Some things change the world, like electricity and the internet... solar panel roads might be the next quantum breakthrough in road safety, construction, and power generation across a nation

above image from http://www.geekexchange.com/solar-roads-could-power-country-115023.html



A small US-based company called Solar Roadways are developing a solar road surface that, if installed nationwide, has the potential to produce more renewable energy than the entire country uses.

Hexagonal glass solar panels studded with LED lights that could be installed on a variety of surfaces such as roads, pavements and playgrounds. Energy generated from driveways and parking lots could be used to power buildings, and any excess can be sold back to the grid.

The panels also contain heating elements to melt ice and snow so are ideal in winter conditions, and LEDs to make road lines and signs which have been previously shown to reduce night time accidents. Amazingly, the team also found that car headlights can produce energy in the panels, so cars driving around at night would be producing some electricity.

Found on http://www.iflscience.com/technology/solar-roads-could-power-entire-country