Solar-panel roadway idea sets crowdfunding record of $1.5 million

[PotomacCyclist]

http://www.cnet.com/news/solar-roadways-tops-1-5-million-sets-indiegogo-record/

They used Indiegogo, not Kickstarter. I think with most or all Indiegogo campaigns, the inventor/company will receive all of the pledged money, even if the campaign doesn’t reach its fundraising goal. That’s not the case on Kickstarter (I think).

Anyway, it remains to be seen whether the idea is practical or not. They want to install these sturdy solar panels as road surfaces. The road area would produce electricity. It could also eliminate snow and ice removal costs in northern states because the panels could generate modest amounts of heat. LED lighting could create temporary lane changes, such as the reversible rush-hour lanes used in D.C. and in other cities.

For the readers here, could this idea be used for bike trails too? This would eliminate the need to clear snow and ice from trails in the winter, while providing electricity generation for much of the year. But would there be separate maintenance costs for the panels themselves? Probably. Would that offset any benefits from electricity generation and reduced snow maintenance costs? I have no idea. That’s for them and road/trail operators to figure out. Would the surface of the panels be too slippery? Would there be too many seams in between panels, or could the panels lock together so that a cyclist wouldn’t be affected by those seams?

Until there is more data about costs and actual benefits, I’m lukewarm on the idea. But it does sound interesting. Maybe it won’t be a world-beating idea, but perhaps it could have limited uses.

One problem is manufacturing. There’s a reason why American solar panel companies tend to fail. They get undercut by overseas competitors. But companies that buy foreign solar panels and use them as part of solar-generation systems in the U.S. have had a little more success.

A lot of questions to be answered. I hope it turns out to be a good idea.

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