Seems like a good idea.

www.iflscience.com/technology/solar-roads-could-power-entire-country/

I don't get it. How is this any different than putting solar cells on a roof, or anywhere else?

Can't see the up-side, but plenty of down-side. Will wear out from traffic, will be in the shadow of traffic, need to be made strong enough to carry traffic - but what is the point?

I'd hate to imagine the cost compared to dedicated rooftop solar or PV farm.

What am I missing here?

and whats the difference of cost to asphalt given most places wont be diggin up their billion$ highways to replace it any time soon mite be doable for a home driveway

Years ago, there was a power generating roadway being spruiked in the USA,
Instead of solar, it was hydraulic.

Sections of road were constructed out of special panels, and hooked up to hydraulic rams which were underneath.
As vehicles drove over the road, the panel flexed slightly, the rams were compressed which forced fluid through a hydraulic pump - hooked up to a generator/turbine thingo.

IIRC, there was mention of it being "easily" adapted for use as bridge decking, on bridges that use steel mesh as roadway - so every vehicle driving over the bridge triggered a continual series of hydraulic pulses.


stephen

sn said...
Years ago, there was a power generating roadway being spruiked in the USA,
Instead of solar, it was hydraulic.

Sections of road were constructed out of special panels, and hooked up to hydraulic rams which were underneath.
As vehicles drove over the road, the panel flexed slightly, the rams were compressed which forced fluid through a hydraulic pump - hooked up to a generator/turbine thingo.

IIRC, there was mention of it being "easily" adapted for use as bridge decking, on bridges that use steel mesh as roadway - so every vehicle driving over the bridge triggered a continual series of hydraulic pulses.


stephen

someone was in fantasy land for that one, way to much engineering under the road and would increase the fuel consumed by the vehicles as they are effectively driving up a tiny but continuous incline to get up and 'over' the pump.

can we change the thread name to dumb ideas

I reckon you guys are a bit short sighted and negative. Sure paving every road is unlikely to be a go, and even as a running surface it is iffy...but it is ideas like this that lead to real innovation.

Solar panel tech is advancing pretty quickly and cost are dropping. If some of the implementation challenges are solved and costs are low enough I can see some possibilities. A strip of it in the shoulder/breakdown lane could power entire freeway lighting systems.

I'm liking it more and more..