[wtracy]

That assumes that each location receives enough sunlight to keep the server operational for at least twelve hours a day, which doesn't sound realistic for a setup with no batteries. Three servers spaced equidistant around the world might work.

If you're going down that route anyway, you could add redundant servers at different latitudes to hedge against cloudy weather.

[jedberg]

> That assumes that each location receives enough sunlight to keep the server operational for at least twelve hours a day

Only one of them needs to be up at a time. By choosing the antipode, by definition one of them will be in sun when the other is not (weather notwithstanding). The equinox would be the hardest day to deal with because they would both be at low energy at sunrise/sunset.

So yes, you're right, a third server would probably make it work almost 100% of the time.

[bacon_waffle]

I don't think the equinox is special in this regard - as the days at one point get longer, they shorten at the antipode.

As a practical matter insolation at dawn/dusk won't be able to power much, without a PV array that would be quite oversize during the day.

Lots of interesting optimisation problems in this area. But at this scale batteries and solar panels come in discrete sizes, so it's a bit academic.

[jedberg]

Ah, I see what you mean. If they are antipodes, then dusk and dawn will happen together every day. This is a good point. I was thinking there would be more overlap on the other days, but you're right, there wouldn't be.