NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/08/18/unlocking-thermal-energy-stored-in-asphalt/

I had this idea earlier this year! The only difference was that I was considering the possibility of embedding quantum dots directly into the asphalt itself. It would require some major limitations to be worked out, but it'd be much more durable. This idea with heat exchanges sounds much more costly to install and maintain, but could be done with current technology.

Just think of how much road surface there is and the fact that more urban, heavily populated areas have even more. Even with one percent efficiency, just imagine all that power that could be generated on land that's already in use.

I read an article several years ago about generating energy on sidewalks from people walking by ... they had some kind of complicated turbine, but what you'd want is some kind of metamaterial that produces a current when compressed. Lay it down in sheets.

The question, I guess, is whether this would break even - whether the cost of resurfacing roads with power generators would be exceeded by the profit in selling the electricity to the local grid.

I suspect, however, that laying pipes under the roads is a bit resource-intensive and prone to failure; what's needed is some kind of solid-state thing, rather than water gooshing about in pipes.

I always thought we wasted the potential generating power of children's swings and roundabouts...and hamster wheels.

MY idea was to collide a couple of protons going at near light speed... Unfortunatly they stole that one from me...

The question, I guess, is whether this would break even - whether the cost of resurfacing roads with power generators would be exceeded by the profit in selling the electricity to the local grid.

you may also factor in brutal reprisals carried out by motorist mobs made late for work by dastardly bike riding sciencey types

I read an article several years ago about generating energy on sidewalks from people walking by ... they had some kind of complicated turbine, but what you'd want is some kind of metamaterial that produces a current when compressed. Lay it down in sheets.

The question, I guess, is whether this would break even - whether the cost of resurfacing roads with power generators would be exceeded by the profit in selling the electricity to the local grid.

I suspect, however, that laying pipes under the roads is a bit resource-intensive and prone to failure; what's needed is some kind of solid-state thing, rather than water gooshing about in pipes.

I agree. I think they'd be better off integrating some sort of photovoltaic material(quantum dots?) into the pavement itself. They wouldn't even need to dig anything up; just resurface existing roads. Of course there are a few details to work out, such as durability, safety(electrified roads?) and tapping the produced electricity. But I really think that utilizing existing road and parking lot surfaces as electrical generators is a perfect system. The land is already there.

Now here's an out-there idea ... combine it with wireless power transmission and electric cars. The little photovoltaic/thermovoltaic doodads in the asphalt would generate electricity from the sunlight and/or heat transfer, and beam it to the nearest receiver. You could put them on roadside power poles to feed it directly into the national grid ... or put receivers on cars, so they recharge as you drive along.

Now here's an out-there idea ... combine it with wireless power transmission and electric cars. The little photovoltaic/thermovoltaic doodads in the asphalt would generate electricity from the sunlight and/or heat transfer, and beam it to the nearest receiver. You could put them on roadside power poles to feed it directly into the national grid ... or put receivers on cars, so they recharge as you drive along.

But how would they charge you? :confused:

But how would they charge you? :confused:With rhinos, obviously.

But how would they charge you? :confused:

Either a) some kind of computer on board your car records how much energy you're getting from the road (possibly the photovoltaic doohickeys also transmit the fact that you're receiving power from Mitsubishi RoadCorp Electric Power Company, and MRCEPC sends you a bill at the end of the month). Or b) pure socialism has eliminated the monetary economy (except that'd also require advances in AI and cybernetics to turn everyone into perfectly altruistic model citizens. I imagine a computer in your head could monitor your behaviour and "reward" you with endorphins for being a Good Soviet Driver).

Or c) vastly inflated road user taxes. You'd probably need that to pay for paving the roads with photovoltaics anyway.

Either a) some kind of computer on board your car records how much energy you're getting from the road (possibly the photovoltaic doohickeys also transmit the fact that you're receiving power from Mitsubishi RoadCorp Electric Power Company, and MRCEPC sends you a bill at the end of the month). Or b) pure socialism has eliminated the monetary economy (except that'd also require advances in AI and cybernetics to turn everyone into perfectly altruistic model citizens. I imagine a computer in your head could monitor your behaviour and "reward" you with endorphins for being a Good Soviet Driver).

Or c) vastly inflated road user taxes. You'd probably need that to pay for paving the roads with photovoltaics anyway.
I prefer A, so long as it's put together in a way that couldn't be easily exploited by companies to overcharge you.

c) vastly inflated road user taxes. You'd probably need that to pay for paving the roads with photovoltaics anyway.
This one I particularly dislike. Mostly because there are currently two systems to raise funds...gas tax (which would be moot in this situation) or tolls. My big issue with tolls is that they are concentrated in areas of high population, with few in more rural areas in the state...I would pay more for living in Boston, while someone living in Western MA would never have to pay a dime.

Now here's an out-there idea ... combine it with wireless power transmission and electric cars. The little photovoltaic/thermovoltaic doodads in the asphalt would generate electricity from the sunlight and/or heat transfer, and beam it to the nearest receiver. You could put them on roadside power poles to feed it directly into the national grid ... or put receivers on cars, so they recharge as you drive along.

That sounds like an expensive bumper car system.