The energy costs of melting snow are huge. It's done frequently for small areas (private driveways, parking lots) where cost efficiency isn't a concern (the we

The energy costs of melting snow are huge. It's done frequently for small areas (private driveways, parking lots) where cost efficiency isn't a concern (the wealthy) or where heat energy costs are very low (geothermal sources, i.e. Iceland). To do it on a wide scale would require ridiculous amounts of energy. I guarantee that nobody would be prepared to foot the bill for that, and these solar panels are highly unlikely to produce even a tiny fraction of the amount of energy required, unless you amortize their production over a longer period and store it somehow. Unfortunately, it's not just a "little more costly", it's massively more costly, to the point where it's just not a good idea. http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/snow_melting_systems/costs.htm http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/snow_melting_systems...