Solar panels over highways can protect cars from adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, and ice, thereby reducing the incidence of traffic accidents and the ensuing deaths and socio-economic burdens associated with them.
Here are some details, courtesy of EcoNews. The researchers advocate for the deployment of solar technology across the global highway network — a total of 3.2 million kilometers (2 million miles) of roads as of today. Ling Yao, the study’s lead author, said the research really surprised him.
The Solar Futures Study finds that solar energy could power about 14% of transportation end uses by 2050. Solar PV couples well to electric vehicle (EV) charging: Both use direct-current electricity, which avoids efficiency losses in conversion to alternating-current electricity—a much as 26% lost, in some cases.
Temperature Resistance and Low Maintenance Solar roadways exhibit resilience to high temperatures, eliminating the need for constant repainting and maintenance. This characteristic ensures cost-effectiveness and long-term durability, making them a practical and sustainable choice for infrastructure development.
Solar highways use the vast expanse of quiet roads that are exposed to sunlight most of the day. The personal helicopter was going to make the roads and highways obsolete. The couple are responsible for the road, which is not classed as a public highway. Before taking cars on to the public highway, drivers need licences.
Our analysis reveals that globally deploying highway PV systems across existing highway networks has the potential to generate 17,578 TWh of electricity annually, offsetting nearly 28% of concurrent global carbon emissions.