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Solar Wind Bridge Could Power 15,000 Homes, Grow Vegetables

Posted February 07, 2011 8:37 AM

From Engadget:

Why just use solar power or wind power when you can use both? Designed by Francesco Colarossi, Giovanna Saracino and Luisa Saracino as part of an Italian design contest to re-imagine a decommissioned bridge (for which it placed second), this so-called Solar Wind concept would have solar cells embedded in the roadway (an idea that's already catching on) and an array of 26 wind turbines underneath, which the designers say could produce enough energy combined to power 15,000 homes. To make the design greener still, the designers have even included a "green promenade" that would run alongside the road, which they suggest could be used to grow fruits and vegetables that'd then be sold to folks driving by. Incidentally, while it's less focused on technology, the design that placed first in the contest (a so-called "vertical village") is pretty impressive in its own right.

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Anonymous Poster
#1

Re: Solar Wind Bridge Could Power 15,000 Homes, Grow Vegetables

02/07/2011 11:08 PM

Design competitions - Where prizes are awarded to wankers people who draw pretty pictures but never have to actually make any thing work.

Lots of little wind turbines! Brilliant. That's assuming the bridge is rated for all these new loads, access platforms etc. Why not just build one big turbine on the nearby high ground? It'll be cheaper, more efficient and provide actual power.

Solar cells embedded into the roadway! Amazing! We just need to protect the famously delicate silicon wafers safe from impact. Why not just mount them on flat panels, faced towards the sun? It'd be cheaper, more efficient and provide actual power.

Perhaps the vegetables could be grown in a new "green" mulch made from shredded "design competition" entries to help conserve water.

A grumpy Ffej

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Anonymous Poster
#2

Re: Solar Wind Bridge Could Power 15,000 Homes, Grow Vegetables

02/08/2011 1:12 AM

Why are there cars driving by and purchasing fruit and vegetables on a DECOMMISSIONED bridge? The only reason I can think of decommissioning a bridge is because it is unsafe to carry the load and now we are about to load it up with cars, solar cells, wind turbines and support structures and water and soil to produce fruit and vegetables. If it can carry that load then why was it decommissioned?

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