Solar freakin roadways
Not freakin again.
In fairness, road traffic is orders of magnitude more destructive than foot traffic.
Right, but the last attempt was falling apart within months of instillation with very light foot tragic and weather so…
in fairness to being fair, there have been multiple attempts, and every single time the results are extremely clear. Building an elevated solar shade using solar panels to both generate power, and cool down the walking/biking path. Is both more effective, and more practical.
Can’t they just make it a roof?
Yeah feels already hot from just looking at it
And put some goddamn plants under it.
They are a roof tile company. This is just a thick anti slip glass layer on top of solar.
For fuck sake!
Put solar on roofs, not where people walk/drive!
Can we please stop wasting resources on this shit?
Can we please stop wasting resources on this shit?
Not if some tech-bro can convince some gullible coked-up VC.
The image of benches shading the panels really says all you need to know.
True, they should use benches like these for solar rays to pass through
No, I think solution is to install some SOLAR FREAKING BENCHES
Literally just put them 2 and a half meters higher so they provide shade for sitting on the bench instead of people shading the panels.
I think you may be on to something here…
This depends on what you’re optimizing for. If you are optimizing for total energy captured per square metre, then you’re right about the benches.
But suppose you have a sufficient flux even with some areas being covered so you aren’t bothered by the shadows. Wouldn’t it be aesthetically superior to have uniform tile types? Or would you prefer they micromanage the tile placement such that the tiles below the bench shadows are different?
Anyway, I think it is a good idea. Better than the silly solar roadways crap.
So you’re saying solar freakin benches is the answer???!!!‽
When are they going to learn that solar roads are never going to be practical?
PV Magazine is more or less an outlet for press releases by companies trying to innovate (often in air quotes) with photovoltaics. I’m honestly not even sure why it’s allowed here; it’s completely uncritical. May as well cite a press release on the manufacturer’s website at that point instead of laundering it through a magazine.
We need more trees and green areas in cities to shade and cool them down, not more heat soaking open areas that heat them up!
Just make covered walk ways. It’s only going to get hotter anyway. Give pedestrians shade to walk under.
Oohh, solar roadways, part 4621559
Trailer: they suck, don’t work, and are made by people who have no idea what the fuck they’re doing
It’s not that bad. Part of the appeal is having a black glass panel patio. A 30 year payback is ok, if it bails you out of a few power outages. Ok, its solar for rich people, but its still some clean energy.
never use solar panels for side walks its a stupid idea. and there is a reason why solar panels are placed at angle and not flat on the ground.
oh good, yet another solar solution where you put solar panels underground, instead of like, building a pavilion and putting the solar panels on the top of it, where they would make more fucking power.
Solar Roadways 2.0?
Nope, still solar roadways 1.0 again, they just hope that everyone forgot how crappy they are
Is it… lifting them 8’ off the ground that makes it impossibly expensive? Or maybe… the people in that area do not like shade?
How complicated are the electronics to ensure that the voltage dip from one panel with a table sized shadow doesn’t drag down the whole array?
i’d be more worried about heat, dispersing heat with literally zero airflow is going to be rough.
Independent micro inverters for each panel would be my guess.
parallel connections allows for such independence. But it requires thicker/more wiring.
A diode would work
Why not both? Maybe also make the table and chairs out of solar panels!
Hope the predicted capability is realistic. As previously we’ve seen comparable projects be less so: https://www.dutchnews.nl/2023/07/solar-bike-path-fails-to-meet-electricity-targets-again/
does anyone know where I can get strong opinions about solar rods?
