The Streets Really Are Paved With Gold.
Gold-en Sun-light that is.
I’m talking super, solar power-highways, like the types now being re-thought, re-designed and ‘road-tested’ in both Europe and the US. Engineers, scientists and businessmen putting their minds and resources together towards ‘gold 'n green,’ boldly illuminating the idea that, '... if the roads built for cars are partly to blame for global warming, why not make them part of the solution too?'
Roads absorb enormous amounts of solar radiated heat every day and they are usually free of ‘sightline obstructions’ - things which block the transmission of light rays – making other places unsuitable. That’s what led electrical engineer, Scott Brusaw to become one of today’s trailblazers in this genre of solar power harvesting, with his
Solar Roadways Project.
Scott Brusaw In Washington DC
So, he got busy designing a system that combines a durable and translucent glass road surface with photovoltaic solar collectors (Solar Panels), which are inter-phase-able (is that a word?) directly into the local, and state electricity grids. His brilliant design has the added bonus of also being able to heat the roads during the harsh northern American winters, greatly improving safety during that time.
Of course, this isn’t a cheap fix, but you have to keep an open mind. We are talking about pioneers who are helping to advance technology to the point of ‘easy’ implementation, after the oil runs out… or at least before it becomes so expensive that only the sheiks drilling for it can afford to run either their cars, or their very plush hotel-homes.
Heatbuld UK, Also Paves The Way to Golden Solar Roads
As one would expect .. *yawn* sceptics remain adamant that such a high-tech road surface cannot withstand the gruelling rigours of daily use… and trucks, what about big trucks - those big 18-wheelers stressing the roads and dumping all that oil into the expensive electronic circuits?
Luckily for us all, Scott Brusaw is not out there alone on his quest.
Ever innovative themselves, the Europeans are also a pioneering bunch when it comes to putting the sun’s rays to good use, particularly where roadways are concerned. A few clicks and a little research, and it seems, that more than one company have been quietly developing and revolutionising new technology to harness solar power.
The Dutch too, are lending their ingenuity to the possibility of using roads as huge electrical generators, by developing a means of siphoning naturally radiated solar heat from the asphalt directly.
At first glance, it doesn't seem as noble a cause as that of Scott Brusaw’s vision, but looking deeper reveals that lots of thought has already gone into giving this Dutch system domestic use as natural heating in apartment buildings and industrial parks. Apparently, a local air-force base has already benefited from the trial runs of the prototype and Ooms Avenhom Holdings is now working on exporting their system to other countries, who also suffer from harsh winters.
All in all, I think this is another great step forward towards the myriad of possible solutions that may well make up the kaleidoscopic, multi-hybrid, independent and collective energy grids of our future.
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I hope by the time this technology reaches the development or 3rd world countries, it would be much cheaper.
Great work in researching and publishing this article. Lets go green!
Enviro Warrior
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It does have so much potential, and at least, (as you say) has many good people 'thinking outside the square.'
Personally, I just loved the idea and eventually can imagine a world where the cars themselves are powered by the roads they travel on - the roads themselves like massive energy corridors...
They'd need some sort of converter to send the energy to the cars, unless they used a cable-like system like the trolly buses of Eastern Europe... perhaps by infra-red signal or something ... and the cars would have ot much lighter than today...
There is a whole world of possibilities for our future and we are lucky to have technology, although that too will need some re-thinking because silicon comes from oil, doesn't it?
It is lovely to see you walking the halls of orble again.
Welcome Back!
Lilla ...
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another suggestion is to generate electricity from the weight of cars passing over the road... they already do this (with pedestrian traffic) in Japan and I think it's a much more durable solution!
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We have been doing this for over 20 years at Taiwan (which is where I am originally from.) and this system works great for the enviorment.
I got of funny theory, that is where Keven Rugg got this idea from as well, considering he did his post grade and PHD (I think) at Taiwan as well.
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I too had same doubt like Cibby about how is it going to take the pressure and stuffs. But with the ideas like what the Dutch are doing could be well do.
The next thing is will this technology manage to race faster than us killing our beloved earth with smokes, haze and monoxide (for instance)?
The tapping of energy source comes from the sun. It wouldn't be very useful if we don't have enough healthy and useful sun rays piercing through the thick haze, right?
The technology from Japan that Cibby brought out was fairly interesting as well, making useless pressure from heavy vehicles to generate energy. An awesome way to recycle!
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Very interesting info. It`s exciting being in this age when all these new things are being invented and implemented.
That`s awesome - like you say wait until it`s used in the lights... street lighting perhaps too? Those cats eyes just don`t do any good in certain spots and driving at night can be hairy on the eyes.
I was at the robots the other day and watching all these cars in line waiting for the lights to turn - and I thought - I wonder how much WATER it takes to keep all these cars on the road - from washing them to putting water in for the windscreen wipers and general water for the cars use.... anyways off topic!
Whilst in NZ they were screening a show on nuclear waste and this scientist was saying if only we could see the benefits - if we could store nuclear power beneath houses there is enough energy to power those houses for many,many years. It`s very interesting to see how these thoughts come to fruition - this solar powered business is certainly food for thought, considering that the earths surface is getting hotter?? And how natural and safer it is - time bombs being loaded into our planet by burying all this other stuff and waiting for future generations to decide what to do with it! If all these people could put their heads together we could be well on our way to saving our home.
bravo!
Ash
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I’m not so sure, because there is this stuff called plexi-glass, which is as durable as aluminium…. thick aluminium.
Argument would be conjecture and pure speculation, it is pretty much a wait and see deal, but I love that someone is having a go … and to have already been to Washington to give a presentation, suggests there are things that we don’t know, that do make this a very viable alternative. Although perhaps not cost wise, but then logic dictates to me, that with the current annual military budget of the US at around $550 billion, perhaps it really would be cheaper to run these roads everywhere, rather than to continue to guard the oil (and the world).
Who knows? but I do think there will not only be one option in one hundred years time, but many and perhaps each local council will have to choose it's own one. I envisage a number of independant forms of renewable energy, not a blamket one... which is what the government is trying to do with nuclear power, I guess... what really bugs me is that we all stand around useless to use these alternatives because of the govenrments need for the revenue from a blanket 'fix.' I hope that shifts in time and need.
I love the idea though of using the weight from cars, I’ll go and have a look and see what I can dig up for a post, thanks for the tip. I hadn’t heard of it.
Lilla …
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It is nice to meet you and with such interesting information. I did not know that KR did his studies there, very interesting. But then I think he is a very interesting fellow and have shared his views for many years, long before he began leading Labor.
Desperate times call for progressive leaders, willing to shake the status quo a bit and I would not be surprised that he took his initiatives (or many of them) from places like Taiwan; Indonesia, Micronesia. Polynesia, and indeed, Australasia ... these countries have wonderful schemes for recycling based on necessity rather than an outdated system, which continues to have its roots staked in the antiquated, "empire."
I can only hope he breaks a little more with empirical tradition and implements a few more like his 50 cent wonder… which is a wonderful start, I agree.
Thank you for stopping by.
Lilla …
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No need to worry my sweet, because with luck the oil is scheduled to run out long before we completely block the sun from being able to penetrate the atmosphere … well in some parts of the world anyway… or so one theory goes. Like you I am not always so confident about that … and anyway, with the need by governments for revenue we’ll have nice non-polluting, clean green nuclear energy to power us all… as if. Truly they must’ve all gone mad, it is so irrational.
Me personally, I would minimise the weight, load and burden, by doing away with cars altogether … now, unless they ran on a hybrid means; or just air, or some form of hydrogen perhaps… anything but oil.
Oh don’t get me started on what I would do if I had the power. Firstly, I would outlaw SUV’s in suburbia and cities. Like the current gun laws in Australia, but applicable to the whole world … and you would have to prove that you needed this tank-type vehicle for farming or some such activity to do with your means of income, not as a means of getting to the local shopping mall some 3.2 kms away. Uuurrrgghh this one steams me up, so much!
Can you imagine by doing just that I would shift an incredible 38% of the problem.
Then, we would have to look at carbon emissions from the monster that feeds consumerism… ((laughs)) as for energy, who needs it… I mean seriously, we wouldn’t be able to blog, but then we would have our earth back to the way it was and the shopping malls would all be gone again… that wouldn’t be so bad, would it?
Not when you consider the joy of night markets, long afternoon strolls in the woods and the ease of the simple life.
Lilla …
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Welcome.
You are very true in what you say, it is very much a wait and see, isn't it, but I am so anti-nuclear it isn't funny.
It takes time to care for our world, and by the time we do, sadly we realise it's in such a pickle... worse, somehow the choice to change it has also been removed in some way.
Therein lies the second crime.
I think I shall come to enjoy a step back into the 80's in the coming months - back to simpler times...
Lilla ...
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Thanks, I thought it pretty exciting too.
Nice to see your smile again.
Lilla ...
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It's comforting isn't it... and if they actually pull this one off, it'll border on genius ... add the hydrogen 'farms' in the deserts to run the cars on the roads, and every road has the potential to become a completely sustainable energy corridor of it's own ... yes, really comforting, I agree... although, this 2012 business is interesting too and I will talk more about some of my recent findings soon... hmmm, quite interesting
Lilla ...
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...but...the cynic in me says...what's in it for the Governments?
That is based of course on separate issues I currently have (I'm taking issue not raising the issue although I have tried) with the state (NSW) and federal government. I'm seeing the signs of backtracking and I don't like it. another time, another rant...
Keep us updated on this LL.
Where there is a wheel...there is a way.
I love that image you have chosen Lilla! It is just so full of promise of better days to come.
much pyaar...
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Really what ingenuity. I am proud of thinking out of the box. I was so excited about this news. Here is another great article regarding this "idea"
link to article
Another wonderful post!
Mis
Enviro Warrior
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Let us hope that with the shift of 2012, the 'governments' as we know them cease to be... perhaps more a glactic council of elders will suit the new consciousness and free energy routes of this planet and it's new global profile... certainly not one that continues to rape the alnd and short change the people?
Oh I can dream, can I what! ..um..does that make me an anarchist or envirowarrior *chuckle* I've been called both, but truly I fail to see why a different system of governing is so scary and impossible, surely we have all come to realise that this one is not always kosher.
Loving you always...
Lilla ...
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Oh I look forward to reading the link later today, thank you...
Lilla ...
Seems like an interesting way to use the land and construction costs of roadbuilding to go some of the way to paying for a solar system.
On the subject of using the weight of cars to generate power, I am afraid it is thermodynamically impossible to come out in front.
If the weight of the car pushes a "platform" down against a resistance, then the car most move "uphill" to be able to do it again, for which the car will have to burn extra fuel.
Basically, the road would have to be ever so slightly "spongy" or flexible, to harvest the power of the car, and this would make the car work harder and burn more fuel.
Put it another way, if such a system was possible, you could build a level circular track and roll a huge heavy ball around it to generate power, but of course the more power you draw off the ball, the more often you would have to give it a shove to keep it going.
Building such things into roads would just be a way of stealing fuel from the cars going overhead, and not a very efficient way at that
Enviro Warrior
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However, your comment made me think ahead to when the engineers have figured that all out and start deisigning the lighter plastic bubble cars that we all know we will end up having in years to come.
Thinking now of all the plastic left on the planet to recycle into vehicles after the oil runs out. It makes perfect sense. Safety will not be an issue either as ALL CARS will be the equal density and thickness... then, we can really start to get the solar integration going between the road and the unit travelling on it... ???
Personally I still think it is an antiquated notion to those who understand Magnetic Levitation (MagLev) technology; where repelling magnetic poles can push anything along further and cheaper on land, than any ofther force known to mankind... well besides wind on water. To me it is what the land is made for, to be used as a giant magnetic repeller to catapult us from here to there in no time. In fact, I am currently researching posts on both Solar boats and megLev trains.
Stand by for those, and again thanks for such a thoughful comment!
Lilla ...