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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2014 12:55:23 GMT -8
source
A small US-based company called Solar Roadways are developing a solar road surface that, if installed nationwide, has the potential to produce more renewable energy than the entire country uses. In fact, they’ve actually already developed a working prototype that’s been installed in a parking lot, and they’re now crowdsourcing funds in order to tweak the design and move towards production. Solar Roadways, which was started by Scott and Julie Brusaw in 2006, designed and developed hexagonal glass solar panels studded with LED lights that could be installed on a variety of surfaces such as roads, pavements and playgrounds. These panels would more than pay for themselves and would benefit both businesses and homeowners as the energy generated from driveways and parking lots could be used to power buildings, and any excess can be sold back to the grid. The panels also contain heating elements to melt ice and snow so are ideal in winter conditions, and LEDs to make road lines and signs which have been previously shown to reduce night time accidents. The surface could also be used to charge electric vehicles as oppose to fossil fuels, and future technology could even allow for charging whilst driving via mutual induction panels. Amazingly, the team also found that car headlights can produce energy in the panels, so cars driving around at night would be producing some electricity. Snow test: the powered row of panels are free of snow/ice. Image credit: Solar Roadways. A glass surface may sound fragile, but the prototypes have been extensively tested and were found to be able to withstand even the heaviest trucks. Recycled materials can also be used to produce the panels; the prototypes were constructed using 10% recycled glass. All of the panels will be wired up, so faults can be easily detected and repaired. They team have also designed a place to stash power cables, called “Cable Corridors”, which would allow easy access by utility workers. Furthermore, they also believe that these corridors could be used to house fiber optic cables for high-speed internet. The team have done some calculations; there’s approximately 31,000 square miles of usable surfaces in the US, and if all of these were covered the Solar Roadways system could produce over three times the electricity that is used by the entire country. That’s an incredible potential that could lead to a huge decrease in dependence on foreign oil. It would also cut CO2 emissions by a considerable amount. Obviously, this project isn’t going to be cheap. Solar Roadways are hoping to raise $1 million on their indiegogo page so that they can hire engineers to make final modifications and move from prototype to production. They think that if they reach their target they should be able to begin installing projects at the end of the year, but a significantly larger amount of money would be required if they were to try to cover all the roads in the US! Here's a YouTube video from Solar Roadways if you'd like to find out more: sourceRead more at www.iflscience.com/technology/solar-roads-could-power-entire-country#SZTb6mJguO8J2H16.99
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2014 13:03:11 GMT -8
The trippiest thing about this is I had the same idea just back in the nineties, I shared it with my family and friends more than a few times and was always looked at like that's idiotic or crazy. But I knew the value was there if only I had the time to make it work. right down to it being tiles, with space under for drainage and moving power lines off of poles. Heck add piezoelectrics and even the traffic travelling over them could add power as well.
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Post by Willing Sniper on May 12, 2014 15:56:43 GMT -8
They'll be killed off or blocked in congress
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Post by domic on May 12, 2014 18:42:13 GMT -8
Big oil will put a stop to it the same as high mileage cars.
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2014 18:57:44 GMT -8
Big oil will put a stop to it the same as high mileage cars. My thought as well.
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Post by Miriam on May 13, 2014 19:15:48 GMT -8
I love this idea. Maybe it's time to begin caring about God's creation instead of ruining it all
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Billy
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Post by Billy on May 13, 2014 19:19:14 GMT -8
It melts the snow how cool is that?
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Post by Willing Sniper on May 14, 2014 9:08:26 GMT -8
No. That's hot!
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2014 9:14:03 GMT -8
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Billy
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Post by Billy on May 14, 2014 9:17:02 GMT -8
I wonder how they perform at high speeds. I also wonder how our admin performs at high speeds.
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Post by Willing Sniper on May 14, 2014 9:22:02 GMT -8
Maybe you should pull the Pacer out and give it a go
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Post by Pilgrim47 on May 14, 2014 9:44:29 GMT -8
I may have missed it but I see nothing stating the initial cost per panel installed... I've bought solar panels and they don't come cheap.
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Post by Pilgrim47 on May 14, 2014 9:44:54 GMT -8
It'll never fly.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2014 9:47:47 GMT -8
I may have missed it but I see nothing stating the initial cost per panel installed... I've bought solar panels and they don't come cheap. They are expensive but will pay for themselves in 30 or 50 years. lol
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Post by Pilgrim47 on May 14, 2014 9:49:59 GMT -8
They'll be worn out by then.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2014 9:56:40 GMT -8
They'll be worn out by then. Can they wear out?
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2014 9:57:39 GMT -8
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Post by Pilgrim47 on May 14, 2014 10:00:22 GMT -8
I would imagine so...
I seriously doubt you can run on them for 30 to 50 years without showing wear.
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Post by Pilgrim47 on May 14, 2014 10:01:09 GMT -8
Howdy Emma
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Post by Willing Sniper on May 14, 2014 10:01:16 GMT -8
pacers certainly don't fly.
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Post by Willing Sniper on May 14, 2014 10:02:28 GMT -8
But they would only need replacement where the tires wear.
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Post by Pilgrim47 on May 14, 2014 10:03:37 GMT -8
They were well before my time so I'll have to take your word on that one.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2014 10:04:41 GMT -8
pacers certainly don't fly. No but they might float.
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Post by Willing Sniper on May 14, 2014 10:06:03 GMT -8
The problems.
Asphalt = fossil fuels
Gas turbine = fossil fuels
Coal = fossil fuel
Nuclear = heavily invested fossil fuel companies.
These industries have our government bought. It will never happen
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Post by Willing Sniper on May 14, 2014 10:07:34 GMT -8
What would be cool is if they could also be used to power electric cars. I know they could.
Again it will never happen.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2014 10:09:31 GMT -8
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Post by Pilgrim47 on May 14, 2014 10:12:17 GMT -8
But they would only need replacement where the tires wear. On heavily traveled roads you will find few spots where tires don't wear. And each and every panel will flex and bend with every passing tire. I'm sure they will serve a purpose in certain applications, but not a highway system. But of course, I've been wrong twice already.
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Billy
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Post by Billy on May 14, 2014 10:12:20 GMT -8
What would be cool is if they could also be used to power electric cars. I know they could. Again it will never happen. That would be very awesome!
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Post by Willing Sniper on May 14, 2014 10:16:44 GMT -8
Awesome indeed.
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Post by Willing Sniper on May 14, 2014 10:18:41 GMT -8
But they would only need replacement where the tires wear. On heavily traveled roads you will find few spots where tires don't wear. And each and every panel will flex and bend with every passing tire. I'm sure they will serve a purpose in certain applications, but not a highway system. But of course, I've been wrong twice already. I think it would work. The fact that the system is jointed will also cut down on wear and the usual cracking of asphalt due to terrain flexation.
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