Solar Roads?

By Keith Barry September 23, 2010 | 9:00 am | Categories: Infrastructure


A revolutionary idea that converts existing roadways into a national solar power grid is up for a major cash prize.

Scott Brusaw (shown above) is working on a project to encapsulate solar panels in high-strength glass capable of standing up to thousands of cars and trucks passing by each day. He estimates that a single parking lot paved with solar panels — even one where cars are parked — could power the big box store it serves, and a cul-de-sac paved with solar panels could take an entire subdivision off the grid even on a cloudy day.

Eventually, LEDs built into the tops of solar panels placed on highways could move lanes around, create crosswalks, display speed limits and even detect and warn drivers about road hazards like stopped traffic and crossing wildlife. Best of all, the panels could be laid down over existing asphalt.

The project might sound improbable, but he’s got the ear of the Federal Highway Administration and is currently in fourth place in the GE Ecomagination Challenge, a competitive funding opportunity that could get the project off the ground, so to speak. Voting for the Ecomagination Challenge ends next week.



Read More http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/09/solar-roadways-fix-the-power-grid-and-crumbling-pavement/
Brusaw said his initial target price is $10,000 for a 12 x 12 encapsulated solar panel. If it drops to $6900 during production, he said he could break even with asphalt. That’s not even counting the benefits of an LED display on the road’s surface, or the benefits to providing a green energy source on land where there are no issues about rights of way.

If "free" parking garages are feasible, why not simply roof over the parking lots with solar panels? That way everyone gets to park out of the rain or hot sun too.

than parking garages, and because it would make for an easier underground energy delivery system to homes and businesses-even cable could be run through them. The system, BTW, pays for itself and is insulated with processed garbage.

anyways where does that come from anyway? "A day's worth of dirt from traffic would be a nightmare to clean..."
I've got a small solar panel and I've measured the current output when its sparkling clean and again after its set out in the dust and dirty air for days and I can't discern any difference in the output it has at all, none, nada. zilch

Isn't it rather slick?

I just wonder how the friction coefficients compare, especially if it's a little damp.

I don't think it would work where I live - too many gravel haulers that can't seem to keep their loads in their trucks. It's got to be at least somewhat brittle.