First Solar Road a Disappointment

From Energy Reports: The world’s first solar road in Normandy, northern France, which opened in 2016, has failed to meet expectations. The 2.8 square km of solar panels is in part damaged beyond repair and the 1km road did not produce the power the manufacturer Wattway had promised.

Panels were worn out by traffic and joints between the panels were shattered.

Well, you could say the first anything failed to meet expectations, whether you’re talking about a light bulb or a particle accelerator, but I don’t think that’s a fair statement.  This really isn’t a good idea, given all the space on roofs and low-value real estate, where there is no overbuilding to handle the pounding of multi-ton vehicles and intermittent shadows.