Solar Roadways and Driveways

[Blaithin]

You just put more thought and effort into that post than this entire topic deserves, but it was very well said.
I am still laughing at the atmosflat comment from binlurking. While big lentil still refers to it as a sphere on a flat earth.

I'm on my laptop sitting by the fire so it's easier to use more words.

I'm a much lazier typer on my phone so the posts tend to be shorter Lol

[Blaithin]

Ah darn. If only I'd mentioned something like that........

[Blaithin]

It seems like the actual road as solar panels didn’t work out well for similar reasons as posted.

Now it sounds like they’re trying out building them over the roads.

Which kind of makes sense. Those are open areas. Cost of supports would be more to be high enough but enough guard fence to prevent piling into the supports, I can’t see any major issues with driving. Location dependent there could be wind or snow issues.

[url]https://m.energytrend.com/news/20200814-19179.html[/url]

[Landdownunder]

you understand thereading of these chuck, just asking and how it affects you in the months ahead

[sumdumguy]

The reason that this topic interests me is I am about to pour a new driveway and no sooner I do that, something new and revolutionary will surely give me buyer’s remorse.

[Blaithin]

The reason that this topic interests me is I am about to pour a new driveway and no sooner I do that, something new and revolutionary will surely give me buyer’s remorse.

Ooo have you seen heated driveways?

Why make energy when you can use it!

[sumdumguy]

It’s actually odd that we say Down South and Up North, come to think of it. We don’t do that with East and West. I guess it actually Over There South. ???? That’s where I am heading next week, better get it straight. ????

[LEP]

It’s actually odd that we say Down South and Up North, come to think of it. We don’t do that with East and West. I guess it actually Over There South. ???? That’s where I am heading next week, better get it straight. ????

For what it's worth, I say up north, down south, down east and out west.

Not sure why out west?? Just habit.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Back on topic.
Having the pleasure of driving around on glare ice roads lately.
And having recently learned how much we spend per mile of highway for winter maintenance annually.
Perhaps there is a case to be made for Blaithin's idea of placing solar panels above the roadway.
Solar roadways and winter would obviously be a disaster. Imagine ice on top of a sheet of glass. Let alone the abuse from salt and snow plows and drastic temperature gradients along with the extreme loads. If you put any texture on the glass for traction, it would drastically lower the efficiency of the panels.

If we put them above the road, to keep the snow off, and also close in the sides so snow can't blow in( the south side could be panels too). we could cut winter road maintenance almost 100%.

This might even be the answer to recycling. Since as we all know, there is no economically viable way to recycle solar panels. And adding them to to grid is a net negative economically and environmentally, take all of the expired solar panels, and use them to enclose our highways. Save the cost of wiring them into the grid, just use them as prebuilt roofing panels.

[Blaithin]

Building new infrastructure over roadways surely isn’t much different than building new infrastructure 200+ km out in the boonies on a piece of land with poor access roads that need improvement before the construction traffic can even use it.