everything solar and for that matter everything that is 'green' is subsidized by the taxpayers. These things cost jobs, they don't create jobs. When they first stated solar subsidies 35 years ago they told us it was only temporary and that the 'industry' would get off the ground and be economical soon. The only thing that has changed in 35 years is that the subsidies have gone up dramatically to well over 50% of the cost for everything solar.
It is a pretty fantastic and ridiculous thing to think that solar panel showed in the movie will somehow become a part of a road. Perhaps it will be done - at a very heavy subsidy, and for demonstration purposes only. Believe me - it will prove to be a failure, people will not like those roads. That is not how you build roads. If you put flat panels like that in a road, then you will screw up the road. Roads are not flat, they have a crest in the middle and it is very important that they be smooth so that a car can drive smoothly. what do you think that seam at the edge of each panel will do to people's tires? It will destroy them and create an unpleasant driving experience too. The dynamic forces of cars constantly driving over those panels will cause the seams at the edges to open up. This will cause the road to be destroyed. It won't work. Roads are things that need to last and to be maintained inexpensively. These will not do the job.
Everything solar is very heavily subsidized. Homebuilders will sell you a house with panels on the roof that will generate all the electricity for a house and even run the air conditioning here in Arizona. Very impressive, also very heavily subsidized and uneconomical. We have a big solar plant scheduled to be built north and west of Phoenix. It is I believe 75% subsidized when you add up all the subsidy sources. and the only reason it has a market is because the government mandates that utilities buy solar generated electricity.
In spain they did a study and concluded that for every 1.0 job created with 'green' subsidies there are 1.21 non-green jobs taken down by it. Why do the people that rule us insist that taxpayer money be squandered on subsidies? Why it puts our government deeper in debt and makes our economy dysfunctional. It seems to be a part of their agenda to achieve these goals.
That's a horrible argument that doesn't bring anything to the table.
Nobody tried peanut butter WITH jelly......but now we consider the two a pair. Nobody EVER tried AC prior to Tesla, now the world runs on it.
Just becuase nobody has done it only means it is time somebody did do it. And in this case, they have already made the panels to the current specifications. So, even your argument is behind the curve this time around Red.
what I brought to the table is expertise. I've worked in construction for a long time. my college degree included civil engineering. So I know a lot about it. But I will admit that I could be wrong. and I was speaking boldly because I just don't like the idea. My professional expertise tells me to be skeptical of this idea. and I think I'm right. Maybe you can get the panel to work so that it doesn't deteriorate with traffic and that the cars can drive on it adequately. It will still be way too expensive. Roads are not for generating electricity. Everything solar is subsidized.