English 
Spanish 
3 min read
0 comments
Sustainable innovation: Covering roads with solar panels can drastically reduce carbon emissions and increase road safety
The growing demand for sustainable solutions and the urgency to combat climate change have led scientists to explore innovative alternatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Among these innovations, the coverage of roads with painéis solares emerges as a promising idea that can not only significantly reduce carbon emissions but also improve road safety.
Benefits of solar roofing on roads
According to recent research, installing solar panel roofs over highways around the world has the potential to reduce global carbon emissions by approximately 28%. This reduction occurs by limiting the need for fossil fuels, replacing them with clean energy generated by solar panels.
In addition to the environmental impact, the solar cover over highways also offers additional benefits, such as protecting vehicles against bad weather, which can reduce the occurrence of road accidents. The electricity generated by these facilities could supply millions of homes and industries, contributing to a global transition towards a more sustainable energy matrix.
- Surprising breakthrough in solar energy! New molecule stores energy for months, creating a revolutionary solution that enables energy use at night and during winter
- New government law threatens renewable energy sector in Brazil, potentially affecting 1,8 THOUSAND jobs and causing losses of R$200 MILLION per year
- The end of solar panels? With the price of a cell phone, a new residential wind turbine generates 150 kWh of energy for your home, rain or shine, has a useful life of 20 years and promises to revolutionize energy generation in the world
- Solar energy in Brazil: How the photovoltaic revolution will create 3,5 million jobs and boost the economy by 2030!
A Future with Solar Roads
The inspiration for this study came from a simple observation: roads, interconnected as a vast network, could be transformed into a source of photovoltaic energy. The Earth has more than 3,2 million kilometers of highways, a considerable area that could be used to generate clean energy.
While parking lots with solar roofs have become common, applying the same technology to paved roads is still a new concept. Some countries have already started pilot projects to test the feasibility of photovoltaic roofs over highways, but there is still a long way to go before it becomes common practice.
Feasibility and Global Impact
The research analyzed highways and arterial roads around the world, calculating the cost and power generation potential of a global network of solar panels. The analysis was based on polysilicon photovoltaic panels with a capacity of 250 watts, positioned at a 10-degree tilt to maximize sunlight capture.
The study estimated that installing solar roofs over highways would require about 52,3 billion solar panels, capable of generating up to 17.578 terawatt hours of electricity per year. This production represents more than four times the current annual energy generation in the United States.
The geographical distribution of the installation of these panels would be done primarily in densely populated areas, such as the east of China, western Europe and the east coast of the United States. These regions, with a large number of highways, would present the greatest potential for solar energy generation.
Contribution to Emission Reduction
With the global implementation of this solar road network, it would be possible to replace up to 9,66 gigatons of carbon dioxide emitted annually by fossil fuels. This equates to approximately two-thirds of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, a significant contribution to combating climate change.
Challenges and Perspectives
Although the potential of solar roofs over highways is promising, the technical and economic feasibility has yet to be proven on a large scale. Installation and maintenance costs, as well as the particularities of each region, are factors that can influence the adoption of this technology.
However, with falling solar panel prices and increasing demand for clean energy, projects like this could become a reality in the near future. The transition to a low-carbon economy is inevitable, and innovative solutions such as covering roads with solar panels will play a crucial role in this process.
