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Scoundreller06/26/20252 repliesview on HN

Michigan is just like the south: highest electricity consumption is during summer.

This may change with increased use of heat pumps for heating, but it’s still a while out before seasonal electricity consumption patterns invert.

+/- on what effect electric cars will have: people drive more in summer but efficiency goes down in winter.

Arizona, Florida, etc are not really in a sweet spot we all think it is because PV efficiency/output goes marginally down when it’s really hot (ie: when A/C demand peaks). Unless you install the panels at high altitude.


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whall606/26/2025

Interesting that PV efficiency is impacted by peak heat. Why are there so many solar farms in the desert near Las Vegas and in West Texas then? Serious question, would love to know the answer. Are these inefficiencies just now coming to light?

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eldaisfish06/26/2025

we are likely there already.

Ontario, just to the north of Michigan, already has a winter peak very close to the summer peak. The provinces subsidises heat pumps. Ontario will be a winter peaking region in a couple of years.

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