Some feel good green influencers have latched onto the idea that solar panels could be installed between the tracks of active railway lines, and there's pilot project in 🇨🇭 But it's a really bad idea. Here's why 👇 […] [Original post on gruene.social] - ThreadSky

jon.gruene.social.ap.brid.gy • 3 days ago

Some feel good green influencers have latched onto the idea that solar panels could be installed between the tracks of active railway lines, and there's pilot project in 🇨🇭

But it's a really bad idea. Here's why 👇 […] https://gruene.social/@jon/114426710374645376

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timo.social.hetzel.net.ap.brid.gy•3 days ago

@jon Solar Roadways reloaded.

Vertical bifacials are the way to go for so many applications.

fak.toot.community.ap.brid.gy•3 days ago

@jon in Japan they put panels in the dead space at the side of the tracks, where people are discouraged from trespassing and which isn't useful for agriculture.

jon.gruene.social.ap.brid.gy•3 days ago

@fak which is one of the suggestions 😀

ives.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy•3 days ago

@jon Here's another one: need to do some maintenance on one of your large amount of panels? Stop all train traffic on that line!

dan613.ottawa.place.ap.brid.gy•3 days ago

@jon The French (iirc) tried this for a road and it was a complete failure for all the reasons you mentioned. I wish people would learn from other's mistakes.

Vertical panels as sound barriers, as you also mention, could extend the period solar energy is available to the shoulder periods.

Crispius.infosec.exchange.ap.brid.gy•3 days ago

@jon
Anyone remember ‘Solar Frickin Roadways’?

Jonas-Bostrom.mastodonsweden.se.ap.brid.gy•3 days ago

@jon Unfortunately people prefer easy solutions, even if the complicated ones are more realistic.

hisold.toot.io.ap.brid.gy•3 days ago

@jon It's "solar freakin roadways" season!

jon.gruene.social.ap.brid.gy•3 days ago

(also it pisses me off no end that more people have seen this influencer bullshit about these solar panel plans, or other equally ridiculous ideas like 21st Century Europe's "Metro for Europe”, than have *EVER* seen anything workable I have put forward as part of my #CrossBorderRail work. That's […]

keefeglise.mastodonapp.uk.ap.brid.gy•3 days ago

@jon A lot of people did see it. A lot of people thought it was a load of cobblers.

Billybobbell.twit.social.ap.brid.gy•2 days ago

@jon have you seen the SBB plan in Switzerland for solar panels on the rail tracks? I have to say I thought that was a total gimic but they seem to be going for it.

jon.gruene.social.ap.brid.gy•2 days ago

@Billybobbell err have you seen the post prior to the one you replied to?

Billybobbell.twit.social.ap.brid.gy•2 days ago

@jon It's just the most ridiculous idea I have seen for years, but this company has been pushing it for ages. It does seem like a kind of relic of the hypey sustainable investing boom from 5 years ago. But SBB are not stupid, they must see some benefit from it.

jon.gruene.social.ap.brid.gy•2 days ago

@Billybobbell I don’t think they see any benefit. So agreed to do it on the most secluded branch line with little traffic to show it doesn’t work!

Billybobbell.twit.social.ap.brid.gy•2 days ago

@jon Yes that makes more sense. Given the amount of land owned by SBB you would have thought they might have had a better idea.

Billybobbell.twit.social.ap.brid.gy•2 days ago

@jon I didn't until now! It does seem like a ridiculous idea... Sorry my Mastodon threading doesn't always work.

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