Solar Roadways

This article is about the company. For general discussion of this concept, see Smart highway.
Solar Roadways Inc
Startup
Founded 2006
Founder
  • Scott Brusaw
  • Julie Brusaw
Headquarters 721 Pine Street,
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864,
United States [1]
Website solarroadways.com

Solar Roadways Incorporated is a startup company based in Sandpoint, Idaho, that is developing solar powered road panels to form a smart highway. Their technology combines a transparent driving surface with underlying solar cells, electronics and sensors to act as a solar array with programmable capability. Solar Roadways Inc is working to develop and commercially produce road panels which are made from recycled materials and incorporate photovoltaic cells.[2]

History

In 2006, the company was founded by Scott and Julie Brusaw, with Scott as President and CEO. The company envisioned replacing asphalt surfaces with structurally-engineered solar panels capable of withstanding vehicular traffic."[3] The proposed system would require the development of strong, transparent, and self-cleaning glass that has the necessary traction and impact-resistance properties.[4]

In 2009, Solar Roadways received a $100,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the Department of Transportation (DOT) for Phase I to develop and build a solar parking lot.[5] In 2011, Solar Roadways received $750,000 SBIR grant from the DOT for Phase II to develop and build a solar parking lot.[6] The DOT distinguishes the technology proposed by Solar Roadways Inc. as "Solar Power Applications in the Roadway," as compared to a number of other solar technologies categorized by the DOT as "Solar Applications along the Roadway."[7] From SBIR grant money, Solar Roadways has built a 12-by-36-foot (3.7 by 11.0 m) parking lot covered with hexagonal glass-covered solar panels sitting on top of a concrete base, which are heated to help remove snow and ice, and also include LEDs to display messages. The hexagonal shape allows for better coverage on curves and hills. According to the Brusaws, the panels can sustain a 250,000 lb (110,000 kg) load.[8]

In April 2014, Solar Roadways started a crowdfunding drive at Indiegogo to raise money so they can get the product into production. In May, it was extended by another 30 days. The campaign raised 2.2 million dollars, exceeding its target of 1 million dollars.[9] The drive became Indiegogo’s most popular campaign ever in terms of the number of backers it has attracted.[10] The success was attributed in part to a Tweet made by George Takei, who played Sulu on Star Trek, due to his more than 8 million followers.[11][12] One of the Brusaws’ videos went viral, with nearly 15 million views as of June 2014.[12]

In 2014, doubt was expressed regarding the political feasibility of the project on a national scale by Jonathan Levine, a professor of urban planning at the University of Michigan. He suggested, however, that a single town might be able to deploy the concept in a limited test case such as a parking lot.[13]

List of awards and honors

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About". Solar Roadways.
  2. ↑ Scott, Cameron (May 22, 2014). "Following the Solar Brick Road". SingularityHUB. Singularity University.
  3. ↑ "Solar Roadways: Company Information". Small Business Innovation Research.
  4. ↑ "Driving on Glass Solar Roads". Scientific American. October 6, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Solar Roadways: Phase I Grant". Small Business Innovation Research.
  6. ↑ "Solar Roadways: Phase II Grant". Small Business Innovation Research.
  7. ↑ "Alternative Uses of Highway Right-of-Way". Federal Highway Administration.
  8. ↑ Barry, Keith (May 8, 2014). "This Parking Lot Is Paved with Solar Panels". Autopia. Wired. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Solar Roadways". Indiegogo. June 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ "The Centuries-Old Technology Behind Solar Roadways, Indiegogo's Most Popular Campaign Ever". Forbes. June 3, 2014.
  11. ↑ Maben, Scott (May 31, 2014). "Star Trek: George Takei tweet boosts Solar Roadways". Christian Science Monitor. Associated Press. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "On the not so sunny side of the street". The Economist. June 5, 2014.
  13. ↑ "We Could Build a Solar Powered Roadway. But Will We?". Popular Mechanics. June 11, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  14. ↑ Mathas, Carolyn (February 23, 2009). "2009 EE Times ACE Awards finalists announced". EE Times. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Solar Roadways named as finalist in most promising renewable energy award". Renewable Energy Magazine. March 16, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  16. ↑ Parrish DuDell, Michael (August 8, 2011). "Paving the Solar Roadway to Success". ecoimagination.com. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Scott & Julie Brusaw, Solar Roadways". The World Technology Network. 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  18. ↑ Seward, Aaron (2014). "Best of What's New: Solar Roadways". Popular Science. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  19. ↑ Seward, Aaron; Parshley, Lois (2014). "Solar Roadways: Pavement that Produces Power". Popular Science. Retrieved January 6, 2015.

External links