Comments on: Solar Powered Roadway Lights

By: WilliamN

WilliamN — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:27:53 +0000

It's a good start, maybe this ain't practical now but their data when they have the prototype could be very interesting and something useful in the next step. A++ with the idea though there's no doubt that building solar panels will be the mainstream in short time as grid cost gets higher and higher. As technology advances, production solar power materials are more competitive than ever.

By: Samlive the red

Samlive the red — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:53:54 +0000

Whats wrong with solar power? The sun is the ultimate power source and we should be using it for everything. I agree this project has some kinks that need to be worked out but I think its a fantastic step towards a new electric society. Ya’ll need to stop whining about this and see the wondrous potential. And correct me if I’m wrong but didnt our government just spend billions of OUR MONEY to pay bankers bonuses?

By: Briannana

Briannana — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:32:37 +0000

Theft. Even if they could make such technology available, people would strip it out and use it for personal gain. It’s a no-brainer. One would have to police it constantly to insure someone didn’t just take it. As such, we’re better off having guarded facilities which run solar power from mostly uninhabitable heat regions to generator stations and ques which power our habitable zones. We can maximize our solar intake while maintaining a menial impact upon our living standards. I am, however, skeptical of relying upon solar to meet the power needs of America. We could use it to generate small power to feed things like green houses for hydroponic vegetable/fruit production. It’s cheaper than you think. But not to power big corporations like a walmart (air conditioning alone must cost immense amounts), and call centers for cellular companies. It’s impossible.

By: Absent

Absent — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:50:22 +0000

Why not start off with solar powered street lighting.

Also the road panel idea couldn’t be carried out by a government, unless they wanted to nationalise electricity production.

By: rem06513

rem06513 — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:59:23 +0000

Nice…no actually a great idea but way…way too expensive.

By: Taters

Taters — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:21:47 +0000

The heat and the glare generated from an entire strech of road would be stunning – literally!
Rainy days would make them as slick as ice, or do we all stay home when it rains, as less power will be generated?
It’s not a viable solution, but what the research turns up, may well lead to one.

By: Beretta

Beretta — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:47:03 +0000

I’d be surprised if it survived more than a week or two.

By: BikerRay

BikerRay — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:37:03 +0000

So they’re “on a mission from God”? (see FAQ) What a bunch of loonies. “13.376MWhr per mile” Five-digit accuracy? No accounting for losses, clouds, night? These guys need to go back to school.

By: nickelking

nickelking — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:35:51 +0000

Just what we need, more light pollution, but then who needs stars.

By: Ahundred

Ahundred — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:24:20 +0000

One, how much traction does this surface have compared to regular asphalt, concrete, or brick. If I’m driving my electric buggy down this road and a sausage dog runs out in front of me will I just skid when I step on the brakes or swerve into the next lane? Two, the city in which I live has trouble maintaining our pockmarked and rutted roads already, if they lay a couple of these down they’ll never keep them working properly. And three, we haven’t even figured out how to make a low-cost easily installed solar panel that people can bolt to their rooves yet, let’s focus on that first.

By: Oates

Oates — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:05:04 +0000

First off, I’d much rather see the US putting trillions into clean power initiatives than effecting their dreams of manifest destiny abroad.
Secondly, I’d be interested to see the combined cost of all the coal and nuclear power plants across the US(including the cost of mining, processing, and dealing with the coal and nuclear fuel) along with the costs associated with road painting(one might be surprised at how much that costs) as compared to the projected costs of installing and maintaining these solar roads

By: aftershock

aftershock — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:36:12 +0000

That sounds like a great idea… only if we had the money. Any lenders?

By: D Bozko

D Bozko — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:59:24 +0000

$100,000 is less than 15 panels or 168 feet X 12 feet. Not much of a roadway. Still the technology sounds promising. Not many innovations started out exactly how they end up.

By: apefrog

apefrog — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:13:35 +0000

“Although it would be expensive…” It would cost 34.5 TRILLION dollars. That seems to be more than “expensive.”