Solar energy is the world's fastest growing source of renewable electricity, and methods to use it have continued to evolve over the years.
From solar panels installed atop buildings to their utilization to power the signals on the road, the uses have been plenty. However, now engineers in the Netherlands have taken it a step ahead; they have developed a new way of installing the panels beneath the road, and created a test track along 70 metres of bike path near the Dutch town of Krommenie near Amsterdam.
The project, which has been named Solaroad, took cheap mass-produced solar panels, and sandwiched them between layers of glass, silicon rubber and concrete. It is strong enough to have a 12 ton truck stand on it without any damage to the panels.
The solar panels are connected to smart meters, which can optimize their output and feed electricity, which can be used to power street lights and signals, and the likes. Developing this kind of technology was no cake walk and it took them a good five years to achieve this.
The greatest challenge, of course, was creating a slab that was suitable for paving but also tough enough to endure outdoor conditions. A translucent resin was developed which provided the much needed grip to the smooth glass surface without blocking the sun.
The lifetime of solar panels is usually 20-25 years and the company is looking at a similar number for these slabs as well. The technology will be worked upon to make it cost-effective within five years. The video below, which is in Dutch, tells us more about the project.
