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Solar Powered Streets Pave the Way to the Future

We’ve heard of solar panels – but have you ever seen solar roads? Developers are creating experimental solar roads, sidewalks and cycling paths. Placing solar panels here would allow a large surface area for the panels to soak up energy without taking up extra space. Are you an engineer looking to change the world with your innovations? Let us help you find a new challenge!

Benefits

Clean energy is an alternative to fossil fuels. Through clean energy we reduce the carbon footprint and emission of greenhouse gases around the world. With global warming on the increase, renewable energy is very important moving forward.

Costs

The cost to install these types of roadways can get very high. In Tourouvre-au-Perche in France, a 1km stretch of solar panelled road was installed as one of the first in the world. The 1km of panel costed around 5 million euros to install, but is used by approximately 2 000 people a day. The power generated from this road can keep the street lights on in the village.

Other Implications

Safety is a big concern for these solar panel streets. Solar streets feature small solar panels designed to look like stones in the road, but the texture of such panels are often smooth and therefore slippery. To be able to use these roads, the panels will have to be engineered so that they withstand all types of precipitation in the same way that conventional roads do. The idea of having the panels melt snow on these roadways is also in the works and can therefore increase safety by melting ice on the street.

France, U.S.A. and China are a few countries who have already experimented with solar roadways. What do you think of this new innovation? Let us know on our LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram page!