Comments on: Crazy Awesome Solar Serpent Structure Proposed For Santa Monica Freeway

By: jash08

jash08 — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 05:46:49 +0000

hi, thanks for sharing.. but how do you accommodate roadway signs which have to be seen from a distance?

thanks.

By: stermerdxb

stermerdxb — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:25:41 +0000

For those of you worring about the problems of exhaust building up inside this thng – think into the future a little bit… If this actually turns out to be feasible, by the time the solar freeway is built wouldn’t our vehicle fleet by more likely to be cleaner, with an increasing percentage of EV’s? Besides, just leave a few inches between the panels and the emissions will escape – no big deal.

By: jimoerike

jimoerike — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:18:33 +0000

Build a roadway across the desert with wheels of vehicles making energy from turning on the energy based road, solar enclosure piped powerout, carbon monoxide must have a use vacummed into another pipeline exhalled out or used for plants living in the tunnels

By: creek walker

creek walker — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:00:54 +0000

Wouldn’t a tunnel-like canopy block a lot of sun light? I wounder how the viability would be?

By: kocancer

kocancer — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:26:43 +0000

As a person involved in transportation planning and roadway design, I really like the concept. Before trying it out on an Interstate highway, I would suggest trying it out on the top levels of parking decks or on surface parking lots, or over some streets where views may not be that important (warehouse district, roads to landfill sites, trucking terminals, etc.) to see how well it works. Some issues that would have to be addressed would be: how do you accommodate roadway signs which have to be seen from a distance? how would you keep people off from climbing up on it like a giant play structure? stormwater and drainage management? loss of views for pleasure and navigation? Very interesting idea but some of these issues would have to be addresed before application on a freeway.

By: phantomas

phantomas — Mon, 23 May 2011 21:16:18 +0000

what the hell is a “mWhs”?
milli watt hour second?

since you only wanted to say MW

By: combinatorics

combinatorics — Sun, 22 May 2011 21:32:32 +0000

@the comments: Why should we invest in solar roadways when we could build solar panels on top of roadways? Solar roads are more expensive to build (toughness), maintain (would hold up traffic), and are covered by shadows (cars) during substantial portions of the day. There’s no reason to invest in them when the idea presented in this article is much more efficient.

By: Domenick

Domenick — Sat, 21 May 2011 18:22:40 +0000

Look Ma, no turtles!

We have so much land paved over for roads and parking lots that could also be used for solar energy collection. Covering vast swathes of desert for this purpose is, in a word, dumb.

This particular design may have some shortcomings due to exhaust pollution but it helps start the conversation.

By: EoinCC

EoinCC — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:38:31 +0000

To convert the entire surface of a road into solar collection would be great if it didn’t require unbelievably tough panels (read unbelievably expensive) and the closing of the road. Going over the top could use lightweight materials, much less disruption and a higher potential energy production. To create an ideal scenario, ALL highways would have something like this, or at least pole-top solar collection/wind turbines.

By: Opiner

Opiner — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 21:29:50 +0000

A related concept – http://www.solarroadways.com – just won the GE Ecomagination prize for moving their drive-able solar collection system to the next level..

By: kkn

kkn — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 02:53:37 +0000

installing large scale solar inside of urban areas makes to much sense. it eliminates so many issues that nay-sayers give as why it can’t be done…………no transmission lines to build, no transmission losses, no impact from locating in undeveloped area, provides high-tech jobs in urban area, etc, etc…

By: mkass

mkass — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:17:47 +0000

This is one way at looking at this. A more direct solution is to convert the surface of the entire Santa Monica Freeway into a solar panel: http://organicconnectmag.com/wp/2010/09/solar-power-taking-it-to-the-street/

By: yesx

yesx — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:45:18 +0000

Great concept, but I do not think Caltrans or LAPD would allow this for obvious vandelism, safety and access reasons. Also, rush hour would produce so much heat and exhaust build up that it would be hazardous to commuter’s health.