Road Covered With Solar Cell Doubles Energy Output

A brand new technology that turns bike paths into renewable energy generators is about to become a game-changer in solar energy sector. Recent tests of this advanced tech were rather promising.

A year ago one of the roads in Amsterdam was used to produce renewable energy and store it. Covered with solar panels that harvest solar energy during the day, it was even more successful than inventors had expected.

Certainly, for now the solar path in Amsterdam can hardy compete with common electricity sources or the grid. But if solar technologies keep the same pace, soon renewable energy could become even more viable and widespread than fossil fuels.

Bonus: Don’t forget to check 5 ideas for energy efficient holidays on our blog!

Roads of the Future

No doubt, a solar bike path is a costly project. They require solar panels that are a lot more expensive than average solar kits. They also cannot produce just as much energy as home PV systems. This is the reason house owners should not have to give up on their photovoltaic and seek this new tech just yet.

It will take a while for scientists to polish the prototype. If you are interested in solar energy products, Solar Panels Company providing solar panels online is the right choice to learn more about options for your home.

Nonetheless, inventors are confident that pavement can be even more suitable for solar panel installation than rooftops. There are many areas all over the world where it is easier to find space for photovoltaics on the ground level rather than mount them on the rooftops.

Renewable Ideas

Sten de Wit, who represents SolaRoad, sates that the best way to make renewable energy viable, is to use both roof solar panels and solar bike paths. He mentions another promising idea: solar panels near highways.

If the project claims success, the next step will be to turn all major roads into solar panels. Covering them with durable solar cells an opportunity inventors should not miss. This will largely increase possible are for solar energy generation. The main advantage is that there will be no need to cut trees for energy plants.

Sten de Wit believes that any road could become a part of a solar PV system. Despite the fact that prototype of a solar pavement was expensive, SolaRoad team says that the project is likely to pay for itself in 15 years. The most optimistic of them state that one day solar cells can be even cheaper than asphalt itself.

Imagine if the pavement could supply the whole city with green energy. Soon it might power electric vehicles, streetlights or even support the grid. Researchers predict that even houses and local enterprises will get a chance to make use of solar roads.

Progress and Development

Right now scientists finalize the prototype of a solar bike path. It already looks just like any road, but they also want it to be just as lasting and safe. Later the team plans to make cells of solar roads solid enough they can take the traffic on highways and city streets.

There are other things developers have to consider and improve. To make sure solar paths are efficient, it is crucial to take care of pollution effect, weather factors, shades casted by trees and cars etc. While in the lab solar roads can work faultlessly and produce decent amount of energy they might perform otherwise in the open plain.

In any case, SolaRoad will continue their search. With investments and yearning for success the Company has all chances to finish the project and supply us with a new viable source of eco-friendly energy.