Partly an economy of scale problem. It’s much more expensive to install 100 x 1,000 W systems, vs installing 1 x 100,000 W system. And easier to manage, repair, store energy, what have you. Also power companies don’t like residential solar because (besides cutting into their profits) the power companies are responsible for maintaining the grid voltage, and they don’t have control over residential solar, so it introduces a lot of mess for them.
And even then, there was a federal study that concluded covering all residential roofs in the US would provide roughly ≈40% of the required power. So still much more needed.
Even ignoring other green energy sources, while covering residential home should also happen, covering roadways/shopping malls/factories/parking structures/parking lots is, as you mentioned more cost effective to install and would take care of the rest of that energy deficit.
I’m not saying it’s going to happen, I’m saying that the problems of scale and installation cost for specificallycould be overcome easily with the capital will to do so.
The problem is that it’s not a political problem, it’s a capital problem, as you point out. Legacy energy companies will fight progress tooth and nail because in the short-term, green energy will eat into their profits based on an outdated energy infrastructure.
Like a guy in a leaky rowboat shaking his fist at the airplanes overhead because they’re cutting into his ferry business.
For sure…don’t get me wrong, I’m 100% pro-renewables. I was super hyped about that guy that was making road “tiles” out recycled glass that had solar panels, heating elements, and LEDs incorporated. Would have been a neat multi-purpose solution. It’s a shame it turned out sucking.
Haha, yea, when I saw that road tile thing, it was like oh that’s not going to work. Putting down movable piezoelectric tiles is a fun idea but with 2 to 20,000 lb vehicles constantly running over it, It’s just impractical.
Make a tunnel or archway covering or partially covering the roadway instead and line the surfaces with solar panels. Bingbangboom done.
Throw a couple of those vertical axis turbines in while you’re at it that run off displaced vehicle air. Boombombang.
Aren’t land use concerns negated by panels on roofs?
Partly an economy of scale problem. It’s much more expensive to install 100 x 1,000 W systems, vs installing 1 x 100,000 W system. And easier to manage, repair, store energy, what have you. Also power companies don’t like residential solar because (besides cutting into their profits) the power companies are responsible for maintaining the grid voltage, and they don’t have control over residential solar, so it introduces a lot of mess for them.
And even then, there was a federal study that concluded covering all residential roofs in the US would provide roughly ≈40% of the required power. So still much more needed.
Even ignoring other green energy sources, while covering residential home should also happen, covering roadways/shopping malls/factories/parking structures/parking lots is, as you mentioned more cost effective to install and would take care of the rest of that energy deficit.
I’m not saying it’s going to happen, I’m saying that the problems of scale and installation cost for specificallycould be overcome easily with the capital will to do so.
The problem is that it’s not a political problem, it’s a capital problem, as you point out. Legacy energy companies will fight progress tooth and nail because in the short-term, green energy will eat into their profits based on an outdated energy infrastructure.
Like a guy in a leaky rowboat shaking his fist at the airplanes overhead because they’re cutting into his ferry business.
For sure…don’t get me wrong, I’m 100% pro-renewables. I was super hyped about that guy that was making road “tiles” out recycled glass that had solar panels, heating elements, and LEDs incorporated. Would have been a neat multi-purpose solution. It’s a shame it turned out sucking.
Haha, yea, when I saw that road tile thing, it was like oh that’s not going to work. Putting down movable piezoelectric tiles is a fun idea but with 2 to 20,000 lb vehicles constantly running over it, It’s just impractical.
Make a tunnel or archway covering or partially covering the roadway instead and line the surfaces with solar panels. Bingbangboom done.
Throw a couple of those vertical axis turbines in while you’re at it that run off displaced vehicle air. Boombombang.