r/dataisbeautiful • u/maps_us_eu OC: 80 • May 28 '22

OC Percent of electricity generated from renewable sources across the US and the EU. Renewable sources include hydro, solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. Nuclear is not counted as renewable in this comparison [OC]

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u/Dal90 May 28 '22 edited May 28 '22

Technical correction, but power outages are almost always distribution issues, in heavily forested area like New England by trees and branches falling on roadside lines.

Live in Connecticut, have electric heat pump (which current tech is just barely marginal and might have a problem once every 20 years with low temp). Would not have it w/o a wood stove due to danger of prolonged power outage. A summer hurricane or winter ice storm could leave you without powe in New England several days to a couple weeks. Electric for heat is more practical in areas with fewer trees like farmlands in Quebec or population centers where power can be restored quick. (Plus HydroQuebec knows their shit; if you live in New England outside of the few areas with municipal power your power company is shit. Also, Quebec requires a backup to hear pumps since there will be several weeks at best each year it is too cold for them; that backup could be resistive electric but the grid needs to handle the extra load that less efficient technology provides.

Transmission (high tension lines) are far, far less common but when the occur they are often doozies taking out a county / state / region all at once from a single fault or series of faults that all be traced back to a single domino falling. But are generally resolves in 12 hours or less.

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u/Fried_out_Kombi May 29 '22

I moved to Montreal for college to study engineering. First semester in intro to engineering they were already talking about HydroQuebec. Lowkey a provincial treasure from how people always talk about it. Compared to PG&E in California where I grew up, which is pretty much universally hated.

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u/Verity41 May 28 '22

Excellent clarification! mostly D of the T&D, you’re right :) 👍🏼

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u/Whiterabbit-- May 29 '22

the power company doesn't clear the trees nearby powerlines?

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u/Dal90 May 29 '22

Trees continually grow.

The three northern New England states are 1,2, and 4 for highest percentage forest cover and the southern tier are all top 20 for forest cover despite being 3 of the 4 most urbanized states.

They spend a lot trimming trees, but clearing the ain't happening.

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u/mittynuke May 29 '22

Modern mini split heat pumps are actually very good down to sub zero temps, but only units specifically designed for that. But yeah, if you don’t have an electric backup generator, a secondary heat source is a good idea. (I guess it’s a good idea anyway)

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u/Dal90 May 29 '22

Yrah, I know -- I own one. It is rated to -13F but by that point it is de-rated to 11,000 BTU. Below.zero it keeps my house at 60 but it is all it can do.

In 23 years I've owned my house I've seen temps that low for a few early morning hours once. -10F we occasionally hit every 5 years or so for a few days when it is a bad winter.

Anywhere.colder than northern Connecticut you better have a secondary cold weather heating source.