London Tube turns to Solar Panels

[Tom kent]

Due for completion in 2012, the redevelopment of Blackfriars Station includes the construction of the world’s largest solar bridge.
The bridge, situated right in the heart of London , across the Thames at Blackfriars Station in London, will feature more than 4,400 solar panels, generating an estimated 900,000kWh of power a year.
According to the Solarcentury, the company behind the project, the energy generated will reduce annual CO2 emissions by around 500 tonnes.
According to the company behind the project, the roof will not only protect the bridge, trains and passengers but produce 50 per cent of the stations energy.
Built in 1866, the bridge is ready to face another the future with 21st century clean technology.

[Joe Blake]

http://images.gizmag.com/hero/blackfriarssolar.jpg

http://www.gizmag.com/blackfriars-solar-railway-bridge/20057/

Reading some of the comments, it seems that some people think that being able to use Google is equivalent to doing research. :suspicious:
Joe

[Penny Walters]

More than 4,400 solar panels, generating an estimated 900,000kWh of power a year.

Pretty impressive.

[Dave Turpin]

I double checked the calculations. They are not too absurd. Assuming they can keep the panels clean it should be able to make 900MWh per year fairly easily.

The only misleading thing is that they claim that is 50% of the annual power use of the station... Which might be true if you ignore the power the trains use...

[Penny Walters]

Yeah i agree, but keeping the panels clean will also cost time and money.

And you're right, this doesn't take into account the power that trains will be using.

[Joe Blake]

Maybe keeping the panels clean might involve using electric robots ... which will probably use up the extra power gained by constant cleaning?

Maybe a zero-sum game.:D

Joe

[Rob Beckers]

The English have something you don't get to see too often in your part of the woods, Joe. They call it "rain". :idea:
It's the liquid form of hydrogenoxide, and it's actually a pretty good solvent. Throw enough of the stuff on the panels, et voila, it keeps them pretty clean!

Actually the English have many words for this stuf, besides "rain". There's "drizzle", "downpour", "mist", "fog", "sprinkle", "deluge", "shower", and the list goes on.

Interesting stuff...:blink:

-RoB-

[Joe Blake]

We regard "rain" as an urban myth here.

Actually, we've had a couple of reasonable downpours of late. My water tanks are filled to overflow, so there's 6 months of drinking, cooking, and flushing the loo.

:D

Joe

[Joe Blake]

It's the liquid form of hydrogenoxide, and it's actually a pretty good solvent.
-RoB-


I seem to recall back in the '60s the Scottish singer Donovan Leitch had a song which I think was about water, it was called "The Universal Solvent".:p

Joe

[Rob Beckers]

And that coming from a Scottish singer?! :amazed:
That song should have been about scotch... :love:

-RoB-