Solar Roadways; an Introduction

   The Solar Roadway is a series of interconnected Solar Road Panels that you actually drive on. The idea is to replace all current asphalt roads, parking lots, and driveways with Solar Road Panels that collect and store solar energy to be used by our homes and businesses. This renewable energy replaces the need for the current fossil fuels used for the generation of electricity. This, in turn, cuts greenhouse gases literally in half!

The heart of the Solar Roadway is the Solar Road Panel. Each individual panel consists of three basic layers:

Road Surface Layer - translucent and high-strength, it is rough enough to provide great traction, yet still passes sunlight through to the solar collector cells. It is capable of handling today's heaviest loads under the worst of conditions. Weatherproof, it protects the electronics layer beneath it.

Electronics Layer - Contains a large array of cells, the bulk of which will contain solar collecting cells with LEDs for "painting" the road surface. These cells also contain the "Super" or "Ultra" caps that store the sun's energy for later use. Batteries, which would only produce another form of hazardous waste to contend with, are not used in the Solar Roadway. Since each Solar Road Panel manages its own electricity generation, storage, and distribution, they can heat themselves in northern climates to eliminate snow and ice accumulation. No more snow/ice removal and no more school/business closings due to inclement weather.

Base Plate Layer - While the electronics layer collects and stores the energy from the sun, it is the base plate layer that distributes power (collected from the electronics layer) and data signals (phone, TV, internet, etc.) "downline" to all homes and businesses connected to the Solar Roadway. The power and data signals are passed through each of the four sides of the base plate layer. The base plate layer is directly attached to vertical risers or is placed directly onto existing asphalt. Weatherproof, it protects the electronics layer above it.

Overview

    When multiple Solar Road Panels are interconnected, the Solar Roadway is formed. These panels replace current driveways, parking lots, and all road systems, be they interstate highways, state routes, downtown streets, residential streets, or even plain dirt or gravel country roads. Panels can also be used in amusement parks, raceways, bike paths, parking garage rooftops, remote military locations, etc. Any home or business connected to the Solar Roadway (via a Solar Road Panel driveway or parking lot) receives the power and data signals that the Solar Roadway provides.

Since the Solar Roadway provides its own electricity, street lamps, emergency phones, and other devices can be attached directly.

Shown is a small-scale system that would also be connected to a large-scale system (i.e., North America). This would allow the east coast to power the west coast during the first three hours of the day when the west coast is still dark. Conversely, the west coast would power the east coast during the last three hours of the day when the east coast was dark (see below).

Imagine a world-wide system where the "lit" half of the world is always powering the "dark" half of the world!Everyone has power. No more power shortages, no more roaming power outages, no more need to burn coal (50% of greenhouse gases). Less need for fossil fuels and less dependency upon foreign oil. Much less pollution. What are we waiting for?

For more go to:  http://www.solarroadways.com/Introduction.htm