Some disadvantages of solar panel roads

No doubt solar panel highways is a unique, creative and attention worthy idea. It is the way of nature that everything has advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunately, there is nothing in the world which has only advantages and not disadvantages. Similarly, where there are some advantages of solar panel roads, there are some disadvantages also. Here are some:

Source: Google images

Disadvantages of solar panel roads

• Initial cost is high.
• Around $7,000 to build each panel.
• It becomes unreliable when the weather is cloudy.
• It is relatively much more expensive to renovate.
• If the solar panels get damaged, the traffic signals, the warning signs and the street lights could become useless.
• Not only installation and maintenance cost is high, the time it would take to do that is also high.
• Time to recoup its own cost, the payback period, is long.
• Most solar panels only convert 14% of energy into electricity. [Source: Northwestern University]
• It is difficult to rely only on solar panels because sunlight is not available during the long winters in many parts of the world.

It is true that solar panel road network is a good way of generating electricity but we cannot rely on it as a sole source of electricity. Experts suggests that for the time being this project should be started on a small scale and its disadvantages should also be kept in mind.

Advantages of using solar panels as roads

We are receiving a huge amount of solar light for free. It is very surprising that having energy crises, we did not pay attention to solar energy as a source to generate electricity. This concept is relatively new and most of the people are not aware of the technology very well.

Well - Have you heard about solar panel highways? For the time being here are some advantages of solar panel roads.

Source: Google images

Advantages of Solar Panel roads

• Free source of energy.
• Continuous supply.
• Initial cost is high, however, very low cost in the long run.
• No pollution.
• LED lights can be embedded in to the panels, that can act as warning signs built in to the roads.
• They can also be used to melt down the snow on the roads.
• Covers a wide area, where solar light drops.
• Hence, stores a huge amount of energy.

As energy crisis increases, the need to generate energy on a vast scale increases. Scientists are looking for more capable and cost effective ways to help decrease the energy crisis. This is where the idea of solar panel highways came. The idea behind roads made of solar panels is that, by doing this you can utilize a wide area, where sunlight drops. As, it was not possible otherwise.

Have you ever heard about solar panel highways?

As energy and economic crisis increases, countries are looking for more capable and low cost source of generating electricity. Why search for them? They are present here around us from the time earth is present. The need is to utilize them for the betterment of mankind.

Courtesy of Dan Walden

Scientists are focusing on solar light to generate electricity. Many ways and methods are being developed to convert sunlight into electricity. Solar panels also known as photovoltaic cells, is a technology that has been used in many ways. You will find them on top of big buildings, roof of our homes, fields, roof of cars. Like the all new Toyota Prius hybrid even has them on its roof, powering an electric air conditioner so the gasoline-powered engine would not be over burdened.

Some people say that If we were to lay down a gigantic amount of solar panels on a wide area, we could absorb huge amount of light and that would be enough to effectively end our energy crisis. Have you ever thought about solar panels replacing the concrete and asphalt? No! Well, this is what scientists are thinking. Making roads made up of solar panels and cars running on it would also have solar panels on their roofs. Combining both we will get a solar panel highway. The idea is to absorb as much sunlight as possible.

Someone said, "highways basking in the hot sun are wasted energy".

Solar panels

Source: Google images

As energy crisis increases globally, the need to find more efficient and effective ways to fulfill this need increases and which should also be cost effective as well as capable enough to cover the requirements.

Solar panels are converters, which convert sunlight into electricity. This is a very effective and efficient way of converting solar light into electricity. However, its initial installation cost is high but is very beneficial in the long run. Solar panels consists of solar cells. Solar cells are attached by wire to a circuit. Light is converted into electricity as light strikes the semiconductor and that electricity then flows through the circuit. Solar panels cannot be used all around the world because there are some places in the world where you rarely see the sun light. Solar panels can be used in areas like Asia, Africa etc. Because these locations have the sun present on the sky for long hours and they can generate electricity with cost effectiveness.

Many countries are using solar panels. Germany is one of them which is using the solar panels and are generating 9,785 MW, Spain is generating 3,386 MW and similarly other countries like China, Italy and India are also generating electricity from solar light. The need is that governments should invest in solar panels and utilize natural resource for their benefit.