In the last chapter, I questioned the amount of carbon-based fuels that were used to ship things around the world.
It got me thinking about how a trade imbalance would mean empty shipping containers might leave a country (returning to the country of origin).
It makes me wonder if the shipping containers might (in fraction or in part) a commodity that had a use. So, some small part of the shipping process could spare the fuel to move the container back.
It would probably mean a redesign for a small part of the shipping containers.
The container might split the top from the bottom (taking half the vertical supports for each side)
A ready frame to connect solar panels onto. Each half being as tall as a carport. We might place them close to houses.
Or perhaps the tops and bottoms can be removed completely from the sides. Allowing the containers to be shipped back using much smaller space.
Such a thing could not replace every container. But, it would not need to. It could be a small segment that uses that design.