Developing innovative roads using solar technologies

The need for sustainable transportation infrastructure has led researchers to investigate non-traditional pavement systems that turn roads into multitasking focal points of multidisciplinary infrastructure development. One such example is solar road panel design, where researchers are designing a road system that will be capable of supporting traffic loading while providing a source of distributed electricity generation. The special requirements of designing a functioning solar module that can withstand vehicle loading presents a challenge to pavement engineers as traditional materials are not capable of providing the necessary performance for successful operation of the electrical and structural systems required. This paper provides a review of the material options at each of the three main layers in the design of a solar road panel; the transparent, optical, and base layers. The performance characteristics of each material are then analysed through a comparison of material properties and existing experimental results using a generic conceptual design for a solar road panel structure. This paper then presents the optimal material selection for each of these layers and the next steps and future research required for the successful design of a solar road panel with these materials.