Jump to content

Solar Roadways: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎top: Add logo to infobox: File:Solar Roadways logo.png
Line 23: Line 23:


==Feasibility==
==Feasibility==

It is important to note solar roadways has been met with widespread criticism from physicists and electrical engineers, and no support, many of whom have demonstrated that many of the features claimed of solar roadways break well established laws of physics. One of the simplest ones to understand is the claim that the solar panels in winter will use the energy they generate to melt snowfall. This is completely contrary to the first law of thermodynamics which states that the total energy of a system is constant. Solar energy when hitting asphalt is absorbed and converted into heat, to melt snow that would not be melted by asphalt using solar energy would require producing more heat energy than the energy absorbed. <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/05/solar-roadways-project-a-really-bad-idea/| title=Solar Roadways Project: A Really Bad Idea | publisher=Dr Roy Spencer | accessdate=Jan 3, 2016}}</ref>


In 2014, doubt was expressed regarding the political feasibility of the project on a national scale by Jonathan Levine, a professor of urban planning at the University of Michigan. He suggested, however, that a single town might be able to deploy the concept in a limited test case such as a parking lot.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a10730/we-could-build-a-solar-powered-roadway-but-will-we-16879565/ |title= We Could Build a Solar Powered Roadway. But Will We? |work= Popular Mechanics |date= June 11, 2014 |accessdate= February 24, 2015}}</ref>
In 2014, doubt was expressed regarding the political feasibility of the project on a national scale by Jonathan Levine, a professor of urban planning at the University of Michigan. He suggested, however, that a single town might be able to deploy the concept in a limited test case such as a parking lot.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a10730/we-could-build-a-solar-powered-roadway-but-will-we-16879565/ |title= We Could Build a Solar Powered Roadway. But Will We? |work= Popular Mechanics |date= June 11, 2014 |accessdate= February 24, 2015}}</ref>


Revision as of 04:53, 3 January 2016

This article is about the company. For general discussion of this concept, see Smart highway.

Solar Roadways Inc
Company typeStartup
Founded2006 (2006)
Founder
  • Scott Brusaw
  • Julie Brusaw
Headquarters721 Pine Street,
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864,
United States [1]
Websitesolarroadways.com

Solar Roadways Incorporated is a startup company based in Sandpoint, Idaho, that is developing solar powered road panels to form a smart highway. Their technology combines a transparent driving surface with underlying solar cells, electronics and sensors to act as a solar array with programmable capability. Solar Roadways Inc is working to develop and commercially produce road panels which are made from recycled materials and incorporate photovoltaic cells.[2]

History

Solar Roadway panel prototypes

In 2006, the company was founded by Scott and Julie Brusaw, with Scott as President and CEO. The company envisioned replacing asphalt surfaces with structurally-engineered solar panels capable of withstanding vehicular traffic."[3] The proposed system would require the development of strong, transparent, and self-cleaning glass that has the necessary traction and impact-resistance properties.[4]

In 2009, Solar Roadways received a $100,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the Department of Transportation (DOT) for Phase I to determine the feasibility of the proposed project.[5] In 2011, Solar Roadways received $750,000 SBIR grant from the DOT for Phase II to develop and build a solar parking lot.[6] The DOT distinguishes the technology proposed by Solar Roadways Inc. as "Solar Power Applications in the Roadway," as compared to a number of other solar technologies categorized by the DOT as "Solar Applications along the Roadway."[7] From SBIR grant money, Solar Roadways has built a 12-by-36-foot (3.7 by 11.0 m) parking lot covered with hexagonal glass-covered solar panels sitting on top of a concrete base, which are heated to prevent snow and ice accumulation, and also include LEDs to illuminate road lines and display messages. The hexagonal shape allows for better coverage on curves and hills. According to the Brusaws, the panels can sustain a 250,000 lb (110,000 kg) load.[8]

In April 2014, Solar Roadways started a crowdfunding drive at Indiegogo to raise money so they can get the product into production. In May, it was extended by another 30 days. The campaign raised 2.2 million dollars, exceeding its target of 1 million dollars.[9] The drive became Indiegogo’s most popular campaign ever in terms of the number of backers it has attracted.[10] The success was attributed in part to a Tweet made by George Takei, who played Sulu on Star Trek, due to his more than 8 million followers.[11][12] One of the Brusaws’ videos went viral, with over 20 million views as of November 2015.[12][13]

Feasibility

It is important to note solar roadways has been met with widespread criticism from physicists and electrical engineers, and no support, many of whom have demonstrated that many of the features claimed of solar roadways break well established laws of physics. One of the simplest ones to understand is the claim that the solar panels in winter will use the energy they generate to melt snowfall. This is completely contrary to the first law of thermodynamics which states that the total energy of a system is constant. Solar energy when hitting asphalt is absorbed and converted into heat, to melt snow that would not be melted by asphalt using solar energy would require producing more heat energy than the energy absorbed. [14]


In 2014, doubt was expressed regarding the political feasibility of the project on a national scale by Jonathan Levine, a professor of urban planning at the University of Michigan. He suggested, however, that a single town might be able to deploy the concept in a limited test case such as a parking lot.[15]

Sebastian Anthony wrote in ExtremeTech that the cost to replace all roads in the United States with Solar Roadways panels would come to approximately $56 trillion, based on Scott Brusaw's cost estimate of $10,000 for a 12' x 12' section.[16] The company's website rebutted that amount, saying the $10,000 cost was an estimate of what would be required to achieve cost parity with asphalt roads, and that the actual cost per panel was still unknown.[17]

List of awards and honors

  • 2009 EE Times Annual Creativity in Electronics (ACE) Awards "Best Enabler Award for Green Engineering" category finalist.[18]
  • 2010 EE Times Annual Creativity in Electronics (ACE) Awards "Most Promising Renewable Energy Award" category finalist.[19]
  • 2010 General Electric Ecoimagination Community Award of $50,000.[20]
  • 2013 World Technology Award finalist.[21]
  • 2014 Popular Science. One of 7 "Best of What's New" Engineering category in the "100 Greatest Innovations of the Year-2014" article.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ "About". Solar Roadways.
  2. ^ Scott, Cameron (May 22, 2014). "Following the Solar Brick Road". SingularityHUB. Singularity University.
  3. ^ "Solar Roadways: Company Information". Small Business Innovation Research.
  4. ^ "Driving on Glass Solar Roads". Scientific American. October 6, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  5. ^ "Solar Roadways: Phase I Grant". Small Business Innovation Research.
  6. ^ "Solar Roadways: Phase II Grant". Small Business Innovation Research.
  7. ^ "Alternative Uses of Highway Right-of-Way". Federal Highway Administration.
  8. ^ Barry, Keith (May 8, 2014). "This Parking Lot Is Paved with Solar Panels". Wired. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  9. ^ "Solar Roadways". Indiegogo. June 20, 2014.
  10. ^ "The Centuries-Old Technology Behind Solar Roadways, Indiegogo's Most Popular Campaign Ever". Forbes. June 3, 2014.
  11. ^ Maben, Scott (May 31, 2014). "Star Trek: George Takei tweet boosts Solar Roadways". Christian Science Monitor. Associated Press. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  12. ^ a b "On the not so sunny side of the street". The Economist. June 5, 2014.
  13. ^ Solar FREAKIN' Roadways!. YouTube. May 18, 2014.
  14. ^ "Solar Roadways Project: A Really Bad Idea". Dr Roy Spencer. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  15. ^ "We Could Build a Solar Powered Roadway. But Will We?". Popular Mechanics. June 11, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  16. ^ Anthony, Sebastian (May 27, 2014). "Solar Roadways passes $1.4 million in crowdfunding: Just short of the $56 trillion required, but not bad for a crazy idea". ExtremeTech. Ziff Davis. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  17. ^ "Solar Roadways FAQ". Solar Roadways. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  18. ^ Mathas, Carolyn (February 23, 2009). "2009 EE Times ACE Awards finalists announced". EE Times. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  19. ^ "Solar Roadways named as finalist in most promising renewable energy award". Renewable Energy Magazine. March 16, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  20. ^ Parrish DuDell, Michael (August 8, 2011). "Paving the Solar Roadway to Success". ecoimagination.com. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  21. ^ "Scott & Julie Brusaw, Solar Roadways". The World Technology Network. 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  22. ^ Seward, Aaron (2014). "Best of What's New: Solar Roadways". Popular Science. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Solar_Roadways&oldid=697974362"