EEVblog #1356 - The USA finally gets Solar Roadways! LOL!

[EEVblog]

I have some first hand photos of the first iteration of GA solar roadways! Taken Christmas Day 2020, I took photos of the installation at the GA welcome center in Troup County. This installation is only a year old to my understanding, and panels are already delaminating from the roadway. It appears there is a center channel for the power wires to go down between.  I can get more photos on request. The welcome center is supposedly totally solar powered! Of course not by the roadways I'm sure... probably by the TWO BIG ANGLED PANELS on a pole, steps away! There is also a charging station on site. (KIA is big because of the manufacturing plant nearby, they pour a ton of money in the economy locally)

My next photo set to add will be the ACTUAL proper right-of-way installation at Exit 14 on I-85 (14 miles away). https://www.lagrangenews.com/2018/08/24/first-pollinator-friendly-right-of-way-solar-in-nation-coming-to-troup-co/ and The Ray's website about it https://theray.org/tech/right-of-way-solar/. This installation is operational to my knowledge, and I will photograph it soon (it's not on Gmaps yet). It gets SO much sunlight! It's angled.... it's dare I say... PROPER!

Without further ado, here the link to my Google Photos folder with all the photos I've taken (or will take) of solar installations in GA. (Will include the Exit 14 solar farm and the Peachtree Corners roadway when I get to the areas) https://photos.app.goo.gl/iWLch6oo11AxpdwY8

Awesome work, thanks!

[Zucca]

It is very disturbing that a flashy video on kickstarter is able to do such a no sense damage.
We EE are not more considered....

[EEVblog]

It is very disturbing that a flashy video on kickstarter is able to do such a no sense damage.
We EE are not more considered....

Well, they have recycled that video and done it again!
I'll shoot another video today

[benbradley]

Here's a new video of the Peachtree Corners solar roadway. These outside lanes happen to be a test track for self-driving cars, so I expect them to get very low traffic, helping to "prove" the longevity of this very short (20 feet?) piece of Solar Roadway.

[Fungus]

They're doing solar canals in India:

https://www.ecosia.org/images?q=solar%20canals%20india

[Robert Smith Eco Warrior]

My boys and I watched this episode earlier. I am astonished how much money councils and governments waste on completely useless projects that are obviously a complete waste of £millions or £billions. It makes me very angry as I scratch around trying to make a few thousand £'s and the government and councils piss it away on rubbish..... GRRRRRR 

[Ed.Kloonk]

My boys and I watched this episode earlier. I am astonished how much money councils and governments waste on completely useless projects that are obviously a complete waste of £millions or £billions. It makes me very angry as I scratch around trying to make a few thousand £'s and the government and councils piss it away on rubbish..... GRRRRRR 

There's a portion of the community that does indeed want to see this at least being attempted. They are sincere if not misguided. Unfortunately, Council only responds to who is the noisiest. You've got to harness your anger into teaching your boys to stoically counteract the effect of having a portion of their future income wasted on known follies.

And when you've figured out how to do that, teach me how!

[Brumby]

As absurd as it would be, I'm sure you could get some positive traction with the idea of solar canals - where they put the solar cells at the bottom of the canal, with water flowing over the top of them.

You could have similar "benefits" that the Indian concept offers, such as keeping the panels cool - really cool - and not requiring additional land - with the trade off of less visual pollution against reduced evaporation.  (Let's not complicate matters with reduced efficiency from sediments and water absorption.)

Now this idea is in the public domain, patents on the concept become more difficult.   


You heard it on the EEVblog first!!!!

[Brumby]

Not sure about the cost of the support structure for the Indian solution, but that's the only criticism I have.  A damn side more sensible than driving vehicles over solar panels.

[Fungus]

If somebody actually proposed making roads out of tin glass instead of tarmac they'd be laughed out of the room at any meeting.

Call them "solar panels" though and the funding flows. 

[bc888]

expect more of this fuzzy science.    as the US white house becomes the rainbow house, run by teletubbies & muppets.   
world of clockwork cars & cardboard houses.   

Perhaps one of the big issues, wireless power transfer losses and costs, has been solved....https://interestingengineering.com/new-method-could-make-charging-evs-while-driving-a-reality