Recent groundbreaking research suggests that installing solar panels to cover highways worldwide could dramatically cut emissions and boost road safety. The study highlights the benefits of this innovative approach and projects a reduction in global carbon emissions by nearly 28% due to decreased reliance on fossil fuels.
The approach involves placing solar panels above highways and major roads. This concept would help generate electricity and offer protection from harsh weather conditions.
The research was published in Earth’s Future, an open-access AGU journal focusing on interdisciplinary studies. In this context, Ling Yao, a remote sensing scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the lead author of the study, emphasizes the immense potential of this idea. He notes that covering highways with solar roofs could generate 17.58 petawatt-hours of electricity annually, which would account for around 60% of the globe’s total electricity consumption in 2023.
Ling Yao also mentioned that while there have been some pilot programs for highway photovoltaic roofs, their scale has been difficult to grasp. Moreover, photovoltaic-paved and roofed roads are still in their infancy. As the cost of solar panels decreases, projects like Yao’s could support the global transition to sustainable energy.
The researchers explored highways and major arterial roads worldwide and calculated the costs to develop and maintain a network of solar panels in each country. The insights were based on polysilicon photovoltaic panels with a maximum power generation of 250 watts. The cost per megawatt-hour and potential for energy generation vary geographically. However, the researchers highlighted that installations would be most feasible near densely populated areas with many highways, including Western Europe, Eastern China, and the U.S. East Coast.
Another benefit of solar highway roads includes boosting road safety by shielding drivers and the road from rain and snow. However, these futuristic highways could face certain setbacks, such as high setup and maintenance costs. Ultimately, Yao is hopeful that photovoltaic roofs could succeed with small pilot programs and be more easily installed on long, flat stretches of highways, such as those in the southwestern United States.
