I have to contend with harsh winters where the ground freezes at least 6 ft deep and then short winter days might bot be sufficient for solar in the winter. The Pico hydro could work providing I account for having some kind of system to prevent the source water from freezing (rivers and lakes here.can freeze 3ft or more.deep). The other benefit of going deep would be using excess heat to melt snow and ice which could be stored and just keeping the driveway clear all winter.
I have an idea of where you are I think from the temps…. There’s a guy in northern Canada, sells a solar charger kit, wonderful wacky autistic bastard, lives totally on solar. Uses it to heat, and hot water too. Stores the excess as a thermal mass. He ran the number and it’s literally cheaper to do photovoltaic panels ( a ton) than it is to do other methods. Also, panels are cheap. Used $50 each, new $150. With low light high latitude you just over panel by a factor. Double , triple… int he summer you can use the wild excess to run a hot tub.
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