Future Roadways to be Paved With Lighted Heated Solar Panels?
A NewsTalkers Article
Artist's rendition of Sandpoint, Idaho - Home of Solar Roadways
Imagine driving on a glass roadway with lighted markings and warning signs. A roadway that is generating and delivering electric power, high speed internet directly to your home and providing continuous, tower free cell phone service. A roadway that clears itself of snow and ice, and filters and processes storm water before delivering it to an irrigation system .
Yes, just imagine, that is for sure the future. But you wont have to imagine for very long, because the future has arrived. Delivered by Scott and Julie Brusaw an engineering couple from Sandpoint Idaho. The Brusaws have developed a road surface system that does all of those things and is in the process of actually building prototypes for parking lots, driveways and side walks and has received grants from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Solar Roadways, the company name for Scott and Julies brainchild, has raised $2 million in donations through Indiegogo crowd-funding to take the solar panel product to its next stage of development.
The ultimate plan is to replace the world's roadways, sidewalks and others surfaces over time with four inch-thick panels that could collect enough solar energy to power the planet.
For Overview Watch"
"Solar FREAKIN' Roadways!"
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For More Detail Watch;
Scott Brushaw on designboom
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I've watched all the videos and read a number of articles about this project, and I'm convinced this is going to be the future.
The next step will be to program the roads to guide vehicles to predetermined destinations with absolutely no help from a driver. Also, the roads will be programed to make it impossible for vehicles to collide.
Personally, I think it would be neat. Maybe it can generate enough heat to melt ice and snow, so we don't have to salt so much!
2 words : road grease ...
Dear Friend Jerry V: Brave new world. Bravo!
I see good things in store for us in the future.
E.
Despite the obvious and inherent problems with this concept, it is an excellent start.
I just checked all the links, they're working fine. Theproblemis in your 'puter.
Try Googling "Solar Roadways", you will find copious sources of info.
I got 4,270,000 hits in .33 seconds.
These panels are covered with 2 inch thick tempered glass that is stronger than the bulletproof and bombresistant glass now on the market. And yes, it will carry any load that is running on the highways we have today.
It has been tested inengineeringand tech labs across the country and the results were off the charts in all the test.
Watch the videos Marsha, the ability to melt ice and snow is one of the main advantages of the system. This system on only completelyeliminates the need for salt, it eliminates the need for any snow plowing altogether. Actually the panels generate enough heat to dry the road surface, so we'll almost always be driving on dry roads.
Not only that, the the roadways include a drain system to collect, filter and distribute clean storm water back into streams and waterways, or in some areas into sorely needed irrigation systems.
What about it?
The road surface is texture to match the surfaces of today's highways, so road grease will not be any more or less of a problem than it is now.
What do you see as obvious and inherent problems that were not covered the videos?
I too approach this article ascompleteskeptic, but afterwatchingthe videos, I amthoroughly convinced thisis a thingof thefuture.
Yes, they have tested and retested. The Federal Highway Administration has signed on to the project giving Solar Roadway a $750,000 grant. The main focus now is the solar collection an distribution and the pressure sensitive lighting system.
The 2 thick to layer of 'glass" on the top surface is stronger than conventional bomb proof glass, tested for traction and can be easily replaced in any overly worn or malfunctioning section without having to repave theentireroad.
Try the videos again or Google 'Solar Roadways and go the the videos directly. You will befascinated.
One thing I wonder about is ice. Up here in northern Minnesota we get a lot of long stretches of severe cold (0 to 40 below F) with tons of wind and many days where the sun hardly shows.
I assume you're privy to the research and all the lab and field test that have been to done regarding this project.
Otherwise, how would you be in a position to levy such criticism?
The panels are heated Larry and are supposed the be able to melt the snow and ice as it occurs.
However, I live in upstate NY, 90 miles from the Canadian border, and we get similar weather. I'm sure dealing with the severe road conditions of the northern US is one of their most difficult challenges.
But, that does not mean his roadway system should not be installed in the many parts of the country with more favorable weather conditions, while continued research improves and perfect the system do deal with the harshest of conditions.
Ah, so ya know what I mean then. The way that ice and snow blows over roads...holy,,,, the melting and re-freezing Would be an issue. I think you're right; start out in climates that are milder and as they learn, move them into harsher areas. I would LOVE to see it as there are few things that are as nervewracking as treacherous roads when you're just trying to get home.
That's veryinteresting. That would put you in a position to know something about this. Do you have any links or references to trade publications that have comments or articles regarding the project? I would really like to see what problems people from within the industry see with the idea.
You mentioned cost. According to the presentation I saw, the cost of the installation and would be more than offset by the solar energy the system would generate, plus the reduction in maintenance and replacement cost.
There has been a almost 3 million dollars raised for this project of which $750,00 is from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which ispittancecomparedto what will obviously be need to really get something like this started, but it's enough to create a prototype for further development.
I'm sure there will be plenty of naysayers, but that can be a good thing. If the concept is unable to stand up to criticism, it will never be able to stand up the wheels of American traffic.
I like the concept and I havent had time to read or watch much about it yet... but I wonder about efficiency loss due to occlusion. So dirt and grime; even rocks and sand, would cover the glass and occlude the solar receptors... would we have to wash the streets and highways?
(?!) I don't understand what you mean byefficiencyloss. I can understand if your referring the possibilities of the 4' thick, partially hollow panel creating more noise than a solid paved road, but I'm sure how that relates to efficiency loss.
The initial cost is for sure more expensive than a conventional paved road, but themaintenanceperceived to be less,because, usually, they will only have to replace a fewdamagedormalfunctioningpanels, which does not requirea crew with dump trucks, graders, front end loaders, backhoes or whatever. It just takes a couple of technicians to replace the section of the grid that needs attention.
The other thing is they are solar panels, and they're going to beconnectedto the grid andactually sell power to the grid system.
Watch this video , it is a more detailedexplanationof the system.
Here is what Jersey is doing:
2 words ... "road grease " .
The You Tubeexplanationof this newinnovation is designed to get theaverage person, who does not normally peruse trade magazines and industry related websites looking for obscure trade news.
So the best and cheapest way for the SR folks to get the message out to the masses is through social media, Putting together a video that the average You Tube viewer could relate to, such as,"FREAKIN' roadways" is not professional, but that video was not created for the professionals.
There are other videos, made while the inventor was making presentations to professionals. Here's one of them, I'm sure you will find many of your concerns, while indeed valid,have been or will be addressed as the concept is developed.
I caught this project in it's very early development stage, through the alerts I have set forarticlesand information concerning the environment. So I wouldn't but too much stock in the lack of informationavailable. Actually, yesterday, when I wassearching for articles criticising the concept, I did find a few, but most of them, like you, are asking questions that have been or are being addressed.
There a few states putting solar panels along their highways, but they're unsightly and not nearly as innovative as the Solar Roadway concept.
I've been digging around for links to different concepts, but everything keeps coming back to Scott Bursaw and Solar Roadways.
But did find a FAQ section I think will be helpful.
The system is designed to function at efficiency levels as low as 15% of capacity.
It's not the kind of glass we all think of when we hear "Glass". The 'glass they're going to ultimately use is still underdevelopment, but for now to keep cost down, they're usingextremelystrong glassalready on the market.
This is from Science Daily regarding a new kind of highly resistant glass;
" Engineers are working to develop a blast-resistant glass that is lighter, thinner, and colorless, yet tough enough to withstand the force of an explosion, earthquake or hurricane winds. Today's blast-resistant windows are made of pure polymer layers. This new design is a plastic composite with an interlayer of polymer reinforced with glass fibers. It's only a quarter-inch thick. " [ More ]
The surface layer on the Solar Roadway panels are twice that thick.
Watch this video for more informative and detailed insight of what is planned.