3 ms·

I expect these will show up in parking lots long before before they end up on actual roads or other paths. It's much easier to block off a section of a parking

I expect these will show up in parking lots long before before they end up on actual roads or other paths. It's much easier to block off a section of a parking lot for installation, repair, cleaning, etc. than it is to block a section of a road. Also, parking lots tend to be privately owned.

damian2000 12y ago
Isn't there a weakness in that busy parking lots tend to be full during the day and empty at night when there's no sun?
- rmason 12y ago
  Actually where it might make limited sense is in the parking lot roadways, not where the cars are actually parked.
rosser 12y ago
If we're going to do anything with solar panels and parking lots, I'd much rather see something like Google's "solar trees". Paving parking lots with these tiles would mean that on the order of half of their effective area would be shaded beneath cars during the, you know, bright part of the day.
icegreentea 12y ago
Honestly, the first thing to do is just to put up solar panel roofing over every exposed air parking lot. Everyone already wants the shade anyways. It's honestly so weird that we're attracted to all of these 'crazy' schemes, while skipping out on the all sorts of far lower hanging, and sensible fruit. From an energy generation point of view, this plan is pretty irresponsible. Solar installations have a relatively poor EROI as it is (for standard installations) for mid-latitude regions. Purposefully handicapping your solar infrastructure by putting on the road surface is particularly braindead in that respect. From a systemic view, it makes more sense to rip out the solar panels from the road way, and put it ontop of buildings, or really any where you won't get random occlusions, and ridiculous amounts of dirt. I mean, I get the attraction of easily reconfigurable displays on your road surface, but honestly, the intelligence and power generation aspects of the idea should just be decoupled, and split out.
- Ryel 12y ago
  Just out of curiosity... What are some of the sensible, low-hanging fruit you have in mind?
  - letstryagain 12y ago
    Solar panels on roofs of buildings
- prawn 12y ago
  I suspect that if you took the reconfigurable displays out of the pitch, far fewer people would be keen on the idea. I think that's the bit that captures the imagination. I think we'd get better mileage from modular roof materials like roof tiles or sheeting with in-built solar panels, or window treatments like awnings.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
letstryagain 12y ago
It would be much cheaper to just have solar panel covers over the parking spaces. And that way the cars get some shade too as a bonus.
- austinz 12y ago
  Given how much some urban planners have denounced parking lots as being detrimental to cities, I wonder if there is potential for legislation to mandate that any new lot larger than a certain size must be equipped with some corresponding acreage of roof-mounted panels. It might force developers to think more carefully about building lots and mitigate the environmental impact of those that do get built. (Although, given the controversy that erupted when incandescent bulbs were banned, I don't see this proposal as being politically palatable.)
  - Omniusaspirer 12y ago
    Are solar panels actually cost effective at this point? Any legislation forcing people to do non sensible things is bound to be met with resentment/unpalatable. The incandescent ban I just found odd personally. If you're going to legislate bulb choice then why aren't we all being forced to buy LED bulbs? Based on the manufacturer claims they're both the more energy and cost efficient choice. (however much stock you place in those claims..)

damian2000 12y ago

Isn't there a weakness in that busy parking lots tend to be full during the day and empty at night when there's no sun?

rmason 12y ago
Actually where it might make limited sense is in the parking lot roadways, not where the cars are actually parked.

rosser 12y ago

If we're going to do anything with solar panels and parking lots, I'd much rather see something like Google's "solar trees". Paving parking lots with these tiles would mean that on the order of half of their effective area would be shaded beneath cars during the, you know, bright part of the day.

icegreentea 12y ago

Honestly, the first thing to do is just to put up solar panel roofing over every exposed air parking lot. Everyone already wants the shade anyways. It's honestly so weird that we're attracted to all of these 'crazy' schemes, while skipping out on the all sorts of far lower hanging, and sensible fruit. From an energy generation point of view, this plan is pretty irresponsible. Solar installations have a relatively poor EROI as it is (for standard installations) for mid-latitude regions. Purposefully handicapping your solar infrastructure by putting on the road surface is particularly braindead in that respect. From a systemic view, it makes more sense to rip out the solar panels from the road way, and put it ontop of buildings, or really any where you won't get random occlusions, and ridiculous amounts of dirt. I mean, I get the attraction of easily reconfigurable displays on your road surface, but honestly, the intelligence and power generation aspects of the idea should just be decoupled, and split out.

Ryel 12y ago
Just out of curiosity... What are some of the sensible, low-hanging fruit you have in mind?
- letstryagain 12y ago
  Solar panels on roofs of buildings
prawn 12y ago
I suspect that if you took the reconfigurable displays out of the pitch, far fewer people would be keen on the idea. I think that's the bit that captures the imagination. I think we'd get better mileage from modular roof materials like roof tiles or sheeting with in-built solar panels, or window treatments like awnings.

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

letstryagain 12y ago

It would be much cheaper to just have solar panel covers over the parking spaces. And that way the cars get some shade too as a bonus.

austinz 12y ago
Given how much some urban planners have denounced parking lots as being detrimental to cities, I wonder if there is potential for legislation to mandate that any new lot larger than a certain size must be equipped with some corresponding acreage of roof-mounted panels. It might force developers to think more carefully about building lots and mitigate the environmental impact of those that do get built. (Although, given the controversy that erupted when incandescent bulbs were banned, I don't see this proposal as being politically palatable.)
- Omniusaspirer 12y ago
  Are solar panels actually cost effective at this point? Any legislation forcing people to do non sensible things is bound to be met with resentment/unpalatable. The incandescent ban I just found odd personally. If you're going to legislate bulb choice then why aren't we all being forced to buy LED bulbs? Based on the manufacturer claims they're both the more energy and cost efficient choice. (however much stock you place in those claims..)