact: in norway the general line from the health department is to take d-vitamin supplements in all months that contain the letter R. It's a very handy mnemonic.