Solar Roadways is a trailblazing company working toward using the heat absorbed from roads for solar energy use. Roads absorb a tremendous amount of heat from the sun each and every day, and are generally free of any sight-line obstructions. If driving is partly to blame for global warming, why not use roads as part of the solution?

The interstate highway system takes up almost 2 percent of the continental US landmass. Engineer Scott Brusaw is in the process of designing a translucent road surface with photovoltaic solar collectors that can be wired to an electric grid.   Said design can also heat roads during colder months, providing safety benefits during winter road travel. There’s still the question of whether or not these surfaces can stand up to the rigors of everyday use without having to be constantly repaired or replaced. Brusaw doesn’t deny the need for improved innovations to handle this wear and tear. In the meantime, Solar Roadways is working implementing their prototype along a 45-mile stretch of road between Coeur D’Alene and Sandpoint in Idaho.

To learn more about how to make Solar Roadways road power a reality, and visit their website here.