Solar Roadways: on the roads photovoltaic solar panels instead of asphalt

    A name, a program, indeed, a project: it's called Solar RoadwaysTM and literally means “solar roadways”, or photovoltaic roads. The idea comes from an American, Scott Brusaw, an engineer specializing in electronics and electrical engineering, who together with his wife Julie worked for years on the study and construction of the Solar Panel RoadTM, road-based solar panels, in every sense. , of the project - which could revolutionize mobility around the world.



    He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

    A name, a program, or rather, a project: it's called Solar RoadwaysTM and literally means "solar carriageways", that is photovoltaic roads. The idea is from an American, Scott Brusaw, engineer specializing in electronics and electrical engineering, who together with his wife Julie worked for years on the study and construction of Solar Panel RoadTM, solar panels road - basis, in every sense, of the project - which could revolutionize mobility all over the world.



    Let's see specifically how the idea is articulated, anything but science fiction: each panel (2m x 2) is divided into three levels, arranged one above the other.

    • il upper level, a special glass alloy, is translucent and resistant, withstands heavy weights, bad environmental conditions and allows solar radiation to pass through it and "hit" the underlying cells.
    • il central level it is instead made up of a dense network of solar cells equipped with LEDs, designed for illuminate the road surface with any type of signal: danger, traffic, slowdowns, work in progress and, if a courtyard is covered, even games for children.

    • il lower level finally, it is the one that houses the cables for the distribution ofenergy produced but also telephone and television signals, etc. It will also be waterproof, like the upper level, so as to ensure the passage of current.

    Solar Roadways: on the roads photovoltaic solar panels instead of asphalt

    Each mile will be able to generate the energy equivalent to meeting the needs of 500 families. But it doesn't stop there. In fact, the system will be able to store energy through small batteries placed at the central level, so as to put it back into circulation in times of need. It will then be able to self-heat to melt any layers of ice at any time, avoiding emergencies and expenses for salt spreaders. All managed by microprocessors placed every four meters, which coordinate the different functions and make the Solar Roadways a so-called intelligent system.

    Solar Roadways: on the roads photovoltaic solar panels instead of asphalt


    Many awards have already arrived. To the EE Time ACE Awards held last month a San Jose was judged one of the four most promising green engineering projects. And creator Scott Brusow received a dollars 100.000 from US Department of Transportation for the prototype, completed in February 2010.


    Solar Roadways: on the roads photovoltaic solar panels instead of asphalt

    Solar Roadways is now working to "panel" i 70 kilometers of highway between Coeur D'Alene and Sandpoint, in Idaho. But Scott's goal is to replace the asphalt on every street or parking lot in the world… best wishes!

    Roberto Zambon

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