Why do you say efficient mining requires 24/7 power? If you are only trying to maximize coin output then I agree.
However you also need cheap power to make that work, I don't have cheep power available here so that strategy doesn't work for me.
I might be wrong in the way I look at this but I think efficient mining equals generating coins at the lowest possible energy usage.
If you are only concerned in lowering your electric cost from the power company then the way to go would be a properly sized grid tie system.
You will have 24/7 power available and when you have sun most of the power will be supplied by solar.
That is the lowest cost system if you want to run 24/7.
Have you ever heard the expression "If the wheels ain't turnin the truck ain't earnin"?
It's a matter of perspective. Unless you can balance power production with consumption you're
losing efficiency. It's impossible to do with solar and mining alone. Mining needs reliable power
to be efficient, solar can't provide that.
The case for solar should be based on consumers that can use all the solar power when it's available and
not suffer when it's not. Air conditioning is the best one I can think of. You have the most power on the hottest,
sunniest days, a win-win.
Again my point is solar power and mining don't mix. You need other forms of production, consumption or storage
to make it work.
I guess we have a different outlook on this, I'm looking long range.
With everything going on in the world power prices are set to skyrocket, when your diesel prices are eating up all your profit your wheels ain't gonna be turnin.
The only thing I need to ROI will be the solar, my miners have been paid a long time ago. I'm looking at 15 months to pay the solar off running 10 tuned L3's.
After that for 6 - 8 hrs a day my power is free if nothing breaks.