Roads covered in solar panels is by no means a new development as several useful designs have come into the market in recent years. Not many of them have been termed successful since it is a battle of functionality and cost-effectiveness. Some of these designs are too expensive to deploy while others are not that efficient and need upgradations frequently. This small startup from Idaho, USA has been making road-based solar panels, and they have their own unique approach to it. Despite being a company that has come up with panels that can be laid on top of the roads, Solar Roadways has stuck to their design that will need complete recarpeting of the roads because that is how the solar roads can be successful in their opinion. The small solar company will eventually pave a 200-mile section of the Route 66 on Interstate 70. Right now the company is involved with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to start paving some rest stops with these road-based hexagonal panels. This project will be evaluated, and if found viable, the company will be given more contracts to fulfill.
[Image Source: Solarroadways]
The small solar company will eventually pave a 200-mile section of the Route 66 on Interstate 70. Right now the company is involved with the Missouri Department of Transportation to start paving some rest stops with these road-based hexagonal panels. This project will be evaluated, and if found viable, the company will be given more contracts to fulfill.
[Image Source: Solarroadways]
The Solar Roadways’ design for the panels is unique and totalitarian. The panels are fitted with LEDs for lighting, they prevent snow accumulation and are interchangeable with each other very easily. Each panel is layered with tempered glass making them very durable like bullet-proof glass itself. The panels can provide a lot of free energy. This could easily mean a lot of savings for local transportation departments in the form of lighting and snow removal. But, on the downside, they will need a lot of investment and rebuilding of roads. Check out the video below for more details: