Solar Roads?
Author
Discussion

MadmanO/T People

Original Poster:

908 posts

226 months

Tuesday 31st August 2010
quotequote all
Electricity-generating roads made from solar panels? Sounds like an interesting idea!

http://www.wimp.com/solarhighways/


Cheers,
Madman of the People

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

225 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
Problem 1

Snow

Problem 2

Cars on road aren't transparent


Morningside

24,143 posts

250 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
Haha. Never thought of that banghead So thats the M25 out then hehe

EvilChap

92 posts

202 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
I like the idea, has some potential.

Those solar charged cats eyes are a brilliant idea and prove plenty of light does reach the roads for making energy smile

I wonder if they could use a device to harness the heat from the roads as well?

vxr8mate

1,689 posts

210 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2010
quotequote all
Saw an article some months ago that said we will soon see solar panels in various materials ranging from roads to buildings all generating power. It’s apparently down to advancements in panel technology.

Morningside

24,143 posts

250 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2010
quotequote all
That to me is the main killer for solar panels. If they can get the price down to £10 a sq metre then we all all in luck.

Bowskill

69 posts

209 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2010
quotequote all
This would make repairs after accidents easy if they aren't too difficult to remove and replace. The idea sounds amazing to me, the next step would surely be to have them able to heat up and melt snow/ice as well? That would be epic.

johnnysniper

7 posts

184 months

Friday 1st October 2010
quotequote all
the idea definetely has potential

thinfourth2 said:
Problem 1

Snow

Problem 2

Cars on road aren't transparent
what's the problem about snow? technically snow can easily be removed by vents or temperature

i see another problem - vandalism. these panels have to be really protected.


Edited by johnnysniper on Friday 1st October 14:02

SR06

749 posts

207 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
So instead of bombing small countries for their oil we'll bomb small countries for their sand, soda ash, and lime?

Batfink

1,032 posts

279 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
I always thought you could have solar panels on the motorway lights so the roads do not use power off the national grid..