could solar panels be put in hot parking lots to convert the heat generated from the pavement?

Answer 1

I understand what you're saying and the people above me are being way too specific. I think the idea of putting solar panels under the pavement is a fantastic idea!

Answer 2

Sorry, no because solar panels are made to convert light in to enegy, so the heat coming from the pavement would not help the solar panels. And pavement is usualy a dark color and obviously opaque so if you put the solar panels under the pavement the pavement you would not get any light in them. And if you put solar panels on the pavement then I am quite sure that they would not support the weight of cars...

Answer 3

All physicists I see! You would need a panel that would utilize the peltier effect, or thermocouple effect, whereas the temperature differential between two thermocouple materials produces a drop in potential and hence a voltage and current. The "kinetic" energy of light waves/photons is what is utilized to liberate electrons from a photovoltaic substance to induce a current, not the heat energy.

The problem with a thermocouple panel is that they are obscenely inefficient, less so than present silicon based solar cells, so you would be better off putting PV panels on the roof of whatever building the parking lot belongs to.

Answer 4

Hi,

Interesting question. As far as I can tell, you can't garner solar energy directly from the pavement. That said, you can certainly install solar panels around a parking lot. The first link I list below specializes in exactly that.

The oft-cited HowStuffWorks (link below) has an excellent article on how solar cells work, their costs, and how to successfully implement them on homes. It's a bit complicated, but certainly worth reading.

Finally, the North Carolina Solar Center has something they call the "Solar House." It runs on the power of the sun and, according to the site, "the total heating bill per winter for the Solar House averages less than $70." Check out the third link to learn more.

thanks!

Mike

Answer 5

Parking lots absorb a lot of energy and emit quite a bit as well, and this is a dynamic process that occurs through out the day. It does not seem to be that they are particularly good COLLECTORS of the spectrum of energy which is turned into electricity by solar panels. These panels use the UV spectrum, and it is best to get this energy directly from the sun.

At noon, BTW, the sun emits 1.5 kW/m^2. Solar panels can use up to about 20% of this energy (because of spectral and efficiency concerns).

Answer 6

Solar panels convert light energy into electricity. They do not produce electricity from the heat. The sun light must be shining on the solar panels for them to work.

Answer 7

The heat is a different form of energy...The solar panels would most likely be crushed by the cars anyway...solar pannels absorb the heat from light waves. The asphalte also absorbs the energy...that energy is then emitted as heat. so no, solar pannels would not take the heat generated by the pavement.

Answer 8

No, they collect light from the sun, the heat has nothing to do with it. At any rate, cars parking in the lot would ruin the energy yield, so what's the point? It's like installing solar panels in Seattle...

Answer 9

I'm going to assume that you don't mean to collect the heat from the ground, which photo-voltaics don't do, rather on poles having the solar cells creating the shade that trees normally would. It's probably possible, but I don't know if its practical.

Answer 10

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