Fun Stuff > CHATTER

Could this idea change the world for the better?

<< < (4/5) > >>

The Seldom Killer:
Not sure that would really be worthwhile. The base cost of a pre-tarmac parking lot would be prohibitive on payback costs. However, what occurs to me is that, away from the road format, this design offers a more readily ablative and modular installation system for solar energy than the existing panel or tile options. Certainly it could allow for more accessible commissioning on existing structures and surfaces so there's scope there to utilise this elsewhere.

pwhodges:
People make car parks to put cars in; cars shade the panels.  You are hugely reducing the efficiency of the panels by deliberately putting them where they will get shaded much of the time.  Also factor in the increased cost due to having to make a panel that is still transparent, but can take the impact loads of traffic.  Given the currently still poor economics of such panels in ideal circumstances, doing this would be perverse.

Neko_Ali:
The logical thing is what some places are already doing. Setting up in car parks, but as roofs over the parking spaces. Large, otherwise open areas of ground with sky access for the panels to work in. Nothing sitting on top of them to block them. And they act as shade/weather protection for the cars and people coming and going.

Omio:
Wouldn't this kind of thing be better as a sidewalk, rather than a road, per se? Sidewalks are often better-maintained than roads, and don't see as much punishment, and yet the surface area (while about 10-35% the size of roads) would be made mostly efficient. The lights could also be programmed per region to spell out names of certain areas.

It's a good concept, but it needs just a tad more refining and narrowing.

jwhouk:
That was part of my suggestion about parking lots.

Only one thing that I see wrong about this: wouldn't solar radiation generate heat?

Two words: Melted Tires.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page