Solar FREAKIN' roadways!

[Derek 2.0]

I recently saw this proposal:

Now as I understand, building such roads will have an initial outlay four times that of conventional roads. Now if the claims on potential energy generation are true, how long to see a return on investment?

Even on a smaller scale, like a personal driveway, if one was to pay out of pocket to install such a driveway, what’s the timeframe till the reduction in personal electric/power bills pays for both the investment and upkeep?

I might not fully understand the science, but on the surface (pun intended), it’s at the very least an interesting idea…..So will this be a technological fad or is there some validity to this proposal?

[cybercoma]

I think someone estimated that the cost of implementing this would exceed the total combined value of all the world's economies or something similarly absurd. It sounds great, but it'll never get the investment. It would be nice to see it taken up in small parts, e.g., business parking lots, home driveways, sidewalks in parks.

Oh and another thing that I wondered about was the visibility of the LEDs during the daytime. Can you really see them well enough to use the road itself for traffic signals or parking lot lines, etc.

Edited June 11, 2014 by cybercoma

[Mighty AC]

Even on a smaller scale, like a personal driveway, if one was to pay out of pocket to install such a driveway, what’s the timeframe till the reduction in personal electric/power bills pays for both the investment and upkeep?

It's a very interesting proposal if they are durable enough to provide a decent ROI. For actual roadways installation time would also be a negative factor as current highways can be paved rather quickly.

For personal driveways and commercial parking lots I would love to see provinces implement a loan plan like California has for rooftop solar. Adding the solar driveway or rooftop panels adds value to the property but since it takes about 8 years to finance, many people forgo the opportunity because it locks them into a property long term. To solve this California provided loans with payments added to the property tax bill. That way owners could sell a property and pass on the added value of the solar technology along with the remaining loan.

[TimG]

I might not fully understand the science, but on the surface (pun intended), it’s at the very least an interesting idea…..So will this be a technological fad or is there some validity to this proposal?

It is a scam that is not remotely plausible.

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/06/04/solar-roadways-biggest-indiegogo-scam-ever/

Got that? Airplane black boxes to road surfaces logic, check. LED’s to guide cars down the road at night with optional Windex tankers ahead of you, check. Heating elements to melt snow and ice, but no cognizant idea of just how much power it takes to melt snow and ice versus the amount of power a dirty scuffed up solar cell will produce, check.

The most ridiculous parts of this idea don’t just include the unsuitability of solar tiles as a road surface (high friction surfaces and transparent optical surfaces are total opposites) and the ginormous production and maintenance costs involved, but also include the ill-considered support infrastructure requirements, the poor visibility of LED road lighting itself, and the short lifespan of materials involved.

All in all, it’s a colossal green tech train wreck, but these clowns may be laughing all the way to the bank, or they may be shysters, either way, there’s a sucker born every minute.

[Derek 2.0]

I think someone estimated that the cost of implementing this would exceed the total combined value of all the world's economies or something similarly absurd. It sounds great, but it'll never get the investment. It would be nice to see it taken up in small parts, e.g., business parking lots, home driveways, sidewalks in parks.

It does seem like it would be rather expensive on a National/Provincial/Municipal scale…….

Oh and another thing that I wondered about was the visibility of the LEDs during the daytime. Can you really see them well enough to use the road itself for traffic signals or parking lot lines, etc.

Good point.

[Derek 2.0]

For personal driveways and commercial parking lots I would love to see provinces implement a loan plan like California has for rooftop solar. Adding the solar driveway or rooftop panels adds value to the property but since it takes about 8 years to finance, many people forgo the opportunity because it locks them into a property long term. To solve this California provided loans with payments added to the property tax bill. That way owners could sell a property and pass on the added value of the solar technology along with the remaining loan.

That’s what I would lean towards…..my parents recently paid just shy of 10k to have their asphalt driveway resurfaced……I’d have to wonder if homeowners in their late 70s and early 80s would ever realistically see a benefit in a retrofit……..Maybe installed on new homes, with the cost incorporated into the purchase price…….

[-1=e^ipi]

This idea is about as viable as coating our roads with magic pixie dust and unicorn tears.

Anyone that bought into this nonsense, especially the individuals that donated over ~2,000,000 dollars to this 'cause', should feel immense shame.

Thunderf00t recently did a video series to explain why this is stupid. Enjoy:

[cybercoma]

That’s what I would lean towards…..my parents recently paid just shy of 10k to have their asphalt driveway resurfaced……I’d have to wonder if homeowners in their late 70s and early 80s would ever realistically see a benefit in a retrofit……..Maybe installed on new homes, with the cost incorporated into the purchase price…….

Not having to shovel is a major benefit to Canadians and an added safety feature for Canada Post.....oh wait, there's no door-to-door delivery anymore.

[cybercoma]

This idea is about as viable as coating our roads with magic pixie dust and unicorn tears.

You might be on to something. You should start a Kickstarter campaign.

[Derek 2.0]

Not having to shovel is a major benefit to Canadians and an added safety feature for Canada Post.....oh wait, there's no door-to-door delivery anymore.

We live in Greater Vancouver……we hardly ever get shovel worthy snow……

[-1=e^ipi]

New video looking at performance of solar bikeways.

Putting non-tracking solar panels on a roof has about twice the performance.

There you go. This idea is stupid.

[Bonam]

Yeah I'm not sure why people are so fascinated with the idea of solar roads, which are prone to getting partially obstructed, dirty, cracked, etc, when we have more than enough area on roofs to install as many solar panels as we can possibly produce. Roofs get less obstruction, solar panels on roofs don't have to be covered in protective tempered glass or other materials that further reduce irradiance (and thus power output), etc.

I suspect the idea is one of outreach and bragging... look at us, look how green we are, you're walking/biking/driving on a solar panel! A lot of people see roads, not a lot of people see the tops of roofs. So it's all about image, not energy.

[Michael Hardner]

Yeah I'm not sure why people are so fascinated with the idea of solar roads

Me neither. Stupid ideas shoot around on facebook and like-minded friends refuse to question their friends' posts.

Do everybody a favour and go on facebook and question, however gently, the dumb/incorrect/ill-considered ideas of people who have the same political beliefs as you and see what happens.