Solar Freaking Hopscotch (Yes, those guys again)

[LabSpokane]

Apparently, CBS news here in the states will be featuring Solar Roadways on "innovation nation."  The local TV station is announcing Solar Freaking Pinheads' new "breakthrough" on Feb 12 at 6pm Pacific Time. I'll post a link to the video if I find it.

Here in the Inland Northwest we hate science, vaccines, and pretty much all book learnin', but we done love Jesus and our solar roads.

http://www.krem.com/picture-gallery/tech/2015/02/10/10-tidbits-about-idahos-first-solar-roadway/23185711/

[FrankenPC]

You know, as stupid as this idea is right now, it's probably a good thing in general to experiment with the process in hopes that super high efficiency panels of the future will be super cheap and easy to manufacture.  In other words, getting the mechanical engineering and materials research side of the equation out of the way is a good thing.

It's not being sold like that though.

[pickle9000]

Solar roofing shingles that cost as much as regular shingles.

[LabSpokane]

You know, as stupid as this idea is right now, it's probably a good thing in general to experiment with the process in hopes that super high efficiency panels of the future will be super cheap and easy to manufacture.  In other words, getting the mechanical engineering and materials research side of the equation out of the way is a good thing.

It's not being sold like that though.

It's not being sold that way, nor is it being executed as such. It is solely an integration project. No new fundamental R&D is occurring here. 

[SL4P]

Solar roofing shingles that cost as much as regular shingles.

Don't laugh - but about 10 years ago, one of the state (provincial) governments here in Australia was seriously drafting legislation to 'tax' homeowners on the roof 'catchment' area of their structures as a way to buy the government's way out of the drought mess they created with unaffordable 'jobs for the boys'... !  The idea was that runoff waste waste should be stored - which is a great idea, but to charge the homeowner for using their own water?   I don't think so!

Since then all went quiet (when the long-running drought broke), but you can be sure it's hiding as a surcharge tacked onto some other government funded service or utility.

[gxti]

Don't laugh - but about 10 years ago, one of the state (provincial) governments here in Australia was seriously drafting legislation to 'tax' homeowners on the roof 'catchment' area of their structures as a way to buy the government's way out of the drought mess they created with unaffordable 'jobs for the boys'... !  The idea was that runoff waste waste should be stored - which is a great idea, but to charge the homeowner for using their own water?   I don't think so!

That's nuthin'. Until fairly recently, it was practically illegal to collect rainwater in Colorado, because it was considered stealing from people downstream of you. Water rights are serious business.

[zapta]

Here in the Inland Northwest we hate science, vaccines, and pretty much all book learnin', but we done love Jesus and our solar roads.

Well, in the real Northwest a 4 terms governor just had to leave his post, with a likely criminal trial, because of 'green' cronyism involving the first lady and a big 'green' promoter.

[LabSpokane]

http://www.krem.com/longform/tech/2015/02/12/solar-roadways/23192617/

Here's the new article link. The Indiegogo campaign has been reopened so that more fools can be separated from their money.

The photos will make you want to cry. The solar panels are hand cobbled and perhaps 2/3 of the surface has cells covering it. Then the mess gets covered directly with a milky white piece of glass....

They are using Enphase micro-inverters for each panel. The Enphase is a fine product, but totally inappropriate for this purpose. They only invert to 120 or 240V - so the losses in a large system will be large.  Those micro-inverters were designed for small scale residential solar systems with short transmission distances.

With the money often comes heartfelt notes, including more than a few parents writing on behalf of their children donating allowance. (sic)

Who takes some kid's money for this garbage?! Seriously.