ENDLESS ELECTRICITY: Here's A Way Of Turning America's Roads Into Gigantic Solar Panels

Business Insider ^ | 05/14/2014 | ROB WILE

[SeekAndFind]

Solar Roadways

Julie and Scott Brusaw.

There are about 31,251 square miles of roads, parking lots, driveways, playgrounds, bike paths, and sidewalks in the lower 48 states. If Julie and Scott Brusaw have their way, they will all someday be replaced with solar panels.

For the better part of a decade, the Idaho couple has been working on prototyping an industrial-strength panel that could withstand the weight of even the largest trucks. They now appear to have cracked the formula, developing a specially textured glass coating for the panels that can not only bear tremendous loads but also support standard tire traction. 

By their reckoning, at peak installation their panelized roads could produce more than three times the electricity consumed in the U.S.

The material could power electric vehicles through a receiver plate mounted beneath the vehicle and a transmitter plate is installed in the road.

Solar Roadways

[Ghost of SVR4]

I like the idea, but agree with you. These things wouldn’t stand a chance against snow plows.

[Pecos]

And for only 14 gagillion dollars (after all the right cronies/socialists get their cut). What bargain.

[Vigilanteman]

Looks like an Avalon Hill board game from the 70s or 80s!

Loved those games and especially the more sophisticated version by Simulations Publications. Four guys and I stacked into a car in the days after Christmas 1974 to go to New York, play test and meet the legendary James Dunnigan in person.

SPI and Dunnigan designed Avalon Hill's better games.

[nomad]

Well a 12ft. plow, depending on manufacturer, can weight in at about 3000lbs. and is pushed at around 25-30 MPH, some drivers love to see the rooster tails fly so they go faster.

Would that panel absorb such abuse? Not to mention de-icer corrosion and sand abrasion.

[JimRed]

It will never see the light of day, outside of testing. Too much money made by other interests is at stake.

[MrB]

Any “clouding” of the clear covering will reduce efficiency significantly. And driving on the panels will definitely scratch and cloud those surfaces.

[MCF]

In the winter, solar panels in the south could be used to heat the panels in the north. Snowplows would only be necessary in times of heavy snow fall.

[SampleMan]

If the joint were pervious so water could soak into the ground underneath that would be a plus.

The ground underneath is still going to be 6-12" of concrete.

[TangoLimaSierra]

One problem with solar panels is that when they are connected in series they are limited to the output of the worst producing panel.

Have you heard of MPPT chargers?

[TangoLimaSierra]

I like the idea, but agree with you. These things wouldn’t stand a chance against snow plows.

Don't know why so many are making the snowplow comment. Article says they produce heat to melt ice & snow. I like the idea, too, as long as taxpayers are not subsidizing it.

[Sacajaweau]

Everything that I read says solar panels are hot when the sun is up.

Ever step barefoot on hot asphalt or concrete?

[oh8eleven]

I don’t think it is intended for places that snow.
From the article:

"There are about 31,251 square miles of roads, parking lots, driveways, playgrounds,
bike paths, and sidewalks in the lower 48 states."

Doesn't sound like they excluded any cold/snowy states to me.
Plus, why are they testing in Idaho?

[achilles2000]

If the market is allowed ot work, every source finds its niche, but solar is only a niche source. The physics of it make it very limited, and that’s before you get to storage issues.

[Smokin' Joe]

If the joint were pervious so water could soak into the ground underneath that would be a plus.

In these parts, the freeze and thaw cycle would have the road surface and subgrade a shambles every spring and fall, and hell to drive on all winter (until the trucks broke everything down and mashed it flat).

[Smokin' Joe]

Y’all better have a LOT of sunshine. You’d need to heat the panels 70-80 degrees on some days just to get the snow to melt, and that doesn’t account for wind chill on the panels.

[CodeToad]

Or are too dirty to allow sunlight to pass through.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I can see this happening at the Subdivision level. A small power plant built into a subdivision with the sidewalks and possibly driveways configured to accommodate the panels.

Home owners would pay for their electricity as part of their HOA dues.

[Smokin' Joe]

I can’t see living anywhere there is a HOA.

[JWC 1965]

I could see anything happening at this point.

He lies about everything and there’s no telling what else is being covered up.

[MeshugeMikey]

the shells about be be busted wide open...