Will We Soon Be Riding on Solar Roads?


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http://news.nationalgeographic.com/energy/2016/03/160310-will-we-soon-be-riding-on-solar-roads/

 

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Will We Soon Be Riding on Solar Roads? The Idea Gains Traction


Solar is popping up just about everywhere, even landfills and parka pockets. So why not roads? Indeed, solar road projects are gaining interest around the world, and some promise to even charge electric cars while moving.

The Netherlands built the first solar road, a bike path, in 2014. France announced a bolder move in January—over the next five years, it plans to install 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of solar roads, designed to supply power to five million people.

That's not all. German company Solmove aims to bring solar panels to German roads, and Idaho-based Solar Roadways has received three rounds of U.S. government funding (plus $2 million in venture capital) to test its technology.

“We have interested customers from all 50 states and most countries around the world,” says Julie Brusaw, who co-founded Solar Roadways with her engineer husband Scott. She says before hitting the open road, they’re testing their panels in non-critical areas such as parking lots, walkways, and their own driveway.

“We are in talks about some very interesting projects,” she says, noting the Missouri Department of Transportation wants to install the panels at a rest area along the I-70 highway. The couple say their tempered-glass panels offer asphalt-like traction, support the weight of semi-trucks, include LEDs for signage, and contain heating elements to melt snow and ice.

Could solar panels really pave the roads of the future? Proponents see endless possibilities, but others raise questions about cost, efficiency, and durability.

 

 

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images_HighRes_solar-roadway-highway-con

 

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Right now, it's probably too expensive to build solar powered roads. I like the idea or concept.

 

Is it feasible with our technology? on large scale -no. also Earthquakes in the west will shred the panels beyond usefulness.

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Unless technology advances lower the cost they will never be feasible in the US. We have too much distance between our major cities and they don't produce enough power to make the cost worth it.

 

And then there is the question of the upkeep.

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Just as an example of the latest cells,

 

the new SolarCity n-type tunnel junction solar cells to be produced at their Buffalo NY gigafactory are rated at 220 watts/m2 at a cost of $0.55/watt. That factory opens quite soon, and is planned to be the first of a series. This price/watt is expected to halve before 2025.

 

This price and output already makes them cost competitive with natural gas generation in much of the US.

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It's a good idea; but no, sadly, they aren't efficient enough yet to quite justify the design, manufacturing, assembly, and installation costs ... yet. 

 

When the output of Photovoltaic Cells reaches something toward 45% or better, and these SR block-units can store and then make use of not only the visual but the heat energy that is landing on them in an efficient manner (because they don't work as well when they're hot), then they'll be a decent option and worth the price tag.

 

Right now, as the technology sits .. no. Sadly, no. :no: The testing installs that have already been put in and trialled in Europe didn't even work half as well as expected.

 

Good idea, but the tech isn't there yet. Ten or 15 years, maybe.

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This play list (if you can actually view the list and not just the top one) explains very well why the entire concept is retarded.
Let's cover the roofs before we pave the roads with solar cells.

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On 7/21/2016 at 7:22 AM, DocM said:

Just as an example of the latest cells,

 

the new SolarCity n-type tunnel junction solar cells to be produced at their Buffalo NY gigafactory are rated at 220 watts/m2 at a cost of kr4.67 ()/watt. That factory opens quite soon, and is planned to be the first of a series. This price/watt is expected to halve before 2025.

 

This price and output already makes them cost competitive with natural gas generation in much of the US.

watch the videos linked above, even at 100% (yeah we'll never even get close to 20%) efficiency, solar roads will never make sense. 

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