SOLAR ROADWAYS

SOLAR ROADWAYS
- S.A.M.V.SWETHA
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
HISTORY
SOLAR ENERGY
CONSTRUCTION & LAYERS
SPECIFICATIONS OF SOLAR PANEL USED
SALIENT FEATURES OF SOLAR ROADWAYS
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
FUTURE SCOPE
CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
A solar roadways is a road surface that generates electricity
by solar power using photovoltaic and includes solar panels and
LED signage, that can be driven on.
WHY SOLAR ENERGY?
Solar energy is preferable as compared to another
energy sources due to following reasons

Reduced Dependency on Fossil Fuels

Environmental friendly
Flexible locations
 Solar
Roadways
involves
Photovoltaic
effect
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL

Photovoltaic cells are used to convert solar energy directly into

electricity using semiconductors. This is active of solar
technology.
SOLAR ROAD CONSTRUCTION
A solar roadway consists of three layers:
Glass layer/Road surface layer
Electronic layer
Base plate layer
GLASS LAYER

Translucentand high strength

Rough enough to provide sufficient traction
Embedded with LEDs and heating element
Weatherproof.
ELECTRONIC LAYER

Consists of photovoltaic cells which absorbs solar

energy.
Consists of microprocessor board with support

circuitry.
A communication device every 12 feet.
Heating elements helps to melt snow.
BASE PLATE LAYER
Distributes power and signals to and from the panels.
Waterproof for protecting the electronic layer.
It needs to be weatherproof to protect the layers above

it.

Base plate layer

 SPECIFICATIONS OF THE SOLAR PANEL USED

Each panels covers an area of about

4.39 square feet.
The Solar panels used are 48 watt
15840 panels-for 1 mile
414.984MWh produced per year for
1 mile
Are Solar Roadways practically
possible?
YES!
According to Mohs scale

of hardness, glass used in

solar roadways is harder
than current asphalt
roads.
SALIENT FEATURES OF SOLAR
ROADWAYS
INTELLIGENT HIGHWAYS
power and data delivery.
Forms a WAN, with each individual

panel containing a microprocessor

board with its own address.
XBee RF module is added to incorporate

wireless communication.

MICROPROCESSOR BOARD
SMART POWER GRID

POWER GRID:
A system of transmission mediums that allow
electricity to be transferred at different voltages
from the point of generation to our homes.

Problems with current power grid

1.Network congestions are occurring
2.Need for more information and transparency
to customers.
3.Cant support the development of renewable
energies.
SMART POWER GRID
Decentralizing the production of electricity
Phasor Measurement Units (PMU)
array of sensors would monitor

voltage and current.

equipped with a GFI

(Ground Fault Interrupter)

Snow and ice management
The heating system in Solar Roadways maintains a
temperature above freezing point using pipes.
The microprocessor has an uplink to a local weather station

to predict precipitation events.

Illuminated roads
32x32 array of LED cells.
Configure which LEDs would turn on/off
LEDs can also be programmed to warn speed limits.

LED CIRCUIT BOARD

How do electric vehicles get
charged?
Allow electric cars to recharge at any rest stop made up of Solar
Panel
Hard-wired EV charging station that delivers up to a 24 kWh charge
in 4-8 hours
Investigating ways to use mutual induction to charge
ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ROADWAY
Renewability
Life span- 20-25 years
Road illumination
Intelligent highway system
Military and rescue assistance
Safer travel
Reduces dependence on

fossil fuels
 DISADVANTAGES
Maintenance costs
Seasonal efficiency
Needs a town planning
Still in research and development
Needs more testing
Future scope:
Create an intelligent, secure highway
Self-healing power grid
Provide safer driving conditions
End our dependency on oil and other fossil fuels
Traffic management
Electric vehicles to recharge anywhere
Conclusion
It's time to upgrade our infrastructure - roads and power grid - to
the 21st century.
Lets make things to happen rather than waiting things to happen
Its better late than never Lets go greener
REFERENCES
Parshley, A. S. (2015, 11 14). Solar roadways. Retrieved
from Popular science:
http://bestofwhatsnew.popsci.com/solar-roadways
www.solarroadways.com
New Energy Centre, Department of Mechanical Engineering,

National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan

Solar roadway at Tedx by Scott.