Solar Power
Content
Solar Power
Solar power is produced by collecting sunlight and converting it into electricity. This is done by using solar panels, which are large flat panels made up of many individual solar cells. It is most often used in remote locations, although it is becoming more popular in urban areas as well. This page contains articles that explore advances in solar energy technology.
Oriental Hornet: Expert Solar Power Harvester
Do you know who is the most competent solar power expert, according to a research team from Tel Aviv University? It is the humble common Oriental hornet found in our gardens! Much to the astonishment of the scientists and researchers, the hornet utilizes solar power much like a plant and it produces electricity. Think how much easier it would be if only we could unravel how the hornet manages it. This discovery could revolutionize future solar power harvesting. 15 Comments 27Apr
Brooklyn Bridge Park: Greenest Destination in New York City
New York City's Brooklyn Bridge Park is getting even greener with the addition of a solar powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station – the first of its kind in New York City. Brooklyn Bridge Park has already added a number of green areas with lush grass, making it a great spot for both locals and tourists to enjoy the fabulous view of Manhattan and this EV charging station is the latest and unique green energy addition. The station will likely reduce the carbon emission inside the park to a great extent. 2 Comments 16Apr
Artificial Electronic Super Skin – Powered By Stretchable Solar Cells
Zhenan Bao, Stanford researcher, is keen to create "Super skin." Taking her previously created super-sensitive sensor a step ahead, she is now creating a super skin that will be self-powered with renewable clean solar energy. Bao and her team have designed polymer solar cells that are flexible and can be stretched to power the 'super skin'. 18 Comments 07Apr
PowerMod: To the Rescue
Think of the earthquake that happened at Tahiti, or havoc-provoking typhoons like Katrina; or the recent plane crash that took so many lives. With man-made or natural disasters occurring unexpectedly at all corners of earth, there has been a sharp demand for dependable portable energy sources that can make rescue efforts a lot easier and more successful. And to that effect, arrives PowerMod - the new portable solar tent ready to help in relief work to victims of disaster. 5 Comments
04Apr
The Empire State Building: Brighter & Greener
Yes, as of 2011, The Empire State Building, one of the world's largest buildings has achieved the distinction of becoming the largest buyer of green renewable wind power. The Empire State Building will be using more than 100 million kWh of wind energy in the coming couple of years approximately. It will be totally - 100% - wind-powered from now on! This is not the only feather in the lofty Empire State Building's green cap. Already the tall building has executed the refurbishment of fitting of all its - some 6500 or so - windows with a unique type of insulating glass for power savings. Some $13.2 million very well spent in boosting the green credentials. 3 Comments 29Mar
Ceria Mimics Plant Life
Newer and more exciting devices are being invented to harness renewable energy especially solar energy. One such device is a prototype which uses one of the rare earth metals - ceria, otherwise known cerium oxide - utilizing its natural propensity of alternatively exhaling and inhaling oxygen as it heats up or cools down. 1 Comment 23Mar
Laser ‘Scribing’ to Increase Solar Cell Efficiency
Over the years, thanks to the devoted research work going on for increasing the efficiency of solar cells, today solar cells are no longer flat shaped or unyielding. Ultra thin film-type solar cells have now been manufactured which are quite flexible and adaptable for use in corners, curvilinear and other structures. Today almost 20% of global solar power generation is done by these thin-film solar cells and expected to grow more in near future. 4 Comments 22Mar
E-Reader Going Green: Biblio Leaf
Glad tidings for book lovers with green ethics! Maybe the e-reader does not consume much power. But if you love to read online and think you should do your bit towards using renewable energy, you have Toshiba and KDDI joining the ranks of LG to provide solar-powered e-readers. Biblio Leaf is the new kid in the e-reader block to match LG's Solar eReader. What do you think? 19Mar
Solar Tracker Solar Panels
A German owned company IMO has set-up a plant in USA that will make the largest solar tracker solar panels to tap solar energy. As per Ruediger Unverzagt and Klaus
Pless, respectively the CEO and vice-president of this company, these solar tracker solar panels are the largest in Summerville in South California. IMO is looking forward to commercially sell these solar tracker solar panels. Despite being huge in size, they are very easy to assemble and one can assemble them just outside the building where they are to be installed. What do you think? 15Mar
Making the Best Use of Polymer Solar Cells
A report recently published in an online journal called Advanced Materials points out that a process has been developed by the researchers at the Iowa State University and the Ames Laboratory that can produce thin and constant light absorbing layers on textured substrates. This increases light absorption by polymer solar cells, thereby increasing their efficiency and enabling its best use. What do you think? 25Jan
Solar Powered Wheelchair Sets World Records
Haidar Taleb, a 47 year old man from UAE, displayed a rare combination of human spirit and willpower when he took up a 200-mile long journey on a wheel chair that he has built for himself which runs on solar power. Being a person with polio since the age of 4 has not stopped him from taking up this challenge on this wheelchair, a piece of technological innovation. 7 Comments 15Nov
VIDEO: Solar-Powered Keyboards
If you have opted for a wireless keyboard you know the importance of rechargeable batteries and a wall charger. Although it is easier to charge the batteries after a while it becomes an annoyance to change them repeatedly. Now Logitech is coming out with a solarpowered keyboard that will be free of such hassles. 5 Comments 03Nov
MIT Breakthrough: Thermo-Chemical Solar Power
MIT researchers are hopeful of capturing and releasing solar energy with the help of thermo-chemical technology. Scientists were already working on this technology in seventies but this project was aborted due to its expensiveness and termed as too impractical to achieve. But MIT researchers are now gearing up to take this thermo-chemical technology that is supposed to convert solar energy into electrical energy. 10 Comments 01Nov
Solar Power Towers coming to California
The United States of America will now produce clear power that can light up as many as 11000 to 277500 homes in the country. The Sectary of Interior Ken Salazar has given a go ahead to the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating system, a project proposed by BrightSource of Oakland that can produce up to 370 megawatt of clear energy and generate nearly 1100 opportunities for employment. The project, located in San Bernardino Country, California, is the inaugural large-scale solar energy project on US public soil to use the power tower. 17 Comments 18Oct
Solar Wind Power: Generating Power In The Future
As the world discovers new ways to meet its growing energy needs, energy generated from Sun, which is better known as solar power and energy generated from wind called the wind power are being considered as a means of generating power. Though these two sources of energy have attracted the scientists for a very long time, they are not able to decide, which of the two is a better source to generate power. Now scientists are looking at a third option as well. Scientists at Washington State University have now combined solar power and wind power to produce enormous energy called the solar wind power, which will satisfy all energy requirements of human kind. What do you think? 04Oct
Walmart to Install Thin Film Solar Panels
Prominent corporations are paying special attention to go green and create a conducive environment for clean and green energy. Walmart too is taking appreciative steps in the field of alternative energy. In the year 2007, Walmart entered into a partnership with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to provide a thrust to the photovoltaic technologies. It was related with thin-film solar. They aimed for taking it out from labs to the real world. 24 Comments 22Sep
Zinc-Oxide Nanostructure Production Made Easy
Two scientists are on a path-breaking method to produce 'sea-urchins' to expedite the work capacity and efficiency of photovoltaic devices. Jamil Elias and Laetitia Philippe are the two scientists from Empa's Mechanics of Materials & Nanostructures Laboratory who have been successful in producing these tiny 'sea urchins' which are ready to revolutionize solar-cell technology. New methods are generally difficult procedures, more so when the aim is to lend materials new characteristics as well by new processes. The two scientists from Thun have used materials that do not cost a bomb and they have achieved these results without utilizing any instrumentation that costs too much time and/or money. 3 Comments 20Sep
A Power Sticker to Boost Solar Power Generation
New and unique ways of making solar panels more efficient in power generation are coming to light every day. The new kid in the block of one such device is a large transparent sticker applied to the front of the panel which increases the power output by about 10% or so. Genie Lens Technologies is the firm which has developed these polymer film stickers. These polymer films are imprinted with special kind of microstructures. Even the panels that have been prior installed and working can have these polymer stickers applied easily to them and the stickers will boost their efficiency. 11 Comments 24Aug
PETE Process Promises Successful Technology Fusion
A new joint venture research work at Stanford and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, supported by Department of Energy and DARPA has come up with a new solar energy conversion process that can potentially double the efficiency of solar cells. Stanford engineers have discovered this new and totally different process to harvest energy from sun. 8 Comments 10Aug
Graphene: Solar Cells of the Future?
A southern California University team has come up with what could be the alternative new breed of economical and flexible solar cells. For some decades now, organic photovoltaic cells (OPV) have been acclaimed as the new solar cell prototypes and extolled for their light weight, flexible substrates, low cost and easy manufacturability. Research is now being done on them. 4 Comments
Solar roadways
The 104kW solar highway along the interchange of Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 near Tualatin, Oregon in December 2008. Main article: Solar roadway In December 2008, the Oregon Department of Transportation placed in service the nation’s first solar photovoltaic system in a U.S. highway right-of-way. The 104-kilowatt (kW) array produces enough electricity to offset approximately one-third of the electricity needed to light the Interstate highway interchange where it is located.[66] A 45 mi (72 km) section of roadway in Idaho is being used to test the possibility of installing solar panels into the road surface, as roads are generally unobstructed to the sun and represent about the percentage of land area needed to replace other energy sources with solar power.[67] The applications for solar panels are growing exponentially. Photovoltaic cells work by using semiconductors to absorb light and create a flow of electrons, which can power any number
of electrical devices. Just as one simple example, it's probably safe to assume that most everyone has used a solar-powered calculator at one point or another. Some have even theorized that if we were to lay down a gigantic amount of solar panels over a wide area, we could absorb enough sunlight to power entire cities, effectively ending our energy crisis. The problem is, there's nowhere to put them -- we can't exactly stick panels across the entire countryside. Or can we? We have a network of roads all over the country, and now we even have cars being manufactured with solar panels on them. Put the two together and you get a unique solution: solar panels on our highways. This could mean that the panels could be placed along our roadways as sound barriers, or an even more extreme idea -- that the roads themselves will be made of solar panels. In this article, we'll examine the pros, cons and feasibility of these ideas and see if solar cells could be the
The Solar Roadway is an intelligent road that provides clean renewable energy, while providing safer driving conditions, along with power and data delivery. The Solar Roadway will pay for itself through the generation of electricity along with other forms of revenue. The same money that is being used to build and resurface current roads can be used to build the Solar Roadways. Then, since coal-fired and nuclear power plants will no longer be needed, the costs of all electricity generation plants can also be rolled back into the Solar Roadways. Add too the costs of power distribution systems (power poles, relay stations, etc.) We’ll be able to save oil and won’t have to waste money by using solar roadways. Currently, it's difficult to track these vehicles, other than by radio. The Solar Roadways form a wide area network, with each individual Solar Road Panel containing a microprocessor board with its own address. Think of the Solar Roadways as the internet, with each individual Solar Road Panel acting as an online computer. If we place RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags on high-risk vehicles that we want to track, the Solar Roadways would track them in real time and we'd always know exactly where they were at all times.
Unlike the dark roads we drive on by night today, the Solar Roadways will have LEDs which will "paint" the lanes, and can be instantly customized as needed. Many people tell us that they, like us, have trouble seeing the road lines at night, particularly when the oncoming headlights are blinding them or when it's raining. With an illuminated highway, accidents will be reduced and nighttime driving will be safer for all. This is an area in England where solar road studs light up the lines on the road at night. A recent study showed that they reduced night time accidents by 70%.
There is no need to expend energy lighting desolate roads when no cars are traveling, so the intelligent roadway will tell the LEDs to light up only when it senses cars on its surface - say
1/2 mile ahead and 1/4 mile behind the vehicle as it travels. This way, drivers will know an oncoming car is ahead when they see the lights on the other side of the road begin to light up ahead. The LEDs can also be programmed to move along with cars at the speed limit, warning drivers instantly when they are driving too fast. The LEDs will also be used to paint words right into the road, warning drivers of an animal on the road, a detour ahead, an accident, or construction work. Central control stations will be able to instantly customize the lines and words in real time, alleviating traffic congestion and making the roads more efficient as well as safer. Cities and towns will be able to customize the lines for roads and parking spaces to meet their own unique needs. For example, here in Sandpoint, Idaho, we have Lost in the 50's Weekend each May. Currently, the city puts out orange cones to remark the parking places and block off streets for the parade, car show, and street dance. With Solar Roadways, they would push the "Lost in the 50's" button which would repaint the road lines instantly. After the celebration, they would equally quickly return to the default setting. The Solar Roadway is a series of structurally-engineered solar panels that are driven upon. The idea is to replace all current petroleum-based asphalt roads, parking lots, and driveways with Solar Road Panels that collect energy to be used by our homes and businesses. Our ultimate goal is to be able to store excess energy in or alongside the Solar Roadways. This renewable energy replaces the need for the current fossil fuels used for the generation of electricity. This, in turn, cuts greenhouse gases literally in half.
Each individual panel consists of three basic layers:
Road Surface Layer - translucent and high-strength, it is rough enough to provide great traction, yet still passes sunlight through to the solar collector cells embedded within, along with LEDs and a heating element. It is capable of handling today's heaviest loads under the worst of conditions. Weatherproof, it protects the electronics layer beneath it. Electronics Layer Contains a microprocessor board with support circuitry for sensing loads on the surface and controlling a heating element. No more snow/ice removal and no more school/business closings due to inclement weather. The on-board microprocessor controls lighting, communications, monitoring, etc. With a communications device every 12 feet, the Solar Roadway is an intelligent highway system. Base Plate LayerLayer - While the electronics layer collects energy from the sun, it is the base plate layer that distributes power (collected from the electronics layer) and data signals (phone, TV, internet, etc.) "downline" to all homes and businesses connected to the Solar Roadway. Weatherproof, it protects the electronics layer above it.
Scott presented the Solar Roadways at a TEDx Talk in Sacramento on April 16th, 2010. He was given 18 minutes for "The talk of his life" and it went great!
Overview
When multiple Solar Road Panels are interconnected, the intelligent Solar Roadway is formed. These panels replace current driveways, parking lots, and all road systems, be they interstate highways, state routes, downtown streets, residential streets, or even plain dirt or gravel country roads. Panels can also be used in amusement parks, raceways, bike paths, parking garage rooftops, remote military locations, etc. Any home or business connected to the Solar Roadway (via a Solar Road Panel driveway or parking lot) receives the power and data signals that the Solar Roadway provides. The Solar Roadway becomes an intelligent, self-healing, decentralized (secure) power grid. The images below illustrate how the west can power the east in the evening and the east can power the west in the morning hours. Africa and Europe Imagine a world-wide system where the "lit" half of the world is always powering the "dark" half of the world! Everyone has power. No more power shortages, no more roaming power outages, no more need to burn coal (50% of greenhouse gases). Less need for fossil fuels and less dependency upon foreign oil. Much less pollution. How about this for a long term advantage: an electric road allows all-electric vehicles to recharge anywhere: rest stops, parking lots, etc. They would then have the same range as a gasoline-powered vehicle. Internal combustion engines would become obsolete. Our dependency on oil would come to an abrupt end. It's time to upgrade our infrastructure - roads and power grid - to the 21st century.
http://www.solarroadways.com/main.html
North America
On-the-go charging
With induction plating embedded inside these roads, all electric cars can be recharged while in motion on top of these roads. This would reduce the costs and the time-inconvenience to wait at a charging station.
Solar power is produced by collecting sunlight and converting it into electricity. This is done by using solar panels, which are large flat panels made up of many individual solar cells. It is most often used in remote locations, although it is becoming more popular in urban areas as well. This page contains articles that explore advances in solar energy technology.
Oriental Hornet: Expert Solar Power Harvester
Do you know who is the most competent solar power expert, according to a research team from Tel Aviv University? It is the humble common Oriental hornet found in our gardens! Much to the astonishment of the scientists and researchers, the hornet utilizes solar power much like a plant and it produces electricity. Think how much easier it would be if only we could unravel how the hornet manages it. This discovery could revolutionize future solar power harvesting. 15 Comments 27Apr
Brooklyn Bridge Park: Greenest Destination in New York City
New York City's Brooklyn Bridge Park is getting even greener with the addition of a solar powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station – the first of its kind in New York City. Brooklyn Bridge Park has already added a number of green areas with lush grass, making it a great spot for both locals and tourists to enjoy the fabulous view of Manhattan and this EV charging station is the latest and unique green energy addition. The station will likely reduce the carbon emission inside the park to a great extent. 2 Comments 16Apr
Artificial Electronic Super Skin – Powered By Stretchable Solar Cells
Zhenan Bao, Stanford researcher, is keen to create "Super skin." Taking her previously created super-sensitive sensor a step ahead, she is now creating a super skin that will be self-powered with renewable clean solar energy. Bao and her team have designed polymer solar cells that are flexible and can be stretched to power the 'super skin'. 18 Comments 07Apr
PowerMod: To the Rescue
Think of the earthquake that happened at Tahiti, or havoc-provoking typhoons like Katrina; or the recent plane crash that took so many lives. With man-made or natural disasters occurring unexpectedly at all corners of earth, there has been a sharp demand for dependable portable energy sources that can make rescue efforts a lot easier and more successful. And to that effect, arrives PowerMod - the new portable solar tent ready to help in relief work to victims of disaster. 5 Comments
04Apr
The Empire State Building: Brighter & Greener
Yes, as of 2011, The Empire State Building, one of the world's largest buildings has achieved the distinction of becoming the largest buyer of green renewable wind power. The Empire State Building will be using more than 100 million kWh of wind energy in the coming couple of years approximately. It will be totally - 100% - wind-powered from now on! This is not the only feather in the lofty Empire State Building's green cap. Already the tall building has executed the refurbishment of fitting of all its - some 6500 or so - windows with a unique type of insulating glass for power savings. Some $13.2 million very well spent in boosting the green credentials. 3 Comments 29Mar
Ceria Mimics Plant Life
Newer and more exciting devices are being invented to harness renewable energy especially solar energy. One such device is a prototype which uses one of the rare earth metals - ceria, otherwise known cerium oxide - utilizing its natural propensity of alternatively exhaling and inhaling oxygen as it heats up or cools down. 1 Comment 23Mar
Laser ‘Scribing’ to Increase Solar Cell Efficiency
Over the years, thanks to the devoted research work going on for increasing the efficiency of solar cells, today solar cells are no longer flat shaped or unyielding. Ultra thin film-type solar cells have now been manufactured which are quite flexible and adaptable for use in corners, curvilinear and other structures. Today almost 20% of global solar power generation is done by these thin-film solar cells and expected to grow more in near future. 4 Comments 22Mar
E-Reader Going Green: Biblio Leaf
Glad tidings for book lovers with green ethics! Maybe the e-reader does not consume much power. But if you love to read online and think you should do your bit towards using renewable energy, you have Toshiba and KDDI joining the ranks of LG to provide solar-powered e-readers. Biblio Leaf is the new kid in the e-reader block to match LG's Solar eReader. What do you think? 19Mar
Solar Tracker Solar Panels
A German owned company IMO has set-up a plant in USA that will make the largest solar tracker solar panels to tap solar energy. As per Ruediger Unverzagt and Klaus
Pless, respectively the CEO and vice-president of this company, these solar tracker solar panels are the largest in Summerville in South California. IMO is looking forward to commercially sell these solar tracker solar panels. Despite being huge in size, they are very easy to assemble and one can assemble them just outside the building where they are to be installed. What do you think? 15Mar
Making the Best Use of Polymer Solar Cells
A report recently published in an online journal called Advanced Materials points out that a process has been developed by the researchers at the Iowa State University and the Ames Laboratory that can produce thin and constant light absorbing layers on textured substrates. This increases light absorption by polymer solar cells, thereby increasing their efficiency and enabling its best use. What do you think? 25Jan
Solar Powered Wheelchair Sets World Records
Haidar Taleb, a 47 year old man from UAE, displayed a rare combination of human spirit and willpower when he took up a 200-mile long journey on a wheel chair that he has built for himself which runs on solar power. Being a person with polio since the age of 4 has not stopped him from taking up this challenge on this wheelchair, a piece of technological innovation. 7 Comments 15Nov
VIDEO: Solar-Powered Keyboards
If you have opted for a wireless keyboard you know the importance of rechargeable batteries and a wall charger. Although it is easier to charge the batteries after a while it becomes an annoyance to change them repeatedly. Now Logitech is coming out with a solarpowered keyboard that will be free of such hassles. 5 Comments 03Nov
MIT Breakthrough: Thermo-Chemical Solar Power
MIT researchers are hopeful of capturing and releasing solar energy with the help of thermo-chemical technology. Scientists were already working on this technology in seventies but this project was aborted due to its expensiveness and termed as too impractical to achieve. But MIT researchers are now gearing up to take this thermo-chemical technology that is supposed to convert solar energy into electrical energy. 10 Comments 01Nov
Solar Power Towers coming to California
The United States of America will now produce clear power that can light up as many as 11000 to 277500 homes in the country. The Sectary of Interior Ken Salazar has given a go ahead to the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating system, a project proposed by BrightSource of Oakland that can produce up to 370 megawatt of clear energy and generate nearly 1100 opportunities for employment. The project, located in San Bernardino Country, California, is the inaugural large-scale solar energy project on US public soil to use the power tower. 17 Comments 18Oct
Solar Wind Power: Generating Power In The Future
As the world discovers new ways to meet its growing energy needs, energy generated from Sun, which is better known as solar power and energy generated from wind called the wind power are being considered as a means of generating power. Though these two sources of energy have attracted the scientists for a very long time, they are not able to decide, which of the two is a better source to generate power. Now scientists are looking at a third option as well. Scientists at Washington State University have now combined solar power and wind power to produce enormous energy called the solar wind power, which will satisfy all energy requirements of human kind. What do you think? 04Oct
Walmart to Install Thin Film Solar Panels
Prominent corporations are paying special attention to go green and create a conducive environment for clean and green energy. Walmart too is taking appreciative steps in the field of alternative energy. In the year 2007, Walmart entered into a partnership with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to provide a thrust to the photovoltaic technologies. It was related with thin-film solar. They aimed for taking it out from labs to the real world. 24 Comments 22Sep
Zinc-Oxide Nanostructure Production Made Easy
Two scientists are on a path-breaking method to produce 'sea-urchins' to expedite the work capacity and efficiency of photovoltaic devices. Jamil Elias and Laetitia Philippe are the two scientists from Empa's Mechanics of Materials & Nanostructures Laboratory who have been successful in producing these tiny 'sea urchins' which are ready to revolutionize solar-cell technology. New methods are generally difficult procedures, more so when the aim is to lend materials new characteristics as well by new processes. The two scientists from Thun have used materials that do not cost a bomb and they have achieved these results without utilizing any instrumentation that costs too much time and/or money. 3 Comments 20Sep
A Power Sticker to Boost Solar Power Generation
New and unique ways of making solar panels more efficient in power generation are coming to light every day. The new kid in the block of one such device is a large transparent sticker applied to the front of the panel which increases the power output by about 10% or so. Genie Lens Technologies is the firm which has developed these polymer film stickers. These polymer films are imprinted with special kind of microstructures. Even the panels that have been prior installed and working can have these polymer stickers applied easily to them and the stickers will boost their efficiency. 11 Comments 24Aug
PETE Process Promises Successful Technology Fusion
A new joint venture research work at Stanford and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, supported by Department of Energy and DARPA has come up with a new solar energy conversion process that can potentially double the efficiency of solar cells. Stanford engineers have discovered this new and totally different process to harvest energy from sun. 8 Comments 10Aug
Graphene: Solar Cells of the Future?
A southern California University team has come up with what could be the alternative new breed of economical and flexible solar cells. For some decades now, organic photovoltaic cells (OPV) have been acclaimed as the new solar cell prototypes and extolled for their light weight, flexible substrates, low cost and easy manufacturability. Research is now being done on them. 4 Comments
Solar roadways
The 104kW solar highway along the interchange of Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 near Tualatin, Oregon in December 2008. Main article: Solar roadway In December 2008, the Oregon Department of Transportation placed in service the nation’s first solar photovoltaic system in a U.S. highway right-of-way. The 104-kilowatt (kW) array produces enough electricity to offset approximately one-third of the electricity needed to light the Interstate highway interchange where it is located.[66] A 45 mi (72 km) section of roadway in Idaho is being used to test the possibility of installing solar panels into the road surface, as roads are generally unobstructed to the sun and represent about the percentage of land area needed to replace other energy sources with solar power.[67] The applications for solar panels are growing exponentially. Photovoltaic cells work by using semiconductors to absorb light and create a flow of electrons, which can power any number
of electrical devices. Just as one simple example, it's probably safe to assume that most everyone has used a solar-powered calculator at one point or another. Some have even theorized that if we were to lay down a gigantic amount of solar panels over a wide area, we could absorb enough sunlight to power entire cities, effectively ending our energy crisis. The problem is, there's nowhere to put them -- we can't exactly stick panels across the entire countryside. Or can we? We have a network of roads all over the country, and now we even have cars being manufactured with solar panels on them. Put the two together and you get a unique solution: solar panels on our highways. This could mean that the panels could be placed along our roadways as sound barriers, or an even more extreme idea -- that the roads themselves will be made of solar panels. In this article, we'll examine the pros, cons and feasibility of these ideas and see if solar cells could be the
The Solar Roadway is an intelligent road that provides clean renewable energy, while providing safer driving conditions, along with power and data delivery. The Solar Roadway will pay for itself through the generation of electricity along with other forms of revenue. The same money that is being used to build and resurface current roads can be used to build the Solar Roadways. Then, since coal-fired and nuclear power plants will no longer be needed, the costs of all electricity generation plants can also be rolled back into the Solar Roadways. Add too the costs of power distribution systems (power poles, relay stations, etc.) We’ll be able to save oil and won’t have to waste money by using solar roadways. Currently, it's difficult to track these vehicles, other than by radio. The Solar Roadways form a wide area network, with each individual Solar Road Panel containing a microprocessor board with its own address. Think of the Solar Roadways as the internet, with each individual Solar Road Panel acting as an online computer. If we place RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags on high-risk vehicles that we want to track, the Solar Roadways would track them in real time and we'd always know exactly where they were at all times.
Unlike the dark roads we drive on by night today, the Solar Roadways will have LEDs which will "paint" the lanes, and can be instantly customized as needed. Many people tell us that they, like us, have trouble seeing the road lines at night, particularly when the oncoming headlights are blinding them or when it's raining. With an illuminated highway, accidents will be reduced and nighttime driving will be safer for all. This is an area in England where solar road studs light up the lines on the road at night. A recent study showed that they reduced night time accidents by 70%.
There is no need to expend energy lighting desolate roads when no cars are traveling, so the intelligent roadway will tell the LEDs to light up only when it senses cars on its surface - say
1/2 mile ahead and 1/4 mile behind the vehicle as it travels. This way, drivers will know an oncoming car is ahead when they see the lights on the other side of the road begin to light up ahead. The LEDs can also be programmed to move along with cars at the speed limit, warning drivers instantly when they are driving too fast. The LEDs will also be used to paint words right into the road, warning drivers of an animal on the road, a detour ahead, an accident, or construction work. Central control stations will be able to instantly customize the lines and words in real time, alleviating traffic congestion and making the roads more efficient as well as safer. Cities and towns will be able to customize the lines for roads and parking spaces to meet their own unique needs. For example, here in Sandpoint, Idaho, we have Lost in the 50's Weekend each May. Currently, the city puts out orange cones to remark the parking places and block off streets for the parade, car show, and street dance. With Solar Roadways, they would push the "Lost in the 50's" button which would repaint the road lines instantly. After the celebration, they would equally quickly return to the default setting. The Solar Roadway is a series of structurally-engineered solar panels that are driven upon. The idea is to replace all current petroleum-based asphalt roads, parking lots, and driveways with Solar Road Panels that collect energy to be used by our homes and businesses. Our ultimate goal is to be able to store excess energy in or alongside the Solar Roadways. This renewable energy replaces the need for the current fossil fuels used for the generation of electricity. This, in turn, cuts greenhouse gases literally in half.
Each individual panel consists of three basic layers:
Road Surface Layer - translucent and high-strength, it is rough enough to provide great traction, yet still passes sunlight through to the solar collector cells embedded within, along with LEDs and a heating element. It is capable of handling today's heaviest loads under the worst of conditions. Weatherproof, it protects the electronics layer beneath it. Electronics Layer Contains a microprocessor board with support circuitry for sensing loads on the surface and controlling a heating element. No more snow/ice removal and no more school/business closings due to inclement weather. The on-board microprocessor controls lighting, communications, monitoring, etc. With a communications device every 12 feet, the Solar Roadway is an intelligent highway system. Base Plate LayerLayer - While the electronics layer collects energy from the sun, it is the base plate layer that distributes power (collected from the electronics layer) and data signals (phone, TV, internet, etc.) "downline" to all homes and businesses connected to the Solar Roadway. Weatherproof, it protects the electronics layer above it.
Scott presented the Solar Roadways at a TEDx Talk in Sacramento on April 16th, 2010. He was given 18 minutes for "The talk of his life" and it went great!
Overview
When multiple Solar Road Panels are interconnected, the intelligent Solar Roadway is formed. These panels replace current driveways, parking lots, and all road systems, be they interstate highways, state routes, downtown streets, residential streets, or even plain dirt or gravel country roads. Panels can also be used in amusement parks, raceways, bike paths, parking garage rooftops, remote military locations, etc. Any home or business connected to the Solar Roadway (via a Solar Road Panel driveway or parking lot) receives the power and data signals that the Solar Roadway provides. The Solar Roadway becomes an intelligent, self-healing, decentralized (secure) power grid. The images below illustrate how the west can power the east in the evening and the east can power the west in the morning hours. Africa and Europe Imagine a world-wide system where the "lit" half of the world is always powering the "dark" half of the world! Everyone has power. No more power shortages, no more roaming power outages, no more need to burn coal (50% of greenhouse gases). Less need for fossil fuels and less dependency upon foreign oil. Much less pollution. How about this for a long term advantage: an electric road allows all-electric vehicles to recharge anywhere: rest stops, parking lots, etc. They would then have the same range as a gasoline-powered vehicle. Internal combustion engines would become obsolete. Our dependency on oil would come to an abrupt end. It's time to upgrade our infrastructure - roads and power grid - to the 21st century.
http://www.solarroadways.com/main.html
North America
On-the-go charging
With induction plating embedded inside these roads, all electric cars can be recharged while in motion on top of these roads. This would reduce the costs and the time-inconvenience to wait at a charging station.
