This document provides an overview of solar roadways, which are road surfaces that generate electricity through embedded solar panels. The concept involves replacing existing roads, highways, parking lots, and sidewalks with durable glass panels containing photovoltaic cells and LED lights. Advantages include producing renewable energy, powering electric vehicles, illuminating roads for safer driving, and integrating data transmission lines. Challenges include high maintenance costs and reduced efficiency in low sunlight periods.

1. Solar Roadways - The future transport system ( Seminar report by
Swapnil Patwari)Document Transcript
1. 1 SWAMI RAMANAND TEERTH MARATHWADA UNIVERSITY M. S. BIDVE ENGINEERING
COLLEGE, LATUR THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT, MR. SWAPNIL VILAS PATWARI THE STUDENT
OF THIRD YEAR CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF THIS INSTITUTE HAS COMPLETED
THE SEMINAR ON AS PER REQUIRED BY S.R.T.M.U.N. FOR THE PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THIRD YEAR CIVIL ENGINEERING DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2013-2014 PROF. R. R.
PRASAD PROF. V. M. PATIL PROF. Dr. A. M. CHIMEGAVE CERTIFICATE
2. 2 GUIDE HOD PRINCIPAL
3. 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT “It is not possible to prepare any seminar report without the assistance &
encouragement of other people. This one is certainly no exception.” On the very outset of this
seminar report, I would like to extend my sincere & heartfelt obligation towards all the personages
who have helped me in this endeavor. Without their active guidance, help, cooperation &
encouragement, I would not have made headway in the seminar report. I am ineffabl y indebted to
Prof. R. R. Prasad for conscientious guidance and encouragement to accomplish this assignment. I
am extremely thankful and pay my gratitude to our H.O.D. Prof. V. M. Patil for his support on
completion of this seminar. I also acknowledge with a deep sense of reverence, my gratitude
towards my parents and member of my family, who has always supported me morally as well as
economically. At last but not least gratitude goes to all of my friends who directly or indirectly helped
me to complete this seminar report. Any omission in this brief acknowledgement does not mean lack
of gratitude. Thanking You SWAPNIL VILAS PATWARI
4. 4 I N D E X What is Solar Energy? Photovoltaic cell Why solar? Theory behind Solar Roadway What
does Solar Roadway mean Working principle Solar road construction Advantages of Solar Roadway
Disadvantages of Solar Roadway Road Survey of India Aesthetics Illuminated Roads Intelligent
Highway On-the-go charging Snow / Ice Management Traffic Control Water removal Case study A
look on the future Conclusion
5. 5 What is Solar Energy? Solar energy is the light and radiant heat from the Sun that influences
Earth's climate and weather and sustains life. In the environmental context, it is also used to refer to
the process of generation of electricity by tapping the solar energy. Solar energy, radiant light and
heat from the sun, is harnessed using a range of ever -evolving technologies such as solar heating,
solar photovoltaics, solar thermal electricity, solar architecture and artificial photosynthesis. Solar
technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way
they capture, convert and distribute solar energy. Active solar techniques include the use of
photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors to harness the energy. Passive solar techniques
include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light
dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air. Photovoltaic cell: A
photovoltaic cell Photovoltaics (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar
radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect.
Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells containing
a photovoltaic material. Mainstream materials presently used for photovoltaics include
monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper

2. indium gallium selenide/sulfide. Due to the increased demand for renewable energy sources, the
manufacturing of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays has advanced considerably in recent years.A
photovoltaic system (informally, PV system) is an arrangement of such cells
6. 6 designed to supply usable electric power for a variety of purposes, using the Sun (or, less
commonly, other light sources) as the power source. Why solar? While a majority of the world's
current electricity supply is generated from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, these
traditional energy sources face a number of challenges including rising prices, security concerns
over dependence on imports from a limited number of countries which have significant fossil fuel
supplies, and growing environmental concerns over the climate change risks associated with power
generation using fossil fuels. As a result of these and other challenges facing traditional energy
sources, governments, businesses and consumers are increasingly supporting the development of
alternative energy sources and new technologies for electricity generation. Renewable energy
sources such as solar, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric and windpower generation have emerged
as potential alternatives which address some of these concerns. As opposed to fossil fuel s, which
draw on finite resources that may eventually become too expensive to retrieve, renewable energy
sources are generally unlimited in availability. Solar power generation has emerged as one of the
most rapidly growing renewable sources of electricity. Solar power generation has several
advantages over other forms of electricity generation: Reduced Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Solar
energy production does not require fossil fuels and is therefore less dependent on this limited and
expensive natural resource. Although there is variability in the amount and timing of sunlight over the
day, season and year, a properly sized and configured system can be designed to be highly reliable
while providing long-term, fixed price electricity supply. Environmental Advantages: Solar power
production generates electricity with a limited impact on the environment as compared to other forms
of electricity production. Matching Peak Time Output with Peak Time Demand: Solar energy can
effectively supplement electricity supply from an electricity transmission grid, such as when
electricity demand peaks in the summer. Modularity and Scalability: As the size and generating
capacity of a solar system are a function of the number of solar modules installed, applications of
solar technology are readily scalable and versatile. Flexible Locations: Solar power production
facilities can be installed at the customer site which reduces required investments in production and
transportation infrastructure.
7. 7 Theory behind Solar Roadway: Years ago, when the phrase "Global Warming" began gaining
popularity, we started batting around the idea of replacing asphalt and concrete surfaces with solar
panels that could be driven upon. Now it's time to gear up for manufacturing upon. We thought of the
"black box" on airplanes: We didn't know what material that black box was made of, but it seemed to
be able to protect sensitive electronics from the worst of airline crashes. Suppose we made a section
of road out of this material and housed solar cells to collect energy, which could pay for the cost of
the panel, thereby creating a road that would pay for itself over time. What if we added LEDs to
"paint" the road lines from beneath, lighting up the road for safer night time driving? What if we
added a heating element in the surface (like the defrosting wire in the rear window of our cars) to
prevent snow/ice accumulation in northern climates? The ideas and possibilities just continued to roll
in and the Solar Roadway project was born. What does Solar Roadway mean? A solar roadway is a
road surface that generates electricity by solar power photovoltaic cells. One current proposal is for
12 ft x 12 ft (3.658 m x 3.658 m) panels including solar panels and LED signage, that can be driven
on. The concept involves replacing highways, roads, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks with
such a system.
8. 8 A layer of embedded LEDs will be used to create traffic warnings or crosswalks, and excess
electricity could be used to charge electric vehicles or routed into the power grid. The electrical
components will be embedded between layers of extremely durable, textured glass. Working
principle: A solar roadway is a series of structurally engineered solar panels that are driven upon.
The idea is to replace current petroleum-based asphalt roads, parking lots, and driveways with solar

3. road panels that collect energy to be used by homes and businesses, and ultimately to be able to
store excess energy in or alongside the solar roadways. Thus renewable energy replaces the need
for the current fossil fuels used for the generation of electricity, which cuts greenhouse gases and
helps in sustainable development. Parking lots, driveways, and eventually highways are all targets
for the panels. If the entire United States Interstate Highway system were surfaced with Solar
Roadways panels, it would produce more than three times the amount of electricity currently used
nationwide. Solar road construction: Existing prototype panels consist of three layers.
9. 9 1. Road surface layer: Translucent and high-strength, it is rough enough to provide sufficient
traction, yet still passes sunlight through to the solar collector cells embedded within, along with
LEDs and a heating element. This layer needs to be capable of handling today's heaviest load s
under the worst of conditions and to be weatherproof, to protect the electronics layer beneath it. 2.
Electronics layer: It contains photovoltaic cells which absorbs solar energy. It also contains a
microprocessor board with support circuitry for sensing loads on the surface and controlling a
heating element with a view to reducing or eliminating snow and ice removal as well as school and
business closings due to inclement weather. The microprocessor controls lighting, communications,
monitoring, etc. With a communications device every 12 feet, a solar roadway can be an intelligent
highway system.
10. 10 3. Base plate layer: While the electronics layer collects energy from the sun, it is the base plate
layer that distributes that power as well as data signals (phone, TV, internet, etc.) down the line to all
homes and businesses connected to the solar roadway. It needs to be weatherproof to protect the
electronics layer above it. Advantages of Solar Roadway: Renewability and life-span: The main
advantage of the solar roadway concept is that it utilizes a renewable source of energy to produce
electricity. It has the potential to reduce dependence on conventional sources of energy such as
coal, petroleum and other fossil fuels. Also, the life span of the solar panels is around 20 years,
much greater than normal asphalt roads, which only last 7–12 years. Military and rescue assistance
In the event of an environmental disaster or military emergency, solar roadways would provide
power when it is needed most. As solar power is renewable, it obviously requires no external
connection to an artificial power source. Roadways already in place Another advantage of solar
roadways is that they do not require the development of unused and potentially environmentally
sensitive lands. This is currently a very controversial issue with large photovoltaic installations in the
Southwestern US and other places. But since the roads are already there, this is not an issue. Also,
unlike large photovoltaic installations, new transmission cor ridors – perhaps across environmentally
sensitive land – would not be required to bring power to consumers in urban areas. Transmission
lines could simply be run along already established roadways.
11. 11 Lighting up of roads: By adding LEDs beneath the transparent panel, road can be lightened up for
safe night travel and aesthetic look. Initial Cost: The average cost of asphalt roads in 2006 was
roughly $16 per square foot. The cost does not include maintenance (pot hole repair, repainting
lines, etc.) or snow/ice removal. The average lane width is 12 feet, so a 4 lane highway would be 12'
(width per lane) x 4 (lanes) x 5280' (one mile) = 253440 square feet. Multiply this by $16 per square
foot and your one-mile stretch of asphalt highway will cost $4,055,040.00 and will last an average of
seven years. We plan to design the Solar Roadways to last at least 21 years (three times that of
asphalt roads), at which time the panels would need to be refurbished. Adding no additional cost to
the current asphalt system, this will allow us to invest about $48 ($16 x 3) per square foot. This
means that if each individual panel can be made for no more than $6912.00, then the Solar
Roadway can be built for the same initial cost as current asphalt roads. However, asphalt roads don't
give you anything back. Disadvantages of Solar Roadway: Maintenance costs: They are more
because road surfaces accumulate rubber, salt, soil and other substances that block sunlight and
must be removed. The durability of the panels may also be less, further increasing maintenance
costs.

4. 12. 12 Seasonal efficiency: In India the solar road will work efficiently in summer, while it will give
comparatively less efficiency in other seasons due to lack of solar radiations. Where as in the
countries where summer lasts for more than half of year this technique can be efficiently used.
Needs a town planning: If these roads are to be used town planning plays a vital role as these roads
needs a accurate orientation of buildings, roads, sanitary lines, parking lots, playgrounds, etc. Road
Survey of India: Road classification Total Distance(as per2011) National Highway 70,934 KM State
Highway 1,63,898 KM Major and other district roads 25,77,396 KM Rural roads 14,33,577 KM India
has a road network of over 42,45,805 kilometers in 2011, the second largest road network in the
world. In which national highways and state highways cover 0.05% of total road network, which can
produce 450 TWh of electricity according to references if they are replaced with solar roads.
Whereas, India needs 991 TWh of electricity per annum. This implies that if 0.1% of total road
network of India is surfaced with Solar Roadway panels, it would illuminate our nation.
13. 13 Aesthetics: How many views are marred by ugly power lines? Imagine traveling and enjoying the
lack of these obtructions. Since the power lines will be located in the Solar Roadways, it will also
prevent power outages from snow and ice accumulating on lines. This will make our world much
safer as well. No more unsightly utility poles, relay stations, coal stacks, cooling towers, etc. All
power lines are replaced by the Solar Roadway. Data lines (telephone, cable TV, high-speed
internet access, etc.) is contained within the same Solar Roadway and delivered right to your
home/business via your driveway/parking lot.
14. 14 And no more hacking our trees up to make room for powerlines! It's time to rethink how we
distribute power. Central power stations such as coal and nuclear plants will become obsolete.
Power will be produced and distributed via the Solar Roadways, providing cleaner skies and a
picturesque landscape.
15. 15 Illuminated Roads: . Accidents drastically reduced: Unlike the dark roads we drive on by night
today, the Solar Roadways will have LEDs which will "paint" the lanes, and can be instantly
customized as needed. Many people tell us that they, like us, have trouble seeing the road lines at
night, particularly when the oncoming headlights are blinding them or when it's raining. With an
illuminated highway, accidents will be reduced and nighttime driving will be safer for all. In England
solar road studs light up the lines on the road at night. A recent study showed that they reduced
night time accidents by 70%.
16. 16 Intelligent Highway: We're barely keeping up with the costs of maintaining our roads and bridges
as it is, and the cost of construction materials is skyrocketing. New materials and technologies have
to be found to replace our current archaic system. The Solar Roadway is an intelligent road that
provides clean renewable energy, while providing safer driving conditions, along with power and
data delivery. The Solar Roadway will pay for itself through the generation of electricity along with
other forms of revenue. The same money that is being used to build and resurface current r oads can
be used to build the Solar Roadways. Then, since coal-fired and nuclear power plants will no longer
be needed, the costs of all electricity generation plants can also be rolled back into the Solar
Roadways. Add to the costs of power distribution systems (power poles, relay stations, etc.) There is
no need to expend energy lighting desolate roads when no cars are traveling, so the intelligent
roadway will tell the LEDs to light up only when it senses cars on its surface - say 1/2
17. 17 mile ahead and 1/4 mile behind the vehicle as it travels. This way, drivers will know an oncoming
car is ahead when they see the lights on the other side of the road begin to light up ahead. The
LEDs can also be programmed to move along with cars at the speed limit, warning drivers instantly
when they are driving too fast. The LEDs will also be used to paint words right into the road, warning
drivers of an animal on the road, a detour ahead, an accident, or construction work. Central control
stations will be able to instantly customize the lines and words in real time, alleviating traffic
congestion and making the roads more efficient as well as safer. Cities and towns will be able to
customize the lines for roads and parking spaces to meet their own unique needs. For examp le,

5. here in Sandpoint, Idaho, we have Lost in the 50's Weekend each May. Currently, the city puts out
orange cones to remark the parking places and block off streets for the parade, car show, and street
dance. With Solar Roadways, they would push the "Lost in the 50's" button which would repaint the
road lines instantly. After the celebration, they would equally quickly return to the default setting.
18. 18 On-the-go charging: With induction plating embedded inside these roads, electric cars can be
recharged while in motion on top of these roads. This would reduce the costs and the time-inconvenience
of waiting at a charging station. Another option available for charging is stand -by
charging which is done by plugging in the charger in the slot of bike as shown in figure, this method
can be applied when the vehicle is parked in the parking lot. Glass panelInduction plating
19. 19 Snow / Ice Management: For those in the northern climates, snow can be a beautiful thing. It
creates a winter wonderland and give the kids hours of entertainment building snowmen and igloos,
sledding, making snow angels, and having good ole snowball fights. Unfortunately, it also makes for
dangerous driving. Snow removal is expensive and labor intensive. DOT budgets are sometimes
expended before the snow stops falling. The need for studded tires and snow chains wreck havoc on
asphalt roads, which require repair every spring. Budgets are heavily taxed by snow removal.
20. 20 A Solar Roadway (or parking lot, driveway, playground, tarmac, etc.) changes all of that. The
roads in northern climates heat themselves with their embedded heating elements (similar to the
rear window of a car), eliminating ice and snow buildup. Cities will no longer have the expense of
snow removal and the problems caused by the chemicals (salt, magnesium chloride, etc.) used to
maintain clear roads. Businesses will no longer have to worry about keeping their parking lots
cleared. Homeowners will no longer have to suffer through winters of shoveling or plowing snow off
their driveways and sidewalks. Imagine the number of deaths and injuries that will be prevented just
by keeping the roads safe and dry! Hopefully, this will lead to an added benefit of lowered insurance
rates for all of us.
21. 21 Traffic Control: Serious problem while travelling which results in delay in time and thus in
economy is experienced by everyone is traffic jam. So what's the solution? Each Solar Road Panel
contains a microprocessor that monitors and controls the panel, while communicating with
neighboring panels and the vehicles traveling overhead. This means that you have a
communications device every few feet in the road: every road, everywhere.
22. 22 Imagine what you can do with this kind of control: the dashed road lines that you see on
highways can "travel" alongside you at the designated speed limit. If your car is moving faster than
the lines, you are going too fast. If your car is being passed by the line, you're driving too slowly. You
can maintain the proper speed while never having to look at your speedometer. The road can warn
you of traffic congestion ahead and even recommend detours around it. You can enter a destination
into your onboard GPS and an arrow can appear in the road directly ahead of your vehicle to "lead"
you there, rather than audibly describing how to get to your destination. Crosswalk panels can alert
drivers when pedestrians are on the crosswalk. Once the crosswalk panels detect a pedestrian, the
LEDs within the crosswalk begin flashing and a warning is displayed in front of oncoming vehicles.
Watch the following demonstration: If a vehicle crosses the center line too many times within a given
distance, a ring of LEDs can be drawn around the vehicle, which will travel with it indefinitely. This
will warn other drivers of a potential danger and will alert law enforcement officials of a potential
problem. It may just be someone tuning their radio, eating a Big Mac, reading a map, or applying
makeup (we've seen all of these), but it may also be an impaired driver on his/her way to taking ou t a
family of four. The Solar Roadways could drastically reduce the number of deaths/injuries caused by
impaired driving. This too, ought to result in lowered insurance rates for all of us.
23. 23 Water removal: Lets study this issue because of a simple, practical concern: America received
about 130 inches of snow two years ago here in northern Idaho. While we dreamed of having Solar
Road Panels heating our driveway, we realized that just melting the snow wouldn't be enough: the

6. resulting water would just run off the sides of the heated surface, refreeze, and lift the panels
through what's known as heaving. In short, it would damage our new driveway. A solution had to be
found to remove or relocate the runoff water. We consulted with some water and forestry experts on
the matter. We learned that if we could move water just 200 miles, then we could virtually eliminate
any drought conditions in the U.S. In our research, we also started to learn about of the damage
caused by contaminated storm water entering our waterways.
24. 24 Case study: Solar Roadways™ is a company based in Idaho that is working to perfect and
implement the idea of solar panels embedded within road surfaces, sidewalks and parking lots . The
company was started by Scott and Julie Brusaw. Phase I Prototype: The United States Department
of Transportation awarded the company Solar Roadways Incorporated a $100,000 research contract
in 2009. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) cont ract enabled Solar Roadways to
prototype solar road panels. The concept has been used for lighting as well. Phase II Prototype:
After successful completion of the Phase I SBIR contract, Solar Roadways Inc. announced that the
Federal Highway Administration awarded it a follow-up $750,000 Phase II SBIR contract to take it to
the next step: a solar parking lot. The lot was finished in April of 2014. The following pictures are of
prototype II. Parking lot east view
25. 25 Tractor parked in the parking lot Snow clearance (One heater is on, another is off)
26. 26 A look on the future:
27. 27
28. 28
29. 29 Conclusion: For roughly the same cost of the current systems (asphalt roads and fossil fuel
burning electricity generation plants), the Solar Roadways™ can be implemented. No more G lobal
Warming. No more power outages (roaming or otherwise). Safer driving conditions. Far less
pollution. A new secure highway infrastructure that pays for itself. A decentralized, self -healing,
secure power grid. No more dependency on foreign oil.
30. 30 REFERENCES: www.solarroadways.com www.wikipedia.com www.solaripedia.com
www.ask.com