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Phys.org reports on a pilot project in the Netherlands to generate power from solar panels in a bike path that has so far exceeded expectations:
The first six months of the pilot phase were successful, according to a SolaRoad press release issued earlier this month. The energy yield was beyond their expectations. Spokesperson Sten de Wit said they were surprised to see the level of success so quickly. Case in point: "The bike road opened half a year ago and already generated over 3,000 kWh," he said. "If we translate this to an annual yield, we expect more than the 70 kWh per square meter per year, which we predicted as an upper limit in the laboratory stage. We can therefore conclude that it was a successful first half year."
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SolaRoad Cycle Path Electricity Yield Exceeds Expectations
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If you knew what to say next, would you say it?
(Score: 2) by Covalent on Wednesday May 13 2015, @06:33PM
Hello Fellow Michiganian!
How about building the solar panels OVER the roads or on the median. If you're a Detroit-area fellow like me, you know there are southward facing medians all over I-94, I-696, and I-96 that would be perfect for this. There is already a good size solar array just off of I-96 in Novi:
http://archive.freep.com/article/20140310/NEWS06/303100020/dte-solar-panel [freep.com]
But why not kill two birds with one stone: Cover sections of the freeway and put panels on top of the covers. Save the roads from the snow / salt / plowing and get solar power in the process.
You can't rationally argue somebody out of a position they didn't rationally get into.