More on Solar Roads

My colleague Gary Tulie of Buckinghamshire (near London) writes about my post on solar roads:  There is one short stretch of cycle path in the Netherlands using solar panels for the path. I would however consider it likely that on busy roads, yield would be low due to shade issues and dirt, and costs high due to the need for very high strength components. What’s more, most roads have a variety of buried services, and I can’t help thinking the solar road concept would seriously increase the cost of road works.

I’m reminded of a conversation I had with my 19-year-old daughter a few months ago when I turned 60; I asked, “Do you happen to know where a man my age can find a pretty young girl, perhaps your age or a bit older, who might be interested in him romantically?” “Sure, Dad,” she replied happily, giving me real hope. “Try the library.  Check under ‘fiction.’”

OK, that was a joke, but yes, Gary, there are countless issues that make this a non-starter outside of novelty applications.  The biggest single obstacle is going to be shade that is created, at a minimum, by the cars and trucks themselves.  PV and shade don’t get along, at least not in its current incarnation.  Losing the sun from 1% of a panel can cause a drop in output of over 30%.

And check out the photo in the post linked above, where the road goes under trees.  I’m afraid the whole idea really does need to be shelved under fiction.