Lily-shaped pads could generate solar energy in Glasgow
By Darren Murph 
posted May 12th 2008 8:06PM
posted May 12th 2008 8:06PM
[Via Inhabitat]
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I guess they don't use boats there. Imagine trying to navigate around those things!
A novel idea!
Just watch out for the tourist ferries though.
@gabe
piitb = put it in the butt
So, basically, you choose not to say "FIRST!" or anything like that? Well, I'm ranking you up. (/s)
Awesome, but what about boats? And anyone know the name of that cool looking complex on the right? A university perhaps?
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=River+Clyde+UK&sll=-45.198732,169.462395&sspn=0.113704,0.32135&ie=UTF8&t=k&ll=55.855697,-4.259455&spn=0.005661,0.020084&z=16&iwloc=addr
(I tried TinyURL'ing that link, but Engadget rejects my comment)
its a flat (apartment) complex, the riverview complex I think it's called, don't think its let out for students only, but private renters too
I'm sure they'll really make use of the three hours of sunlight a year that Glasgow gets...
that's incredibly funny and so very true!!
Yee know too much!
great!
Great,
But what about boats? Yeah you gotta think about the boats that would happen to be passing by and not to run into one of solar pads. I wonder if anyone thought about this little issue?
Right now there's a scene being written where James Bond races over these things in swamp boats.
that part of the clyde isn't really host to boats anymore, since the bridges at the top there and the new 'squinty bridge' just south of the picture are quite low to the water. I think it could work well and look really interesting, if only they would clean up the southside of the river front a little (that wasteland to the right, up form the apartment complex) - its been lying like that for years and ruins the riverside.
knowing glasgow city council though, it will never, ever happen.
Where are the wires to get back to the grid? Couldn't the city just reduce the property tax of any building that would give back their roof space to public city solar utilities?
There's no 'property tax' on residential property in the UK. You could reduce council tax, but that would come out of the local council's budget as well as the cost of the solar panels - they're not likely to see much benefit.
Rotate the pads to follow the sun? These pads are horizontal (by definition, water seeks its own level), so there's no advantage to turning them.
I can't stand it when these pie-in-the-sky concepts with clearly no thought end up on sites like this, I'd rather see real gadgets.
the solar cells are probably tilted upward at an angle
Sunbathers? In Glasgow? Maybe on the one sunny afternoon they get every 23 years (on average)... but unlikely to be much of a problem.
The scallies, on the other hand... are more of a risk. Maybe the article should read 'lilypad solar panels to appear shortly on river clyde, shortly afterwards in back gardens round celtic park.'
Those don't look like lily pads, they look like oil droplets or bacteria colonies.
This might be a good idea, if Glasgow ever saw the sun, but since it doesn't, not a good idea.
What's so bad about using unused roof top space for solar panels ?
its too obvious and wouldnt win a design award.
Perhaps NIMBY applies.
The real-estate on most roof-tops of multi-storey metropolitan buildings is used by air-conditioning compressors and shelters which contain cellphone network equipment. Hail-damage can also be a major issue for solar panels, but I guess that would apply to solar lillies too!
Man, talk about some fried frog.
How about doing so with the L.A. river? Wouldn't have to worry about boats there...
Just wait for it to start raining frogs
/me waits for the bible
.... snow.... rain.... clouds... and river traffic? Why not put it in a suitable place.
thats not a bad idea using the clyde for solar panels.
the only time you see a boat going up the clyde is to fish a suicide victems body out.
Nice way to sell Scotland! Last week the weather was amazing, many a mighty chest on show in Glasgow, it must be all the Irn Bru that makes them bigger!
JP.
have you been to glasgow? *nobody* swims in the clyde.
the neds will either torch them or smash them with stones.
There's enough sh*te flaoting in the Clyde as it is.
These would be keen target practice for neds with bricks, has the designer ever visited Wedgie-land ?
The roofs of business building in the city center would be much better.
Design awards should be given based on d.e.s.i.g.n that means thinking of function as well as form, I mean Glasgow gets about as much sun as St. Petersburg
What they should have done is also include water wheels on the bottom of each one so that they could generate EVEN MORE power.
What's the point in only placing Solar panels in the middle of a river when you can harness the power of the water beneath as well?
At least the panels will float, being supported by all the trashthat's in the damned river. Honestly, I've never seen murkier water than that from the Clyde.
I'd also make a generic "It's never sunny" comment,but right now I can hardly see my laptop's screen because of the sunlight.
That's right about where the old Cathouse was in Glasgow, on the left shore. Happy happy days, they knocked it down though
It's not that great at all. What's wrong with having solar panel on the roof of buildings. Why they feel the urge to screw up the water with their artificial islands. It's neither beautiful nor functional.
It's great. This concept has been partly realized in USA: SPG SOLAR just joined with SHARP Solar to build a solar array: Floatovoltaic,solar. This solar plant was just built on the water surface, and the solar panels are just floating on the water. Engagdget reported this project, too. ......Judysolar.spaces.live.com