sphericalfox Posted 25 May 2014 Posted 25 May 2014 Not sure how practical these are, or whether the contents of the panel can be ripped up, dismantled and asset stripped, but interesting idea nonetheless.
Guest Roper Posted 25 May 2014 Posted 25 May 2014 Can't even afford to fix pot holes, let alone roll this out. The technology in the panels is dated. Give a few more years and they'll be more cost efficient
sphericalfox Posted 25 May 2014 Author Posted 25 May 2014 Can't even afford to fix pot holes, let alone roll this out. The technology in the panels is dated. Give a few more years and they'll be more cost efficient I don't think there is a suggestion that we'll be relaying the M1 with solar panels any time soon. As described in the video, if the technology is used perhaps domestically or used in special projects, and shown to be cost effective in return, no doubt both the technology will not only be improved, but likely to be able to be produced on a larger scale. I'd still like to see what the elements within the tech that are not recyclable or produced using recyclable material.
Strokes Posted 25 May 2014 Posted 25 May 2014 I don't think there is a suggestion that we'll be relaying the M1 with solar panels any time soon. As described in the video, if the technology is used perhaps domestically or used in special projects, and shown to be cost effective in return, no doubt both the technology will not only be improved, but likely to be able to be produced on a larger scale. I'd still like to see what the elements within the tech that are not recyclable or produced using recyclable material. In all seriousness, it looks like a no brainer, if it is how portrayed in that video.Less maintenance, improved safety and generates electricity, there must be a catch! My guess the price per panel.
lgfualol Posted 25 May 2014 Posted 25 May 2014 Wouldn't these need more maintenance than normal roads?
sphericalfox Posted 25 May 2014 Author Posted 25 May 2014 In all seriousness, it looks like a no brainer, if it is how portrayed in that video. Less maintenance, improved safety and generates electricity, there must be a catch! My guess the price per panel. I'd say like any new tech, that the initial cost of manufacture would be prohibitive, hence the small project/ domestic investment. Obviously there's not much info provided on how much each panel costs to produce even for these, or to repair, and what kind of engineer would be required to maintain them, but if the government departments are actually looking at this as a potential then you'd hope the income generated from the panels make it so that it pays itself and more for its own maintenance I suppose.
MooseBreath Posted 25 May 2014 Posted 25 May 2014 Apart from the upfront and maintenance costs, which would be enourmous, you've also got to orientate them to catch the sun, and you can't build roads on an angle. Most roads are in urban areas where there's a lot of shade, plus you've got vehicles blocking out the sun. He says in northern areas they could heat up to melt snow, but you're not going to catch much solar energy in the north when it's snowing. All the led lighting and such would just be wasteful. You'd first need some solution to storing solar energy at night, then you'd expend it all on lights you don't really need. Could work on a southern desert type road where the sun is high in the sky and there's not much shade, but in those areas you might as well just build a proper solar farm and save on all the costs associated with making it into a road.
Alf Bentley Posted 25 May 2014 Posted 25 May 2014 Didn't Icarus try this years ago? Didn't turn out well...
Alf Bentley Posted 25 May 2014 Posted 25 May 2014 What's with the moose in the opening shot? Is MooseBreath finally revealing what he does for a living....plating the globe with solar freaking roadways?! I'd never have guessed that one...
Strokes Posted 25 May 2014 Posted 25 May 2014 Apart from the upfront and maintenance costs, which would be enourmous, you've also got to orientate them to catch the sun, and you can't build roads on an angle. Most roads are in urban areas where there's a lot of shade, plus you've got vehicles blocking out the sun. He says in northern areas they could heat up to melt snow, but you're not going to catch much solar energy in the north when it's snowing. All the led lighting and such would just be wasteful. You'd first need some solution to storing solar energy at night, then you'd expend it all on lights you don't really need. Could work on a southern desert type road where the sun is high in the sky and there's not much shade, but in those areas you might as well just build a proper solar farm and save on all the costs associated with making it into a road. I would imagine they have a glass front that has prisms in it (like holograms) avoiding the need to be at 35%.
sphericalfox Posted 31 May 2014 Author Posted 31 May 2014 Here's some thoughts on why is a bad idea. http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/05/solar-roadways-project-a-really-bad-idea/
Finnaldo Posted 31 May 2014 Posted 31 May 2014 I'd imagine this will go the same way as Kony 2012. Although it could probably work in some areas of the world. South-western America for a start, Mojave/Arizona. Bit skeptical about it in this country though, unless its just private car parks, but even then half the time it would be in the shade.
ozleicester Posted 31 May 2014 Posted 31 May 2014 surely there is a way to convert all of the friction from tyres on roads.. into energy?
sphericalfox Posted 31 May 2014 Author Posted 31 May 2014 surely there is a way to convert all of the friction from tyres on roads.. into energy? kingfox has already tried to patent that idea, but failed in the duration aspect.
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