Comments on: If solar power is better than electric why aren't street lights solar powered?

By: Dan S

Dan S — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:34:27 +0000

Currently solar panels are only 30% efficient; they don’t work very well so they aren’t used very often. Most street lights are lit with electricity from the electric grid so they will be still lit even if the sun isn’t out for a few days.

However, I have seen traffic warning signs like "School Crossing" that have a solar panel on them. I have also seen signs that have to be lit out in the middle of nowhere with a solar panel on them to charge them up. So it is done, it just isn’t done very often.

Scientists are trying to increase the efficiency of solar panels to 40% at that point they start to become economical to use. Currently most solar powered panels actually use heat from the sun to heat water. This is one way to replace your large water heater with a smaller less energy using one. Also some houses in the right areas, which get enough sunlight and have the right southern exposure, use solar panels to provide hot water to heat the building.

Solar panels are not always something that transforms sunlight to electricity. Sometimes they are just panels with water inside.

You can’t trust the sun to power street lights, the solar cells are not powerful enough or efficient enough, the battery technology we have isn’t up to the job either. It is best to connect street lights to the main electric grid and that will be true for some time to come.

Your suggestion is a vaild one and has been looked at, but it can’t work yet. However, there are some situations where a solar cell can be used to power street signs.

By: secretidentity

secretidentity — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:34:27 +0000

Theres no garuntee that they will always get enough sun.

By: scottieknows95

scottieknows95 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:34:27 +0000

because of laziness and cost.

it would cost a lot and be somewhat wasteful to just get rid of everything and change to solar power, but in the long run yes it would be better, solar power is becoming a lot more popular and is slowly growing, so in the future maybe

By: Robert D

Robert D — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:34:27 +0000

Many cities do have this going already.

Solar power is still very low in efficiency, and costly to boot.

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:34:27 +0000

because street lights go on at night there is no solar power at night thats why its called solar…we need the sun!

By: BRYANT L

BRYANT L — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:34:27 +0000

your kidding right? how can you solar power your lights during the night when you need the streetlights?

By: Missy

Missy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:34:27 +0000

OMG the people posting above me are idiots. The point of SOLAR POWER is to charge during the day so that you can USE them at night. Jesus have you never heard of solar powered garden lights? Thats THE POINT. Its like glow in the dark stickers on your ceiling. You shine light on them, then turn the light off and they will glow brighter. God people are stupid.

By: Kristin D

Kristin D — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:34:27 +0000

At this point in time, solar panels are not as efficient as electricity, gas, etc. That is why we do not use them. Like the first person said, they’re only 30% efficient right now.

As for the person above me, some people don’t know much about solar power. Also, there is a big difference in the amount of energy a small garden light uses as compared to a network of street lights. It may seem like the same thing, but there is much more energy involved.

If you have TiVo or some sort of Guide on your television set that lets you search for shows, try looking up "2057." It is a show that Discovery Channel recently put out. It’s about what the world might be like in 50 years. It focuses on solar power. It’s a great show, very informative about solar power and the panels, how efficient they are, why, etc.

By: Joseph, II

Joseph, II — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:34:27 +0000

Boy would I like to HEAR Power Companys answer THAT one!!! That’s a TERRIFIC idea! And there had BETTER be a GOOD reason -too; because I think streetlighting is one of the BIGGEST Electricity wasters- there are!

By: Robert A

Robert A — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:34:27 +0000

The solar panels and the batteries, even where sunlight is pretty reliable, are very costly. If the money was put into a bank account the interest accruing would pay the cost of buying the necessary electricity with plenty left over.