Solar Roads: Highway to Helpful
From a childhood slot car track, Idaho’s Scott Brusaw knew he liked the idea of getting electricity from the roads. And while the whole thing sounds like a pipe dream, Brusaw’s company Solar Roadways has devised a way to draw solar energy from roads that are just sitting there most of the time. There is 25,000 square miles of roadway in the U.S. If his math is right, his highway-grade solar panels could power the whole country.
Obviously, the process of installing these panels is arduous. A piece of solar roadway has a top layer of porous asphalt, followed by a durable but translucent layer and finally the solar panel. This process of sedementary madness will be difficult to implement and may seem impractical. But the company argues that the installation process will create thousands of green jobs and will move the U.S. onc step closer to energy independence. He just needs to find true believers.
The good news is he is getting universities and research labs interested in the venture. Currently, a 45-mile prototype between Coeur D’Alene and Sandpoint, Idaho is in the works. Four companies have expressed interest in this project. And the best part is the lack of necessary production. If the U.S. Highway system implements this process on all their roads, the panels only need to provide 10% efficiency to power the whole country.
Keep your eyes peeled for the next news on this interesting creation.
Author: John Steele
May 20th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
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