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SOLARPANELEDROAD
1.INTRODUCTION
Nature has provided bountiful resources surrounding us for sustenance of a better life. These resources, along with
manpowerandcapital,playacrucialroleforexpansiontonationaloutput.However,theadvancementofmoderncivilizationhas
had a great impact on our planet's natural resources. Therefore sustainable solutions are a requirement for modern design
problems due to societys overreliance on natural resources. Thus innovative ideas which focus on sustainability must be
consideredasakeypriorityfordesignandoptimization.
One of the primary solutions for this problem is the increase in use of renewable energy resources. Different types of
renewableenergyresourcesaresolar,wind,oceanandgeothermalenergy.Amongthese,solarenergyistheonlyresourcewhich
isabundantlyavailableandevenlydistributedworldwide.Hencedevelopingtechnologiestocapturethissolarenergyistheneed
ofthehour.
Inordertoovercometherelativelylowefficiencyofthesolarpanels,significantlylargeamountofopenspacesarerequired
fortheproductionofelectricityinthephotovoltaicsolarpanelapplications.Sinceavailabilityoflargeopenspacesisonthedecline
neartheurbanareas,thesolarpanelscanonlybeinstalledinremoteareas.Butthiscanleadtohugeenergylosses.Thelow
efficiencyofthesolarpanelsaswellasthenecessitytodealwiththetransmissionlossesmakestheuseofsolarpanelsanon
viableeconomicaloptiontoproduceelectricity.Inordertomakethesolarpoweraviableeconomicaloption,openspacesthatare
situatedclosetothehighenergydemandareasmustbeidentified.Hence,itisproposedthatopenspacessuchastheroads,
parkinglots,bicyclelanes,footpathsetc.beutilizedforthispurpose.Inordertousetheseopenspacesforproducingelectricity
usingsolarpanels,recently,theconceptofsolarroadwayshavebeenintroduced.
TheSolarRoadwayisaseriesofstructurallyengineeredsolarpanelsthataredrivenupon.Itwouldutilizetheuseofroads
thatwouldbecoveredbyphotovoltaicpanels.Theideaistoreplaceallcurrentpetroleumbasedasphaltroads,parkinglots,and
drivewayswithSolarRoadPanelsthatcollectenergytobeusedbyourhomesandbusinesses..Theultimategoalistostore
excessenergyinoralongsidetheSolarRoadways.
Throughtheissuesassociatedwithurbanheatislandsitisknownthatpavementsareoftenexposedtoavastamountof
solar radiation throughout the day. If it was possible to convert a portion of this energy to usable forms, civil and infrastructure
issuescouldbesolvedsimultaneously.Twomethodshavealreadybeendevelopedtogenerateenergyfromroads,usingasphalt
pavementasasolarthermalcollectorandinstallingpiezoelectricgeneratorstocollectvibrationenergyfromthetrafficloadonthe
pavement.Recentstudieshavealsobeguntousethermoelectricsystemstoextractheatenergyfromroadsanddirectlyconvertit
toelectricity.Thisprojectistakingadifferentapproachtotheconceptas,throughphotovoltaics.Radiationisdirectlyconverted
intoelectricityonthesurfaceofthepanelwithoutaheatorvibrationconversion.

1.1SOLARROADWAYS
A solar roadway is a road surface that generates electricity by solar power photovoltaic cells. It consists of structurally
engineeredsolarpanelsthatwedriveon.
EachSolarRoadPanel(roughly12by12)interlinkswithneighbouringpanelstoformtheSolarRoadwayssystem.TheSolar
Roadway replaces our crumbling petroleumbased asphalt highway infrastructure with an intelligent road that pays for itself
through the generation of electricity. The Solar Roadway generates electrical power from the sun and becomes our nations
decentralized,intelligent,selfhealingpowergrid,replacingourcurrentdeterioratingpowerdistributioninfrastructure.
TheSolarRoadwaydistributesitselectricalpowertoallbusinessesandhomesconnectedtothesystemviatheirparking
lotsanddriveways(madeupofSolarRoadPanels).Inadditiontoelectricalpower,datasignals(cableTV,highspeedinternet,
telephone, etc.) also travel through the Solar Roadways, which acts as a conduit for these signals (cables). This feature
eliminates the unsightly power lines, utility poles, and relay stations we see all over the countryside. It also eliminates power
interruptioncausedbyfallenorbrokenelectricallinesorpoles.

Fig1.1:Solarroadways

1.2PHOTOVOLTAIC
Themainphilosophyofsolarroadwaysistoconvertsolarenergyintoelectricalenergybytheprincipleofphotovoltaics.
Photovoltaics (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using
semiconductorsthatexhibitthephotovoltaiceffect.Photovoltaicpowergenerationemployssolarpanelscomposedofanumberof
solarcellscontainingaphotovoltaicmaterial.
To understand how photovoltaic operate, the nature of sunlight has to be understood. The structure of all type of light
consists of electromagnetic radiation which is similar to micro and radio waves. When an electromagnetic radiation becomes
incidentonasemiconductormaterial(pnjunction),thephotonsareabsorbedbythematerialandelectronsareknockedloose
fromtheatomsinthesemiconductormaterial.Ifelectricalconductorsareattachedtothepositiveandnegativesides,formingan
electrical circuit, the electrons can be captured in the form of an electric current, that is, electricity. This electricity can then be
usedtopoweraload,suchasalightoratool.

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2.TYPICALSOLARROADWAY
A solar roadway is a series of structurally engineered solar panels that are driven upon. The idea is to replace current
petroleumbasedasphaltroads,parkinglots,anddrivewayswithsolarroadpanelsthatcollectenergytobeusedbyhomesand
businesses,andultimatelytobeabletostoreexcessenergyinoralongsidethesolarroadways.Therenewableenergygenerated
bysolarroadpanelswillreplacethecurrentneedforfossilfuel,whichinturnreducesthegreenhousegases.
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
currentlyusednationwide.
Existingprototypepanelsconsistofthreelayers.
Roadsurfacelayertranslucentandhighstrength,texturedglass,thatisroughenoughtoprovidesufficienttraction,yet
stillpassessunlightthroughtothesolarcollectorcellsembeddedwithin,alongwithLEDsandaheatingelement.Thislayerneeds
tobecapableofhandlingtoday'sheaviestloadsundertheworstofconditionsandtobeweatherproof,toprotecttheelectronics
layerbeneathit.
Electronicslayer/OpticallayerIttransmitstheloadaroundthesolarcells.Itcontainsamicroprocessorboardwithsupport
circuitryforsensingloadsonthesurfaceandcontrollingaheatingelementwithaviewtoreducingoreliminatingsnowandice
removal as well as school and business closings due to inclement weather. The microprocessor controls lighting,
communications, monitoring, etc. With a communications device every 3.66m (12 feet), a solar roadway can be an intelligent
highwaysystem.
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 has to transmit the load to a pavement, subgrade, or base structure. It needs to be weatherproof to protect the
electronicslayerbelowit.

Fig2.1:Explodedviewofaconceptualsolarroadpanel
(http://www.tacatc.ca)

When multiple Solar Road Panels are interconnected, the intelligent Solar Roadway is formed. These panels replace
current driveways, parking lots, and all road systems, be they interstate highways, state routes, downtown streets, residential
streets,orevenplaindirtorgravelcountryroads.Panelscanalsobeusedinamusementparks,raceways,bikepaths,parking
garagerooftops,remotemilitarylocations,etc.AnyhomeorbusinessconnectedtotheSolarRoadway(viaaSolarRoadPanel
drivewayorparkinglot)receivesthepoweranddatasignalsthattheSolarRoadwayprovides.TheSolarRoadwaybecomesan
intelligent,selfhealing,decentralized(secure)powergrid.

3.STRUCTURALREQUIREMENTS
Thestructuraldesignrequirementsforasolarroadpanelareasfollows:
Thestructuremustbeabletosupportthecyclicdistributedloadfromvehicletireswithoutfailingthroughdeformation,fracture.

Thetransparentlayercannotdeflectoverthecellcompartmentssomuchthatthelayertransmitsloadtothesolarcells.

Thestructuremustbecorrosionresistanttopotentialcontaminants.

Thedesignmustbemodularandfacilitateeasymaintenance.

Forthisprototype'spurposes,thepanelmustbemadeoutofreadilyavailablecomponentsandmaterials.

Theweightofthepanelmustbelowenoughsuchthatitcanbeeasilymaneuveredfortestingandinstallationpurposes.

4.ELECTRICALDESIGNREQUIREMENTS

Theelectricaldesignrequirementsforasolarroadpanelareasfollows:

Thepanelshouldbedesignedsothatnoshadingofthesolarcellsoccurs.
Theinterconnectionbetweenthecellsshouldbestrongenoughtowithstandpotentialdeflectionsfromtheopticallayer.
Thepanelmustbeweatherproofsothatwaterandothercontaminantsarenotabletointerferewiththeelectronics.
Theremustbeadiodeinstalledontheoutputelectricallineofthepaneltoblockreversecurrents,asthiswoulddamagethe
solarcellswithinthepanel.

5.DESIGN
In The University of Western Ontario, the design of the panel was done by COMSOL Multiphysics, an engineering
simulationsoftware.COMSOLMultiphysicswhichhasboththemodelingandsimulationcapabilitiesforMultiphysicssystemswas
used to ascertain the feasibility for different vehicular applications and for suggesting future material The model created in the
COMSOLMultiphysicsfortheanalysispurposeconsistsofaverticallyhollowsquarebaselayerwithsides4metersinlength,0.5
meter in height and 0.1 meter in thickness..The base layer is considered to be made up of concrete, and covered with a

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transparentcoverofsize4mandthickness0.01mmadeupofacrylicplastic,whosematerialpropertiesaregiveninTable1.The
acrylicsheetshaveaworkingtemperaturerangeof40Cupto93C,andtheelasticpropertiesareassumedtoremainconstant
inthistemperaturerange.

Table5.1:MaterialpropertiesforAcrylicplasticandConcrete

(Source:ir.lib.uwo.ca)

Asthesolarroadwayspanelsaretobelaidovertheexistingroads,theprimaryloadsactingonthesolarroadwayspanels
are the vehicle loads. For the analysis, the loads associated with the vehicles are selected based on the specification from
American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Two types of loadings, H loading and HS
loadingaregivenbyAASHTO.HloadingconsistsofatwoaxletruckandHSloadingconsistsofatractortruckwithsemitrailer.In
general,therearefourstandardclassesofhighwayloadingconditions,namelyH15,H20,HS15andHS20.Thenumberfollowing
theHandHSletterdenotesthegrossweightintonsofastandardtruck.TheHS20standardtruckload,amaximumstressof
1.82x103Mpaismuchhigherwhencomparedtotheultimatetensilestrengthof69Mpaandthedisplacementresultsindicatethat
maximumsurfacedisplacementwasalsoveryhighat1.12meters.Henceitcanbeconcludedthattheselectedtopcovermaterial
isnotsuitablefortheappliedloadandthiscannotbeusedasatopcoverforsolarroadwayspanel,wherevehiclesofsizesimilar
toatruckaremovingoverit.
Astheselectedmaterialfailedfortheloadofatruck,inordertotestthemaximumloadthematerialselectedforthetop
coverofsolarroadwayspanelcantakeon,stressanddisplacementsduetoacar,bicycleandamotorbikeloadmovingoverthe
solarpanelwereanalyzed.Thespecificationsofthevehiclesaregivenintable2.Accordingtostandardspecificationsandcodeof
practiceforroadbridges(IRC:62000),thecarandthemotorbikebelongstoClassAloadingandbicyclebelongstoClassB
loading.

Table5.2:Specificationsofcar,motorbikeandbicycleusedintheanalysis

(Source:ir.lib.uwo.ca)

Thesizeofselectedbaselayerwas1.5mx0.2mx0.1m,coveredbyatransparenttopcoverofsize1.5metersandwith
athicknessof10mm.Itwasfoundthatthetotalweightofthebicycle,90.7kg(includingweightofthebicycleandpersontravelling
onit)causedastressof20.67MPa,whichisquitelowwhencomparedtotheultimatetensilestrengthof69MPa.Themaximum
surfacedisplacementwas2.05mm,whichiswellbelowtheAASHTOdesignstandard.Whereasintheanalysisconsidering
motorbikeandcaritwasfoundthatiftheyoungsmodulusisincreasedfrom50.8x109to50.8x1010Pa,athicknessof15mmand
25.4mmwassuitableforbothvehiclesrespectively.

6.WORKING
Whenasolarpanelexposedtosunlight,thelightenergiesareabsorbedbya
semiconductionmaterials.
Duetothisadsorbedenergy,theelectronsareliberatedandproducetheexternalDCcurrent.
TheDCcurrentisconvertedinto240voltACcurrentusinganinverterfordifferentapplications.

7.MECHANISM
First,thesunlightisabsorbedbyasolarcellinasolarpanel.
Theabsorbedlightcauseselectronsinthematerialtoincreaseinenergy.Atthe
sametimemakingthemfreetomovearoundinthematerial.
However,theelectronsremainatthishigherenergyforonlyashorttimebefore
returningtotheiroriginallowerenergyposition.
Therefore,tocollectthecarriersbeforetheylosetheenergygainedfromthe
light,aPNjunctionistypicallyused.
A PN junction consists of two different regions of a semiconductor material (usually silicon), with one side called the p type
regionandtheotherthentyperegion.
Duringtheincidentoflightenergy,inptypematerial,electronscangainenergyandmoveintothentyperegion.
Thentheycannolongergobacktotheiroriginallowenergypositionandremainatahigherenergy.
Theprocessofmovingalightgeneratedcarrierfromptyperegiontontyperegioniscalledcollection.
Thesecollectionsofcarriers(electrons)canbeeitherextractedfromthedevicetogiveacurrent,oritcanremaininthedevice
andgivesrisetoavoltage.
Theelectronsthatleavethesolarcellascurrentgiveuptheirenergytowhatever
isconnectedtothesolarcell,andthenreenterthesolarcell.Oncebackin
thesolarcell,theprocessbeginsagain.

8.APPLICATIONS
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8.1ILLUMINATEDROADS
Unlikethedarkroadswedriveonbynighttoday,theSolarRoadwayswillhaveLEDswhichwill"paint"thelanes,andcan
be instantly customized as needed. The LEDs could be utilized to create messages on the roads to warn drivers of detours,
accidents,orconstructionworksupahead.Withanilluminatedhighway,accidentswillbereducedandnighttimedrivingwillbe
safer.

Fig8.1:Solarroadwaywithpavementmarkings
(http://solarroadways.com)

8.2SNOW/ICEMANAGEMENT
Abenefittotheuseofsolarroadwaysisthatthedeicingofroadswillnotberequiredthisisduetopanelsbeingcapable
ofselfheating,andtheglassincorporatingthesameheatingelementsofacarsrearscreen.Thepanelswillhavesensorswhich
willdeterminewhenthetemperaturefallsbelowacertainpointandwillactivatetheheatingsystemwhichwillpreventthebuildup
of snow and ice. Thus eliminates the use of deicing salts and the impacts that arise due to their use such as, contaminated
surfacerunoffandrustingofroadstructuresandvehicles.

8.3TRAFFICMANAGEMENT
Each Solar Road Panel contains a microprocessor that monitors and controls the panel, while communicating with
neighboringpanelsandthevehiclestravelingoverhead.Thedashedroadlinesthatareseenonhighwayscantravelalongsideat
the designated speed limit, thus helping us to maintain proper speed. The road can warn about traffic congestions ahead and
evenrecommenddetoursaroundit.Itcanevennotifylawenforcementtoassistintrackingdownstolenvehiclesor
suspectscarsequippedwithGPStrackingdevices.Crosswalkpanelscanalertdriverswhenpedestriansareonthecrosswalk.
Oncethecrosswalkpanelsdetectapedestrian,theLEDswithinthecrosswalkbeginflashingandawarningisdisplayedinfront
ofoncomingvehicles.Wildlifeprotectionsystemworksinthesameway.Ifavehiclecrossesthecenterlinetoomanytimeswithin
agivendistance,aringofLEDscanbedrawnaroundthevehicle,whichwilltravelwithitindefinitely.Thiswillwarnotherdrivers
ofapotentialdangerandwillalertlawenforcementofficialsofapotentialproblem.TheSolarRoadwayscoulddrasticallyreduce
thenumberofdeaths/injuriescausedbyimpaireddriving.Itcansaveelectricitybyturningonroadwaylightinginremoteareas
onlywhenavehiclecomesalong.

Fig8.2:PedestrianwarningsystemFig8.3:Wildlifeprotectionsystem(http://solarroadways.com)

8.4NATIONALSECURITYTruckswithhazardousmaterialscanbetrackedandmonitored.Suspectedterrorist'svehiclescanbe
tracked. Public buses and school buses can be tracked. These vehicles can be fitted with controls to shut down their engines
and/orapplytheirbrakes.

8.5HOMES/BUSINESSES
Businesses will be able to have solar parking lots, which will enable them to quickly go off grid as well as offer their
customerstheconvenienceofallowingtheirelectricvehiclestorechargewhiletheyareshopping,eating,workingetc.Theywill
no longer have the expense of snow removal. Their parking lots will be safer at night with the light provided by the LED's.
Walkways can be replaced with similar solar panels, enabling more energy collection, and the safety features like lighting and
heating.Asolardrivewaywillhavemanyfeatures,includingLEDlitaddressmarkersandtheabilitytoaddcustomizedwording,
suchas"HappyBirthdayHeather!"or"Weddingreceptionhere.Thedrivewaywillalsobecomeaninstantlycustomizablesports
court.Oneminute,teenagerscanbeplayingbasketballand,atthetouchofabutton,theyoungerchildrencanplayFourSquare
orHopscotchoranyothergamethatthehomeownerwouldliketoconfigure.Poolsurroundsandcourtyardswillbeanotherideal
applicationforhomeowners.

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Fig8.4:Sportscourtcreatedfromsolarroadways
(http://solarroadways.com)

8.6SOLARROADWAYLIGHTING
The solar roadways can be supplemented by solarpowered led roadway lighting system. Highly efficient, long lasting,
environmentally friendly and controllable LEDs have opened up a whole new world of possibilities for lighting. In some remote
areaswherethegridpowercannotreach,solarpoweredlightingusinghighpowerLEDprovidesapromisingsolution.LEDwill
reducethepowerconsumptionaswellasLLP(lossofloadpower)andthusisthebestchoiceforsolarroadwaylighting.Anew
pilot project by Philips and the Kenyan Urban Roads Authority to install solarpowered LED street lighting in Nairobi has the
potential to generate up to 100 per cent energy savings, if implemented on a wide scale across the country. The key to the
breakthroughliesinthecombinationofnewHighBrightnessLEDswithuniquepatentedopticsandanintelligentcontrollerwhich
liesattheheartofthesolution.

Fig8.5:Diagramshowingtheworkingofsolarroadlighting(http://www.philipsafricaroadshow.com)

8.7TRAFFICLIGHTS
Solartrafficlightsaresignalingdevicespoweredbysolarpanelspositionedatroadintersections,pedestriancrossingsand
other locations to control the flows of traffic.The electricity generated by the solar roadways can be used to function the traffic
lights.

8.8TRAFFICSIGNS
LEDscanbeembeddedinstandardhighwaywarningandregulatorysignstooutlineeitherthesignitselforthewordsand
symbolsonthesign..Ingeneral,embeddedLEDunitsareusedto:
Improvedrivercompliancewithregulatorysignsthroughimprovedconspicuityand
Enhancevisibilityandrecognitionofregulatoryandwarningsignstodrivers,especiallyunderlowlightorlowvisibilityconditions.
Solarroadwayscanbeusedtopowertheseequipments

Fig8.6:(a)solarpoweredroadsign(b)solarpoweredtrafficlight
(http://www.theworldexport.com)

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9.COMPARISONBETWEENBITUMINOUSROADSANDSOLARROADWAYS
Bituminousroadsarethoseroadsinwhichsomebindingmaterialsuchasbitumen,coaltarorasphaltisusedinsurfacing.
Suchroadsarealsoknownasblacktoproads.Thefollowingarethevarioustypesofbituminoussurfaces:
1)Surfacepaintingorsurfacedressing
2)Bituminousmacadam
3)Bituminousconcrete
4)Sheetasphaltorasphalticmat
Traditionalroadsarechieflycomposedofaggregatesandabindingmaterialwhereassolarroadwaysaremadeofglass,
solar cells and concrete. Bituminous materials or asphalts are extensively used for roadway construction, primarily because of
their excellent binding characteristics and water proofing properties and relatively low cost. Despite the benefits there are also
numerousdrawbackssuchasbrittlenessatlowtemperatures,softnessathightemperaturesandenvironmentalissuessuchas
highenergydemandandpollutionduetoitsproduction.
Asphalt works, in many ways, and is convenient to laydown, compared to other methods. It has carried our automotive
infrastructureintothe21stcentury.Buttherearehiddencoststhataremakingitincreasinglydifficultandexpensivetocontinue
favoringasphaltasthepredominantroadpavingmodelfortheentirenation.Thatswhyasphaltisnotidealforroadconstruction.
Bitumen roads have a design life of 10 to 20 years and require resurfacing every seven years approximately, whereas solar
roadwayshaveadesignlifeoftwentyoneyears.
Solar Roadways can pay dividends for the public budget, making our spending on infrastructure more efficient and
significantlyreducingelectricitycoststoconsumersandbusinesses.Theycanmaketheemergingelectricvehicleeconomyfar
more affordable, and easier to manage. They can help us eliminate hundreds of billions of dollars per year, or more, in
externalized costs of burning fossil fuels. And, we can lead the world in powerful clean energy technology exports, capable of
rollingbackmassivepollutionandgreenhousegasemissions.
Road construction and expansion have major environmental impacts. The environmental impact of road projects include
damagetosensitiveecosystem,permanentdisruptiontolocaleconomicactivities,demographicchange,acceleratedurbanization
and the introduction of diseases due to pollutants. In addition, there are also the emissions which are released in the various
stagesofconstructionprocess.Theamountofgreenhousegasesreleaseddirectlyandindirectlybyanindividual,organizationor
eventisknownascarbonfootprint.Theroadcarbonfootprintexistsasbitumenrequiresextracting,refiningandtransportationto
thelocationinorderconstructtheroad,withtheadditionofthemaintenanceandrepairenergyrequirementslaterinthelifeofthe
road.VicroadsacompanybasedinthestateofVictoria,Australia,recentlycarriedoutaprojecttodeterminethecarbonfootprint
ofroadconstruction.ThecompanyduplicatedtheMicklehamRoad,theroadwas2.4kmlongandconsistedof4lanes,andthey
alsocarriedoutmaintenanceworkfortheprojectwhichincludedinstallationofnewtrafficsignals,streetlightinganddrainage.On
thecompletionoftheprojectitwasdeterminedthatatotalof1,820tonnesofgreenhousegaseswerereleased.Fromthedata
collecteditwasdeterminedthat190tonnesofCO2/km/lanewasemittedfortheproject.Tooffsettheemissionsreleasedforthe
totalprojectrequiredtheplantingofapproximately7,500trees.
As solar roadways will not be constructed by the use of bituminous materials it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, as
mentionedpreviouslytheobtainingandapplyingofbitumencausesdamageandreleasesemissionsintotheenvironment.The
mainenvironmentalimpactsthatariseduetothesolarroadwaysarethepollutionwhichisgeneratedduringtheirmanufacturing
oftheroadsections,butthisisoffsetbythepanelsabilitytorecoupitbythesolarenergytransferintoelectricalpower.
The production of the glass surface panels consumes a lot of energy as the main materials in the production of glass
requirethemtobemeltedtohightemperaturesreaching1500C,althoughthisisahightemperatureanadditivehasbeenadded
tolowerthetemperature.IntheUKthelifecycleCO2emissionsforaphotovoltaicsystemis58gCO2eq/kWH.Thesamesystemif
installedinsouthernEurope,SpainwouldhavelifecycleCO2emissionsof35g CO2eq/kWH the decrease is due to their being
moresunlightpresentwhichmeansgreateroperatinghours.
Abenefittotheuseofsolarroadwaysisthatthedeicingofroadswillnotberequired.Oneoftheimpactsassociatedwith
bitumenroadsistheuseofdeicingsalts.Therearenumerousvarietiesofdeicingsaltswhichareusedonourroadscalcium
chloride,potassiumchloride,magnesiumchlorideandsodiumchloride.Deicingsaltsusedbycountriesforwinterroadprotection
accumulatesto51%oftheworldsoutputofsalt.
The use of salts has many effects on the environment, damage occurs to vegetation, water, roads, road structures and
vehicles.Assaltisverysolubleitwilldissolvewithwater,andthisisthemajorproblemwhenwaterseepsintothegroundorwater
courseswhereitaltersthepropertiesofthewater.Thechlorideionspresentinthesaltthenraisethechlorideconcentrationsof
thestreams,lakes,soilsandgroundwatersourcescausingthemtohaveadverseeffectsontheaquaticplantsandland.Theuse
ofsaltsalsoincreasesdeteriorationrateinroadsandstructuresasthechlorideionsreactwiththereinforcementsandcauserust
toformandleadstocorrosion.
Oneofthemajordrawbacksintheuseofbitumenisthefailureofroadsurfacesduetowaterinfiltrationintothelayersof
theroad.Thedeteriorationrateincreasesduetotheenvironmentalfactorsoffreezeandthaw.Withsolarroadwaysthesurface
willbe100%waterproofandthiswillpreventthepenetrationofwaterintothelowerlayers.Thusthesolarroadwayswillrequire
lessermaintenance.Moreoverinordertocarryoutnecessaryrepairsandinstallationsofundergroundutilities,excavationofthe
roadsisrequired.Sincesolarroadwaysconsistsofpanelsections,iftheutilitiesrequirerepairorreplacementtheroadcanbe
cordonedoffinsectionswithoutexcavationofsoilorroadlayers.Thiswillthereforeleadtofasterinstallationandrepairprocess
time.
Anotheradvantageofsolarroadwaysisthemicrotextureofthesurfaceunlikethebitumenroadswheretheaggregates
lose their roughness (become smooth) due to weathering and polishing effects due to traffic. The solar roadways surface will
experiencethesefactorsbutasglasshashighresistancetowearandtear,thisproblemislesslikelytoaffectsolarroadways.
The panels will get damaged and will not supply any electricity if subsidence on road occurs .Subsidence is a major
problemasitcannotbedeterminedwhenitwilloccur.Traditionalroadsareabletoflexwhensubsidenceoccurs,butthesolid
state of the solar roadways panel poses a problem. Another problem which will be encountered in its implementation is the
geometry of the road. Bitumen roads curve naturally and smoothly in corners without any restriction whereas a solar roadway
consistsofrigidstructureanditmaycreateprobleminachievingthenaturalcurveoftheroad.

10.ADVANTAGESANDDISADVANTAGES
10.1ADVANTAGES
Renewabilityandlifespan

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Themainadvantageofthesolarroadwayconceptisthatitutilizesarenewablesourceofenergytoproduceelectricity.It
hasthepotentialtoreducedependenceonconventionalsourcesofenergysuchascoal,petroleumandotherfossilfuels.Also,
thelifespanofthesolarpanelsisaround20years,muchgreaterthannormalasphaltroads,whichonlylast712years.

Militaryandrescueassistance
In the event of an environmental disaster or military emergency, solar roadways would provide power when it is needed
most.Assolarpowerisrenewable,itobviouslyrequiresnoexternalconnectiontoanartificialpowersource.

Roadwaysalreadyinplace
Anotheradvantageofsolarroadwaysisthattheydonotrequirethedevelopmentofunusedandpotentiallyenvironmentally
sensitivelands.ThisiscurrentlyaverycontroversialissuewithlargephotovoltaicinstallationsintheSouthwesternUSandother
places.Butsincetheroadsarealreadythere,thisisnotanissue.Also,unlikelargephotovoltaicinstallations,newtransmission
corridorsperhapsacrossenvironmentallysensitivelandwouldnotberequiredtobringpowertoconsumersinurbanareas.
Transmissionlinescouldsimplyberunalongalreadyestablishedroadways.

Lightingupofroads
ByaddingLEDsbeneaththetransparentpanel,roadcanbelightenedupforsafenighttravelandaestheticlook.

10.2DISADVANTAGESOFSOLARROADS
Maintenancecosts:
Theyaremorebecauseroadsurfacesaccumulaterubber,salt,soilandothersubstancesthatblocksunlightandmustbe
removed.Thedurabilityofthepanelsmayalsobeless,furtherincreasingmaintenancecosts.

Seasonalefficiency:
InIndiathesolarroadwillworkefficientlyinsummer,whileitwillgivecomparativelylessefficiencyinotherseasonsdueto
lackofsolarradiations.Whereasinthecountrieswheresummerlastsformorethanhalfofyearthistechniquecanbeefficiently
used.

11.CONCLUSION
Theneedofthehourforanalternativeenergysourceisincreasingatanalarmingrate.Wecan'twaitanylongertofinda
replacement for oil, which is rapidly disappearing. The solar roadways if implemented can be a solution for all our energy
concerns.
Indevelopingcountriesthemajorpartofthegeographicalareaistobeexploredintermsofroadconnectivity.Soinsteadof
implementingthehighertargetsroadstobedevelopedperdaysuchcountriescanreducethetargetanddevelopsolarroadso
theycouldimproveeconomywithinfrastructure.
GenerallytheSolarRoadwayswillprovidesaferdrivingconditions,snowandicemanagement,trafficmanagement,wild
lifeprotection.Itiscompiledsolarpanelswhichtoreplaceordinaryasphaltstreetasithasbetterfeatures.Itisabletoproduce
electricity and heating elements. It is designed with LED lights which able to act as traffic lines, road indicators, construction
detoursandstreetlightforroadways.Itwouldbesolarpanelfield,internetdistributionsystem,andcommunicationsysteminthe
future.Thereasonswhysolarroadwaysprojectisviablearetolessenfossilfueldependencyandreduceglobalwarmingactivity.
Italsohassomeofitsdrawbackssuchashighcost,durability,andweather.However,webelievethatwewouldabletoovercome
thoselimitationseventuallyinordertoservethesocietywithgreaterefficiency.

12.REFERENCES
1.Kulkarni,A.,(2013),SolarRoadwaysRebuildingourInfrastructureand
Economy,InternationalJournalofEngineeringResearchand
Applications(IJERA),Vol.3,Issue3,pp.14291436,MayJun2013
2.Northmore,A.,Tighe,S.,(2012),InnovativePavementDesign:AreSolarRoads
Feasible?2012ConferenceoftheTransportationAssociationofCanadaFredericton,NewBrunswick
3.Rushing,S.T.,Tingle.,S.J.,(2009),Fullscaleevaluationofmatsurfacingsfor
roadsoversandsubgradesJournalofTerramechanics,vol46(2009)5763
4.Selvaraju,K.R.,(2012),CharacterizationofSolarRoadwaysviacomputational
andexperimentalinvestigations,ir.lib.uwo.ca

5.Symeoni,A.,(2012),Areviewonenergyharvestingfromroads,
http://kth.divaportal.org.pdf

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