An expensive solar road project in Idaho can’t even power a microwave most days, according to the project’s energy data.
The Solar FREAKIN’ Roadways project generated an average of 0.62 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per day since it began publicly posting power data in late March. To put that in perspective, the average microwave or blow drier consumes about 1 kWh per day.
On March 29th, the solar road panels generated 0.26 kWh, or less electricity than a single plasma television consumes. On March 31st, the panels generated 1.06 kWh, enough to barely power a single microwave. The panels have been under-performing their expectations due to design flaws, but even if they had worked perfectly they’d have only powered a single water fountain and the lights in a nearby restroom.
Solar FREAKIN’ Roadways has been in development for 6.5 years and received a total of $4.3 million in funding to generate 90 cents worth of electricity.
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6 comments:
Was it raining on those days?
Either rain, or dirt and sand covering the roadway or maybe all of the cars driving on the road??? You are better off using electrodes to pick up the vibrations of the road via the cars to generate electricity...
Ouch only a microwave - wow!!
Obviously needs more work, and research dollars.
Well, at least they're trying.
For some reason I just developed a taste for a grilled cheese sandwich.
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