This document provides an overview of solar roadways, including: 1. Solar roadways use photovoltaic cells embedded below a transparent surface to generate electricity from solar power while also providing traction. 2. Construction involves a road surface layer, electronics layer below containing solar cells and circuitry, and a base layer to distribute power. 3. Benefits include generating renewable energy, powering electric vehicles at rest stops, illuminating roads and managing traffic/snow, but high initial costs are a disadvantage.

1. VAAGDEVI COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING
Department of Electronics and Communication
Engineering
Seminar on
“SOLAR ROADWAYS”
By
Ch. Sai Krishna
11641A04A9

2. Contents :
• Introduction
• Photovoltaic cell
• Solar Roadways
• Solar Road Construction
• Road Survey of India
• Features of Solar Roadways
• Advantages & Disadvantages
• Conclusion
• References

3. Introduction:
• The solar roadway is a series of structurally engineered Solar panels that are
driven upon.
• The idea is to replace all current petroleum based asphalt roads, parking lots, and
driveways with Solar Road Panels that collect energy to be used by our homes
and businesses.
• The ultimate goal is to store excess energy in or along-side the Solar Roadways.

4. Photovoltaic cell :
• Photovoltaic cells are used to convert solar energy directly into electricity using
semiconductors. This is the active type of solar technology.

5. Solar Roadways : What does it mean ?
• A solar roadway is a road surface that generates electricity by solar power
photovoltaic cells embedded below a tough transparent surface which provides
sufficient traction.

6. Solar Road Construction
I. Road Surface Layer
II. Electronics Layer
III. Base Layer

7. I. Road Surface Layer :
• Translucent and high-strength, it is rough enough to provide sufficient traction, yet still
passes sunlight through to the solar collector cells embedded within, along with LEDs
and a heating element.
•

8. II. Eectronics Layer :
• It contains photovoltaic cells which absorbs solar energy. It also contains a
microprocessor board with support circuitry for sensing loads on the surface and
controlling a heating element with a view to reducing or eliminating snow.

9. III. Base Plate layer :
• While the electronics layer collects energy from the sun, it is the base
plate layer that distributes that power down the line to all homes and
businesses connected to the solar roadway. It needs to be
weatherproof to protect the electronics layer above it.

10. ROAD SURVEY OF INDIA
• India has a road network of over 46,89,842 kilometers as on 2013.
• In which National highways comprise 1.7% of India's total road connectivity.
• These highways can produce 450TWh of electricity according to references when they are
surfaced by solar panels.
• But India needs upto 991TWh of electricity.
• This implies that if 0.1% of total road network of India is surfaced with Solar Roadway
panels, it would illuminate our nation.

11. Features of Solar Roadways :
(a) Accident can be avoided :
• The roadways can protect
wildlife and motorists.
• The load cells in the soalr panels
can detect if something is on the
surface of the panel. It acts like a
weigh machine.

12. (b) Illuminated roads :
• The Solar Roadways will have
LEDs which will illuminate the
lanes. The LEDs can be
programmed to show the
instructions such as - SLOW,
STOP, GO, SPEED LIMIT, etc.

13. (c) Traffic Management Solution
• Each solar panel contains a
microprocessor that monitors and
controls the panel, while
communicating with neighbouring
panels and the vehicle travelling.

14. (d) Electric Vehicles :
• Electric vehicles are on the way.
More and more car manufacturers
are offering electrical options
• EVs can be rechargeable at any
convenient located rest stop or at
any parking lots.
• Owners can plug their car in and
recharge while not driving.

15. (e) Snow/ ICE Management :
• The roads heat themselves with their
embedded heating elements and melt
away all the snow

16. (f) Improved power lines

17. • A look into the future :

18. ADVANTAGES
• The solar roadways distributes its electrical power to all business and homes
connected to the system via their parking lots and driveways.
• It generates electrical power from the sun and becomes our nations
decentralized, intelligent, self-healing power grid, replacing our current
deteriorating power distribution infrastructure.
• The Solar Road Panels heat themselves for snow and ice removal in northern
climates. No more need for snow removal.
• The Solar Roadway produces clean, renewable energy. No pollution, no
greenhouse gases, no by-products, and the Solar Road Panels are completely
recyclable or reusable
• The life span of the solar panels is around 30-40 years, much greater than
normal asphalt roads, which only last 7-12 years.

19. DISADVANTAGES
• The start up and maintenance costs of building will be extremely high. Have to
invest almost 3 times more than the conventional roads.
• The average efficiency is currently 20%
• It cannot be constructed in the poorest developing nations due to the high initial
start-up costs.
• Seasonal Efficiency.

20. CONCLUSION :
1. Eliminate the need for nuclear power plants.
2. End our dependency on oil and other fossil fuels (oil, coal and natural gas).
3. Cut our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions by over 50%.
4. Provide safer driving conditions.
5. Snow & ice management
6. Traffic management
7. Wild life protection
8. Usage of recycled material

21. References :
• www.solarroadways.com
• www.futureenergy.com
• www.techli.com

22. THANK YOU 