The Current Status of the Roadways Solar Power Technology: A Review Roger Subramanian, Ph.D. Penn State University at Harrisburg August 5, 2015
Outline Power of Sun On the roadway Along the roadside Advantages & Disadvantages Future of Roadway Solar Power 2
SUN 3
Power of Sun Survival of species (include humans) Free Even if overcast, radiation can produce energy 4
Solar power on the roadway: Solar Raised Pavement Markers (SRPM) 5
SOLAR RAISED PAVEMENT MARKERS (SRPM) In use for more than 20 years in U.K, Netherlands and other European countries. LED Road Studs in U.K. WSDOT 5 year test 10 times greater visibility for drivers than the traditional retro-reflective markers 6
LED Road Studs in U.K 7
Advantages of SRPMs For the visibility of drivers on both directions of travel Improved and sustainable night and adverse weather guidance can be provided (fog, rain, ice, skiff of snow etc.) because of their internal illumination rather than retro reflectivity. Nature of the changing terrain and curves ahead can be alerted to the drivers 8
Advantages of SRPMs They can be used for the demarcation of combined pedestrian and cycle paths so that cyclists and pedestrian are separated 9
Disadvantages of SRPMs Current recessed RPM s are not visible/apparent in the rain etc. In weather events headlights reflect off surface of water, thereby eliminating their conspicuity altogether, or they become hidden from view by debris. 10
Solar power on the walkway: Washington University 11
SOLAR PANELED PAVEMENT (SPP) The world s first Solar Paneled Pavement (SPP) at George Washington University in Ashburn, Virginia. In total 27 panels have been used in the pavement design which has been integrated into a popular Solar Walk between two of the university s buildings, Innovation Hall and Exploration Hall. 12
Idaho based Solar Panel Pavement 13
Driveway Solar Panels 14
Solar Paneled Bikeway, Netherlands 15
Pavements solar slabs It should be translucent for sunlight and repel dirt as much as possible. At the same time, the top layer must be skid resistant and strong enough in order to realize a safe road surface. 16
Pavement Solar Panels: Advantages Panels can produce electricity by connecting them to the national power grid and hence be used for homes. More area is available for use, because the total length of U.S roadways is above 4 million miles. 17
Pavement Solar Panels: Disadvantages It is more expensive to build the pavements with solar panels rather than without them. Durability of these glass roads are yet to be seen, because it will have to deal with heavy dynamic loads such as Semi-trailer trucks. 18
Pavement Solar Panels: Disadvantages Cost of repairing these solar panels is likely more expensive than it would be for fixing ordinary, asphalt roads. Because the solar panels lie flat instead of being angled to take optimal advantage of the sun, the path's panels will produce about 30 percent less power than similar panels might produce on a rooftop. 19
Solar energy along the Paved Roadways, Bike Paths and Pedestrian Walkways First solar highway project in U.S started in Oregon State that began to produce electricity and it was fed into the national electricity grid. A solar array mounted on the ground with 594 solar panels that produces 104 kilowatt (DC) power is located at the interchange of Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 south of Portland, Oregon. 20
Photovoltaic Noise Barrier (PVNB) 21
Photovoltaic Noise Barrier (PVNB) The first PVNB came into use in Europe in 1989 and is located in Switzerland in the municipality of Domat/Ems. If absorption of sound is required a cassette or a zigzag model has to be applied, enabling a combination of sound reflection and sound absorption. 22
Carver, MA Roadside Solar Panels 23
Carver, MA Roadside Solar Panels First solar project in U.S. built along a major highway right-of-way has begun producing energy to power the town of Carver s water-treatment plant in the State of Massachusetts. 24
Carver, MA Roadside Solar Panels Built along Route 44 (as shown in Figure 7) on an easement awarded by the state to the town, the 99- kilowatt project makes use of the highway s east-west orientation to erect an array of south-facing solar panels in a nearly ideal location in terms of power-generating efficiency. 25
Advantages For Carver, a town in Massachusetts, the renewable power supply will save about $3,000 a month in electricity costs. More revenue can be made with the extra solar energy that can be used by connecting the panels to the national electric grid. 26
Disadvantages They need protection from the theft by criminals. Especially when the panels are deposited with dirt and dust from road traffic use, then they need constant cleaning. Vehicle accidents may cause solar panels get disturbed. 27
Conclusions & Recommendations Solar panels can be used on the roadway pavements as well as along the roadside. The pros and cons are to be weighed in before taking decision on the selection of the right type of solar project that can be used on our roadways. 28