Solar Roads: Can Streets Become Giant Solar Panels? | National Geographic

there is a project in the United States

there is a project in the United States called solar roadways which consists of

called solar roadways which consists of

called solar roadways which consists of concrete slabs including the solar cells

concrete slabs including the solar cells

concrete slabs including the solar cells plus tempered glass on top of it there’s

plus tempered glass on top of it there’s

plus tempered glass on top of it there’s a quite similar project in the

a quite similar project in the

a quite similar project in the Netherland called Colorado section on a

Netherland called Colorado section on a

Netherland called Colorado section on a on a cycle past was built about one year

on a cycle past was built about one year

on a cycle past was built about one year ago but it’s a large concrete slabs

ago but it’s a large concrete slabs

ago but it’s a large concrete slabs which means that in fact you’re

which means that in fact you’re

which means that in fact you’re completely rebuilding a road our

completely rebuilding a road our

completely rebuilding a road our technology is different in that way that

technology is different in that way that

technology is different in that way that in fact we just placed our solar panels

in fact we just placed our solar panels

in fact we just placed our solar panels on an existing pavement it does not

on an existing pavement it does not

on an existing pavement it does not require all that amount of aluminum

require all that amount of aluminum

require all that amount of aluminum works

works

works the first ID was generated about ten

the first ID was generated about ten

the first ID was generated about ten years ago and it came from the feeling

years ago and it came from the feeling

years ago and it came from the feeling that in fact the rotor looks at the sky

that in fact the rotor looks at the sky

that in fact the rotor looks at the sky for more than a 90 percent of the time

for more than a 90 percent of the time

for more than a 90 percent of the time so during this 90 percent of time it can

so during this 90 percent of time it can

so during this 90 percent of time it can collect energy from the Sun we had a

collect energy from the Sun we had a

collect energy from the Sun we had a very good opportunity to work together

very good opportunity to work together

very good opportunity to work together with the people at the National

with the people at the National

with the people at the National Institute of solar energy the knowledge

Institute of solar energy the knowledge

Institute of solar energy the knowledge is photovoltaic technology our knowledge

is photovoltaic technology our knowledge

is photovoltaic technology our knowledge is how to build roads and we work

is how to build roads and we work

is how to build roads and we work together to find the solutions to the

together to find the solutions to the

together to find the solutions to the several problems who we are to face to

several problems who we are to face to

several problems who we are to face to be able to integrate this technology on

be able to integrate this technology on

be able to integrate this technology on top of an existing pavement we had pages

top of an existing pavement we had pages

top of an existing pavement we had pages and pages of questions what will be the

and pages of questions what will be the

and pages of questions what will be the grip on such a surface which type of

grip on such a surface which type of

grip on such a surface which type of materials which should we use which

materials which should we use which

materials which should we use which ratio between the active solar surface

ratio between the active solar surface

ratio between the active solar surface and the road surface how could we

and the road surface how could we

and the road surface how could we maintain it how could we recycle and so

maintain it how could we recycle and so

maintain it how could we recycle and so on we tested several mixes of resins of

on we tested several mixes of resins of

on we tested several mixes of resins of glass Birds of broken glass and so on

glass Birds of broken glass and so on

glass Birds of broken glass and so on until we found a good compromise between

until we found a good compromise between

until we found a good compromise between the group level and the light absorption

the group level and the light absorption

the group level and the light absorption these solar panels will produce

these solar panels will produce

these solar panels will produce electrical energy and the use will be

electrical energy and the use will be

electrical energy and the use will be quite similar to the one you could have

quite similar to the one you could have

quite similar to the one you could have with traditional PV panels placed on on

with traditional PV panels placed on on

with traditional PV panels placed on on rooftops you can either connect them to

rooftops you can either connect them to

rooftops you can either connect them to the global electricity network and in

the global electricity network and in

the global electricity network and in that case your re-injecting an

that case your re-injecting an

that case your re-injecting an electricity into the network or in case

electricity into the network or in case

electricity into the network or in case of more isolated locations you can

of more isolated locations you can

of more isolated locations you can simply store the electricity in

simply store the electricity in

simply store the electricity in batteries and then use it for example

batteries and then use it for example

batteries and then use it for example public lightning you could even also

public lightning you could even also

public lightning you could even also imagine in a longer term but you could

imagine in a longer term but you could

imagine in a longer term but you could also supply a electricity to our

also supply a electricity to our

also supply a electricity to our electrical vehicles for example either

electrical vehicles for example either

electrical vehicles for example either through traditional plugs or even

through traditional plugs or even

through traditional plugs or even through wireless technologies such as an

through wireless technologies such as an

through wireless technologies such as an induction

the concept of Sura Road try to face two

the concept of Sura Road try to face two major problem of development of solar

major problem of development of solar

major problem of development of solar energy the first program is the lack of

energy the first program is the lack of

energy the first program is the lack of surface to produce enough energy and the

surface to produce enough energy and the

surface to produce enough energy and the second program is for enough cost of the

second program is for enough cost of the

second program is for enough cost of the systems and when you use a solar rod of

systems and when you use a solar rod of

systems and when you use a solar rod of course you take advantage of a large

course you take advantage of a large

course you take advantage of a large surface of existing Road so most of the

surface of existing Road so most of the

surface of existing Road so most of the work has been done and you just have to

work has been done and you just have to

work has been done and you just have to integrate your component on the road I

integrate your component on the road I

integrate your component on the road I can see to program with rewards the

can see to program with rewards the

can see to program with rewards the first one come from the eating of a

first one come from the eating of a

first one come from the eating of a solar panels because when the

solar panels because when the

solar panels because when the temperature of panels increases the

temperature of panels increases the

temperature of panels increases the efficiency decreases and the aging

efficiency decreases and the aging

efficiency decreases and the aging process are accelerated and the second

process are accelerated and the second

process are accelerated and the second one is that for a prediction of a solar

one is that for a prediction of a solar

one is that for a prediction of a solar energy production you will have to

energy production you will have to

energy production you will have to integrate the traffic road modelling to

integrate the traffic road modelling to

integrate the traffic road modelling to be able to predict accurately the

be able to predict accurately the

be able to predict accurately the activity prediction another interesting

activity prediction another interesting

activity prediction another interesting parameter to look at is the energy

parameter to look at is the energy

parameter to look at is the energy payback time which is the time necessary

payback time which is the time necessary

payback time which is the time necessary to produce the same energy that has been

to produce the same energy that has been

to produce the same energy that has been used to produce the panels so it’s a

used to produce the panels so it’s a

used to produce the panels so it’s a real challenge for engine