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http://elitedaily.com/news/technology/need-convincing-solar-roadways-worth-funding-video-will-help/604220/?utm_source=FBTraffic&utm_medium=fijifrost&utm_campaign=CMfacebook


Link to website outlining this "pipe dream" of a technology... Thoughts, concerns?

I want this to be true.

After watching the video, I kind of do as well... But I still see some issues that need to be worked out.

For instance, if you put these things down in a place like say, Seattle, where there are 60 sunny days a year, these things don't seem like they'll be all that useful, unless they can still draw power from the "sunlight" even though it's not direct.

Also, they talk about them being heated, so we'll "never need to shovel snow, or waste tax money on plows"... Do they not remember the Ice Bowl? (technically, I dont because I wasnt born yet, but I love history, and I love sports, so I really love sports history) they also had a "heating system" to get rid of the need for snow shoveling, but it got "too cold" and the system broke, causing all kinds of problems (well, mostly for the Cowboys).

The last one for me... They want to use them on airport runways. Well, there are the ends of the runways where the jumbo jets first make contact with the ground, and these spots get absolutely caked with rubber from the tires. Obviously (at least in my mind) if a solar panel is completely covered in rubber, it won't collect energy.

I see this being an exorbitantly expensive project that may, or may not work.

Either way, the cost to implement... it's never going to happen.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:


The last one for me... They want to use them on airport runways. Well, there are the ends of the runways where the jumbo jets first make contact with the ground, and these spots get absolutely caked with rubber from the tires. Obviously (at least in my mind) if a solar panel is completely covered in rubber, it won't collect energy.

Why? Plenty other other places to put them. Airport Taxi ways would make a better spot if they must be at an airport. Planes don't "peel out" headed to the runway.

Stadium parking lots might be another good place. The lots are only covered when there is a game/event. The other 80% of the time, the lots are empty.

 djones520 wrote:
I see this being an exorbitantly expensive project that may, or may not work.

Either way, the cost to implement... it's never going to happen.

But... But... Shovel ready jobs... Thanks Obama


All kidding aside, I think that, so long as these private groups/individuals continue their testing, etc. they can get this to a point where it's a "guaranteed to work" kind of tech, then, once they can get the manufacturing down to a reasonable price. It's a tough sell, but I think one of the key selling points would have to be repair costs/expected time in between initial install and routine maintenance vs. the repair costs and time between install/routine maintenance on your "standard" asphalt roads (each state having it's own preferred materials making this one more difficult, and localized)

One of the guys from Uni posted this up on facebook. I think it looks great.

SOLAR FREAKING ROADWAYS!

 djones520 wrote:
I see this being an exorbitantly expensive project that may, or may not work.

Either way, the cost to implement... it's never going to happen.

Yeah, the cost of this would be astronomical. Not to mention the cost of maintenance. When you get a pothole, you just slap some new asphalt in it.

With this, you need to put in a new panel which costs hundreds of dollars. And hire an overpaid electrician to install it for you.


This won't happen as long as the production cost of Solar panels is as high as it is, and China holds the lion share of the REMs to build them.

It would be more practical if we were mining other planets or asteroids for materials.

Don't solar panels produce a lot of toxic waste in their production? I'd imagine the production of enough panels to pave our country would not only be massively expensive but all of that toxic waste wouldn't be good for their environment.

 Grey Templar wrote:


Yeah, the cost of this would be astronomical. Not to mention the cost of maintenance. When you get a pothole, you just slap some new asphalt in it.

With this, you need to put in a new panel which costs hundreds of dollars. And hire an overpaid electrician to install it for you.

The problem with most road repair is that they just dump in new material, tamp it down, and possibly put a rubberized tar sealant around the edge... The problem with that method is that it creates a seam which creates variances in the road surface. rain/snow and ice that pools in the lower spots of that variance will be hit by cars, and create even more potholes, which need to be fixed (usually in the same manner) which leads to further potholes, etc. It's almost like a pyramid scheme of automobile destruction.


As for the solar panel replacement. I can't see needing much in the way of super fancy education, degrees and the like (though in most likelihoods, the guys who do the work will be union), so I don't think you'd be paying Electrician pay for the repairs.

I think you'd still legally need electricians because this would be dealing with electricity.

If I hire a painter to paint my house, he cannot legally take down the light fixtures around the outside of my house because he's not an electrician. Either I have to hire an electrician or do it myself.

Sure, a 5 year old could probably install these things. But legally you have to be licensed to deal with it.

Well we certainly do need find a way as a species to increase the percentage of the earth's surface area we're using for energy collection without further encroachment land good for food production, drinking water, ecological stability or living. I like this concept because it does exactly that, and does so while doubling up on existing infrastructure functionality which is always nice. That said nothing I'm seeing about this screams "Ready for prime time" or even "Ready for prime time within the decade".


Not to mention at least in America I'm not sure there is going to be any political will for broad infrastructure improvements until after half the country is in literal sinkholes. Let alone implementing some new kind of power grid supplement on a broad basis. Like even if this thing was indefinitely efficient, dirt cheap to produce and took minimal effort to install I couldn't see anything happening. Infastructure just isn't sexy enough to spend a cent on unless its in a state where it's inconveniencing a large campaign contributor.

I imagine this will be more likely in residential applications than municipal. Put in solar driveways and/or sidewalks.

 Grey Templar wrote:

If I hire a painter to paint my house, he cannot legally take down the light fixtures around the outside of my house because he's not an electrician. Either I have to hire an electrician or do it myself.

Where the hell do you live that painters cannot actually prep the house for painting? My granddad has spent the last 30 years as a painter and remodeller and not once has he had to hire an electrician to take down a light fixture in order to paint the exterior of a house.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 Grey Templar wrote:

If I hire a painter to paint my house, he cannot legally take down the light fixtures around the outside of my house because he's not an electrician. Either I have to hire an electrician or do it myself.

Where the hell do you live that painters cannot actually prep the house for painting? My granddad has spent the last 30 years as a painter and remodeller and not once has he had to hire an electrician to take down a light fixture in order to paint the exterior of a house.

I said "legally"

Anyway, I live in Cali. We have too many laws and regulations. Things may be different elsewhere.

I currently have an internship with a painting company, so yeah. We can't take light fixtures off here.

 Grey Templar wrote:

I currently have an internship with a painting company, so yeah. We can't take light fixtures off here.

That is probably one of the most ridiculous things I've heard all night... And I've just got home from a rugby club social where we just got done playing against a Welsh touring team.

 TheCustomLime wrote:
Don't solar panels produce a lot of toxic waste in their production? I'd imagine the production of enough panels to pave our country would not only be massively expensive but all of that toxic waste wouldn't be good for their environment.

The manufacture of technology in general. Purifying silicone is a long process that involves a lot of corrosive chemicals like hydrochloric acid, and the impurities themselves can be highly toxic. Electronics also use a lot of metals like lead, copper, silver etc... which present various hazards. A lot of fossil fuel is consumed just disposing of this waste cleanly, let alone in the manufacture and transport of the useful product. This is often left out of the equation when people discuss so called "clean" energy, as well as other supposedly "green" initiatives like recycling.

Why waste time with all these (dangerous, busy) roads when there are millions of roofs just sitting there? Lets solar-powerize the roads after we have covered all the roofs first.

feeder wrote:
Why waste time with all these (dangerous, busy) roads when there are millions of roofs just sitting there? Lets solar-powerize the roads after we have covered all the roofs first.

But where else are hipsters going to try their hand at farming?

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

feeder wrote:
Why waste time with all these (dangerous, busy) roads when there are millions of roofs just sitting there? Lets solar-powerize the roads after we have covered all the roofs first.

But where else are hipsters going to try their hand at farming?

In the seventh layer of hell where they belong?

lmfao ^

 Smacks wrote:

 TheCustomLime wrote:
Don't solar panels produce a lot of toxic waste in their production? I'd imagine the production of enough panels to pave our country would not only be massively expensive but all of that toxic waste wouldn't be good for their environment.

The manufacture of technology in general. Purifying silicone is a long process that involves a lot of corrosive chemicals like hydrochloric acid, and the impurities themselves can be highly toxic. Electronics also use a lot of metals like lead, copper, silver etc... which present various hazards. A lot of fossil fuel is consumed just disposing of this waste cleanly, let alone in the manufacture and transport of the useful product. This is often left out of the equation when people discuss so called "clean" energy, as well as other supposedly "green" initiatives like recycling.

Yup. Which is what I think electronic road ways are impractical and will be for a very long time. Not only will they produce a gak ton of toxic waste just to cover the immense amount of road ways we have but they will be massively, massively, massively expensive to install.

But this technology has a lot of potential. I think we should be using it in places like amusement parks, shopping malls or wherever so that we can organize the masses better. Imagine if the floors at Disney land could interact with you to guide you to where you need to go. Imagine if shopping mall grounds could tell you where and when sales are happening. Imagine if the roads in Parking Lots could direct people to the next available parking spot for them or alert them to when certain sections are full.