Sep 24 2010
Solar Roadways, a Sagle, Idaho based company, has announced the possibilities of utilizing solar panels instead of asphalt in the construction of roads. The company has received funding from the Federal Highway Administration, and continuing its research in creating weight defiant PV solar panels that can allow the running of cars and trucks over it.
According to the company, the using of solar panels on roads has more power production potential in United States. The company estimates availability of a total 100,000 square kilometers of open area in the form of high ways, road surfaces and open vehicle parking lots for the use of solar panels and power generation. The company is currently designing square solar panels of 3.7 x 3.7meters size that will exactly measure the width of normal lanes in US for paving roads and allow the movement of vehicles over it. The company estimates that with an average solar power availability of 4 hours a day and with 15% energy efficiency each such panel can produce an energy equivalent to 7.6 kWh.
To overcome the problem of heavy vehicles running over the panels without breaking them the company intended to utilize a know-how that is used in the production of bullet- proof glass. To prevent the problem of skidding on solar surfaces the company suggests the use of small sized prism like structures over the surface of the panels to provide grip to the vehicle tires and to prevent skidding.
Source: http://solarroadways.com/