Hacker News Reader

plus with every advancement in cost and efficiency the amount of sun needed reduces. If you're a bit more north you might just need a couple extra panels compared to really sunny places. Even if it's just to offset instead of completely replace other fuels

View on HN

The viability of solar panels in the north depends on eye watering grid prices, which isn't the case everywhere or all of the year. Whenever it occurs it is generally during winter time when a roof worth of panels provides a mere trickle of energy.

I considered some small-medium batteries and panels but the calculation came out massively in favor of putting the same bundle of cash into a financial investment portfolio instead.

I'm 100% with you here (see my comment above about fusion economics.)

But solar doesn't have to be local. Upgrading the grid to move large volumes of electricity from mid to high latitudes changes your equation somewhat.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com