Solar Roadways are complex structures made of uniquely constructed solar panels arranged in a hexagon pattern. They have three layers: a top tempered glass layer, a middle electronics layer containing solar cells and LEDs, and a bottom recycled materials layer. Solar Roadways are intended to generate renewable energy from surfaces generally not utilized like roads and sidewalks, with applications such as powering street lights and buildings. While the idea is promising, more research is still needed to test feasibility, safety, and efficiency before widespread implementation.

1. Solar Roads
By: Rob Hoffman, Michael Xu, & Dan Boucher

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• Solar Roadways are complex structures of uniquely constructed solar
panels.
• They were designed in the shape of a hexagon to accommodate curves
and hills. (Initial design was 12ft x 12ft panel)
• Cable Corridor - sector that contains cables and stormwater capture
system
• 3 Layers
What are Solar Roadways?
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• Top Layer - Tempered Glass:
• durable, transmits light well, textured for grip, lasts 20+ years
• Middle Layer - Electronics:
• LEDs, illuminates panels
• Solar Cells, sends energy to storage system, important during night
• Heating Element, stops ice and snow from accumulating, only on when needed
• Base Layer - Recycled Materials
Layers
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• Solar Roadways will primarily be used to generate clean renewable energy
on anything drivable and walkable, sidewalks, plazas, etc.
• Makes generally unutilized space useful by taking the solar energy that
hits these surfaces and converts it into electricity.
• Requires little maintenance.
• Very smart
• Hexagons talk to each other and can detect when other cells are broken
What is the Purpose of a Solar
Roadway?
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• Heats roads
• LEDs allow for quick adaptations
• illuminate lines, road hazards, passing emergency vehicles
• Especially the ability to power buildings
Applications
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• Very green due to recycled base, and decreased use of fossil fuels
• Pays for itself over time
• The U.S. has major energy needs
• With advances in technology, the road infrastructure stays the same.
Important to create better and safer highways to keep up with technology.
• Urban stormwater pollution is large source of pollution in the nation’s
water. The SR system also has a stormwater capture system, in the cable
corridor, that allows it to be pumped anywhere.
Solar Roadway Relevance
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• Sweden have been circulating hot water
under the roads for de-icing for over 30
years (Refocus, Bill Holdsworth).
• In the Netherlands, BetonSon has
developed solar roads with “smart
technologies”.
• In 2004, BetonSon was contracted
construct a 18km six lane motorway
using this technology
• The project has been plagued with
delays to due to economic woes.
History of Solar Roads
Image from extremetech.com

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• Solar runways can eliminate ice and
snow from airport surfaces, which
eliminates the need for snowplows
• These solar runways can collect
thermal energy from tarmac and heat
the runway.
• Amsterdam, Frankfurt Airport, and
London Heathrow are considering
these technologies.
Current Solar Road Infrastructure
and Research
Image from Smithsonian Magazine

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• In 2008, researchers at the WPI
published a paper saying that it is viable
to run water under asphalt roads to
generate steam (American Ceramic
Society Journal).
• Roads are resurfaced every 10-12
years
• Researchers and engineers were
developing a proof of concept at the
time of the article was published.
Current Solar Road Infrastructure
and Research
http://buildipedia.com/

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• Solar Roadways- Received
funding for solar roads in Idaho
• Hope to replace all highways one
day
The Future of Solar Roads

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• Elon Musk- Founder of Tesla, SpaceX, SolarCity (7)
• Just unveiled solar roof tiles on October 28th (7)
(Washington Post)

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• Solar roads need to be tested to see if they are:
• feasible financially
• effective in producing power
• safe for drivers
• More research will be needed for reducing costs and efficiency
Future Research

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• Green way of reaching the world’s energy needs
• Safer
• Easier to replace
• Some testing and implementation has been completed
• ….But much more is needed
Conclusion
(pinterest.com)

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Any Questions?

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1. AP. "Solar-Energy Roadway Test Begins in Netherlands." Nytimes.com. The New York Times,11 Nov.
2014. Web. 5 Oct. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/12/business/energy-
environment/solar-energy-roadway-test-begins-in-the-netherlands.html?_r=0>.
2. Brusaw, Julie. "Solar Roadways Specifics." Specifics. N.p., 2016. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
3. "Collecting Solar Energy Via Asphalt Roads." American Ceramic Society Bulletin. 87.10 (2008).
4. Print.Lisa Suhay, Correspondent. "Rt. 66 gets test run of solar road." Christian Science Monitor 24
5. June 2016: N.PAG. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 5 Oct. 2016.
6. "Solar Energised Roads and Infrastructures." Refocus. 4.3 (2003): 58-60. Print.
7. Etherington, Darrell. "Why Tesla’s New Solar Roof Tiles and Home Battery Are Such a Big deal."
TechCrunch. N.p., 31 Oct. 2016. Web. 01 Nov. 2016. <https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/31/why-teslas-
new-solar-roof-tiles-and-home-battery-are-such-a-big-deal/>.
Sources