solar roads and streets

Roadways are typically considered to be the place where cars consume energy.  Now, engineers and inventors are thinking up ways to make "smart roads" (see photos below).

This above photo is of a 2.8-megawatt (MW) solar array constructed on the roof of a 2.7 km long noise-barrier tunnel on the A3 highway near Aschaffenburg, Germany.  This was in conjunction with German Unity Motorway Planning and Construction Company.  Photo source at www.ralos.de

Reported on the Dept. of Transportation website at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/real_estate/publications/alternative_uses_of_highway_right-of-way/rep03.cfm.

And here in the USA: the photo below is a protoype design for the Solar Roadways company based in Idaho.  Here is renewable energy at it's finest.

According to Wikipedia, "Solar Roadways Inc is working to develop and commercially produced road panels which are made from recycled materials and incorporate photovoltaic cells."  Not a bad idea...

(Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Roadways)

How road safety would be improved when the divider lines light up automatically to clearly illuminate your way.....   

Imagine the snow control that would be possible with heat under a road melted by solar.   What about crosswalks lighting up as you approach on a dark night? The ideas surrounding solar roadways just keep coming... 

Above rendition by Solar Roadways - Graphic design by Sam Cornett

5. Sun Powered Powers Farm Pump

Old windmill stands by as solar pulls in power from the sun...

In photo top left, a solar panel powers the well pump.  

The times are changing. 

 

Below left, the water pump relies entirely on solar.

 

 Here's the info from Wikipedia:

"A solar-powered pump is a pump running on electricity generated by photovoltaic  panels or the thermal energy available from collected sunlight as opposed to grid electricity or diesel run water pumps.

The operation of solar powered pumps is more economical mainly due to the lower operation and maintenance costs and has less environmental impact than pumps powered by an internal commpustion engine.

 Solar pumps are useful where grid electricity is unavailable and alternative sources (in particular wind) do not provide sufficient energy."  (Quote from Wikipedia)  Click here for more info  Solar Wells - Wikipedia.  Photos from Wikipedia page noted. 

Top photo by NJR ZA; lower photo by Asksharenter2

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4. Solar Powers Our Satellites

 

 

Among NASA's thousands (maybe millions) of images is Jason-1 the Ocean Satellite cruising around the earth powered by eight solar panels.  Satellites warn of storms, and other weather conditions.



 

 

This "NASA/CNES Ocean Satellite" orbited the earth for more than 10 years, and was retired in 2013. According to Alan Buis, Writer for the JET Propulsion Laboratory, "Jason-1 flew in carefully coordinated orbits with both its predecessor Topex/Poseidon and its successor, the Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason-2, launched in 2008. These coordinated orbit periods, which lasted about three years each, cross-calibrated the satellites, making possible a 20-plus-year unbroken climate record of sea level change. These coordination periods also doubled data coverage."



Thanks to Jason-1, the first full 406-day marine gravity mission was completed on June 17. The resulting data have already led to the discovery of numerous small seamounts, which are underwater mountains that rise above the deep-sea floor. The data also have significantly increased the resolution of Earth's gravity field over the ocean, while increasing our knowledge of ocean bathymetry, which is the underwater depth of the ocean floor.


Photo by NASA - for more info: Jason-1 Ocean Satellite





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3. Now.... Solar Golf Carts -

Now you can spin around your neighborhood in a cart powered by the sun... 

 A controller converts the sun's energy to charge the golf cart's 36-volt or 48-volt battery bank. Not only does the solar power take the cart off the electric grid, it also increases the driving distance and extends the life of the batteries.  Segue to Solar is seeing more and more of them around town...
(Like the realtor cart!)

Just a few more solar applications that help reduce the electric grid, and lessen our dependence on oil...

But be extra careful, and put one of those flags up so that the faster moving cars can see you!

(Photo uploaded to Wikipedia by Dougal Crismond of Frugal Dougal's Golf Cart Accessories)

solar apps blog

2.  solar app...  the solar airplane

Solar airplanes rock (and fly)  -  this one built by Aeroenvironment in California and NASA

AeroVironment / NASA's Pathfinder Plus solar aircraft in flight over Hawaii in 2002.
See wikipedia for more...solar concentrator app on wikipedia

AeroVironment is also famous for its Gossamer Albatross Aircraft.  It won the prestiious

Kremer Prize in the 80s.  Click here for more info: AeroVironment Website

Photo by NASA/Nick Galante 2002

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... exploring the world of applications of solar energy ...

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solar applications... 1. the solar concentrator

this is just one type of solar energy concentrators renewable energy companies are building at a steady rate...

Solucar PS10 (Spain) generates electricity in a commercial way. Basically the sun hits the many individual mirrors on the ground and sunlight is focused on small area at top of tower. The concentrated light is then used as heat or as a heat source for a conventional power plant (see solar thermoelectricity). The power generated is then used to provide energy in the forms of heating or cooling, such as in solar air-conditioning. See wikipedia for more...solar concentrator app on wikipedia

Photo by afloresm - see http://www.flickr.com/people/74424373@N00 for more info on afloresm

our home link: click here Segue to Solar Online Store

... exploring the world of applications of solar energy ...

- home link:  click here Segue to Solar Online Store

>  - questions, suggestions, topics to admin-at-seguetosolar.com