>> Solar isn't a good winter emergency power source anyway, at least for short-term emergencies, as in a storm the panels are likely to be covered in snow and there's limited light. <<
1) That depends on your location. Insolation is stronger toward the equator, and also in hot dry areas. If you look at a world map of solar potential, you will see that it is inversely related to snow. Also it takes very heavy snow to block solar panels, because they are dark and absorb light; it can happen, but usually doesn't. So while the observation is valid where it pertains, it does not necessarily pertain to a majority of places that use solar power.
>> But if it's being sold as any sort of emergency system, the customers are being lied to. <<
That really depends on the setup. If it isn't set up as an emergency system, it won't work that way unless jerry-rigged later.
There are emergency-oriented solar systems and individual devices. The appeal of emergency solar is that it gathers its own energy from the sun and doesn't need fuel or a powerplant. Privately owned solar systems can be set up for emergency use, but also, there are solar devices that operate independently, such as light towers and charging stations.
A city would be much more resilient if it had already deployed independent solar-powered units in public places and also stocked supplies in shelters to be distributed in emergencies.
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dancing_serpent
Re: Different functions
Date: 2021-03-01 07:07 pm (UTC)1) That depends on your location. Insolation is stronger toward the equator, and also in hot dry areas. If you look at a world map of solar potential, you will see that it is inversely related to snow. Also it takes very heavy snow to block solar panels, because they are dark and absorb light; it can happen, but usually doesn't. So while the observation is valid where it pertains, it does not necessarily pertain to a majority of places that use solar power.
>> But if it's being sold as any sort of emergency system, the customers are being lied to. <<
That really depends on the setup. If it isn't set up as an emergency system, it won't work that way unless jerry-rigged later.
There are emergency-oriented solar systems and individual devices. The appeal of emergency solar is that it gathers its own energy from the sun and doesn't need fuel or a powerplant. Privately owned solar systems can be set up for emergency use, but also, there are solar devices that operate independently, such as light towers and charging stations.
A city would be much more resilient if it had already deployed independent solar-powered units in public places and also stocked supplies in shelters to be distributed in emergencies.