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Solar rail could become common in Europe after successful trial in Switzerland

euronews.com

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Re: Solar rail could become common in Europe after successful trial in Switzerland

#21

Post by tryagainian »

datadrivenangel wrote: post #10
Aboutplants wrote: post #9

What are the economics of this? Cost to install vs other available options? Durability will certainly be an issue I’m sure. Genuinely curious and not because I think it’s a bad idea. I want solar on all underutilized areas, I just prefer low hanging fruit from a cost perspective at the current time.

Seems likely that safe access for maintenance makes this unappealing economically. Likely easier to have wider rail right of way and then put a panel farm on the side.

With the added benefit of being able to mount the tracks at an angle, and the added disadvantage of occupying area near the tracks that is occasionally used for maintenance equipment.

And getting approval to widen the right of way, where it’s even physically possible, and issues around flora suppression.

Re: Solar rail could become common in Europe after successful trial in Switzerland

#22

Post by matwood »

tryagainian wrote: post #17
Aboutplants wrote: post #9

What are the economics of this? Cost to install vs other available options? Durability will certainly be an issue I’m sure. Genuinely curious and not because I think it’s a bad idea. I want solar on all underutilized areas, I just prefer low hanging fruit from a cost perspective at the current time.

[flagged]

> Everywhere grid scale solar goes, expensive new transmission lines follow.

How is this different than any other power generation install?

Re: Solar rail could become common in Europe after successful trial in Switzerland

#23

Post by ben_w »

therealpygon wrote: post #5
ben_w wrote: post #2

Always nice when something that I suggest in a random comment only to get a dismissive reply, turns out to be an idea worth persuing all along.

Being right about things you have no control over is a bit like being right about your favorite flavor of jelly.

Of course.

I have tried entrepreneurial stuff twice before, in my 20s, though without much success. Having ideas good enough to get investors interested is a sign that perhaps I should have another go at it.

Re: Solar rail could become common in Europe after successful trial in Switzerland

#24

Post by SoftTalker »

matwood wrote: post #22
tryagainian wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

> Everywhere grid scale solar goes, expensive new transmission lines follow. How is this different than any other power generation install?

Solar (and wind, I guess) is way more spread out? Other power generation happens at a point on a map by comparison.

Re: Solar rail could become common in Europe after successful trial in Switzerland

#25

Post by ajsnigrutin »

Solar sidewalks, solar roads, now solar rail?

WHY?! Dave from eevblog did the math and it's bad

Did we really fill up all the area on top of roofs, parkings lots, industrial areas, etc., and we're running out, and we have to put solar cells on railroads?

Re: Solar rail could become common in Europe after successful trial in Switzerland

#26

Post by [deleted] »

SoftTalker wrote: post #24
matwood wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Everywhere grid scale solar goes, expensive new transmission lines follow. How is this different than any other power generation install?

Solar (and wind, I guess) is way more spread out? Other power generation happens at a point on a map by comparison.

[deleted]

Re: Solar rail could become common in Europe after successful trial in Switzerland

#27

Post by Quitschquat »

ajsnigrutin wrote: post #25

Solar sidewalks, solar roads, now solar rail? WHY?! Dave from eevblog did the math and it's bad Did we really fill up all the area on top of roofs, parkings lots, industrial areas, etc., and we're running out, and we have to put solar cells on railroads?

I think these kinds of ideas capture easily impressionable, elected representatives whose technical knowledge is non existent.

Re: Solar rail could become common in Europe after successful trial in Switzerland

#28

Post by JumpCrisscross »

bee_rider wrote: post #16

It makes more sense than the road, because at least the train isn’t driving directly on the thing. I wonder if the power could be delivered directly to the train. Although the only savings really would be transmission costs, not sure how big of a deal that is…

> at least the train isn’t driving directly on the thing

It’s just kicking up dust and dripping lubricant onto it.

Maybe this makes sense. I’m deeply sceptical. Especially when you could just be putting vertical panels to the sides.

Re: Solar rail could become common in Europe after successful trial in Switzerland

#30

Post by Certhas »

SoftTalker wrote: post #24
matwood wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Everywhere grid scale solar goes, expensive new transmission lines follow. How is this different than any other power generation install?

Solar (and wind, I guess) is way more spread out? Other power generation happens at a point on a map by comparison.

So requires more transmission infrastructure. The difference is that we already have that built out over decades, and now we need a different network in a much shorter timescale.

No one should pretend that the energy transition is free. The final system we will arrive at can be ver

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