July 31, 2018 | By RGR Marketing Blog

Will the Road to the Future Be Paved With Solar Cells?

They say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but what of the road to a more sustainable future? Could it be paved with solar cells? Solar roads may seem like a far-fetched, Jetsons-type of idea that is still several decades (if not centuries) from becoming a real possibility – but that may not actually be the case.

With so many pressing ecological concerns dovetailing over the next twenty to twenty-five years and the cost of renewable energy solutions coming down as our energy needs as a species continue to grow, many countries have begun to get serious about building roads to a sustainable future – literally. Those roads could be made of solar cells covered in a durable, transparent covering; read on for details.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Solar Roads

Solar roads aren’t exactly a new idea. In fact, they have been a dream for many in the renewable energy sector for a long time, and they’re already being built in China, Japan, and parts of the European Union (but more on that later). Though they are currently being built, the technology needed for solar roads to be a widespread, significant part of a sustainable future is still a ways off.

If the world’s developed nations are committed to converting to 100% renewable energy, then we will need much more solar in order to do so. Using the existing road system allows us to do so with a minimum of further ecological disturbance and without the need to purchase land for solar farms. That is the big benefit of solar roads.

The primary drawback of solar roads is, of course, the cost. The current basic solar road format is relatively simple, but also extremely expensive. In France, a single kilometer of solar road costs the government a whopping five million euros (almost $6 million at current exchange rates). But even with that price tag, France intends to build 600 miles worth of solar roads in the near future.

The Solar Road Concept Is Already Being Put to Work Around the World

France isn’t the only country getting into the solar road construction business, either. Japan already has solar roads in many areas and will be building solar roads in Tokyo in advance of the 2020 Summer Olympics to showcase the city as an eco-friendly world capital. In China, large solar road projects are underway as well.

Closer to home, the U.S. is also getting into the game, though in a less direct manner. An Idaho company has been funded partially by the USDOT to develop a modular solar roadway consisting of engineered glass solar panels that generate power and can light up in patterns—removing the need for painted lines and some freeway signage. Their panels also communicate with each other and have heating elements to deal with ice and snow.

What This All Means for Your Solar Installation Business

Roads made of solar panels may be a sizable part of the complete renewable energy package that we need for a sustainable future, but they remain primarily a part of the future at this point. However, technological advancement in solar (as with all tech) is advancing exponentially.

With massive solar farms coming online and energy storage capabilities ramping up, solar roads could be part of a shift toward utility-generated renewables that may possibly make selling rooftop solar more challenging in the world to come. If that gets you thinking about how to boost your installation business’s bottom line, it could be time for you to buy high quality solar leads from RGR. Get in touch today – we’re ready when you are.

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