China's First Solar Highway is Now Open to Traffic

Cathay's first solar highway has been opened for public use, in what could mark a major shift in road manufacturing and solar power generation in the country.

Located over a two km stretch in the eastern province of Shandong, the photovoltaic throughway is capable of converting sunlight into electricity and transfer it directly to the power grid. According to the Xinhua news agency, simply a kilometre-long 'test department' has been opened to traffic, simply one time fully operational, information technology tin can reportedly generate 10 million kWh of electricity per year, every bit well every bit melt ice and snow in wintertime to improve road condom.

If all goes according to plan, the route is expected to generate enough electricity to power everything from street lights to signboards to price booths. Non only that, reports also propose that the highway will somewhen be able to charge electrical vehicles that travel over it.

The road has a targeted lifespan of 20 years and consists of 3 different layers. A transparent concrete height allows sunlight to penetrate downwards to the sparse amorphous silicon panels in the middle, a waterproof insulating layer at the bottom makes sure the surface remains functional for its lifetime.

According to Zhang Hongchao, chief scientist with a visitor chosen Shandong Pavenergy that was involved in the development of the project, "The top layer has good flexibility which can both withstand the pressure of large vehicles and protect the fragile amorphous silicon boards underneath".

The chairman of Qilu Transportation Development Grouping, also had high praise for the futuristic technology, saying that the photovoltaic road will " salve the space for edifice solar farms and shorten the transmission distance".

While the toll of such projects is often a deterrent to their implementation on a larger calibration, he said that this particular project only price half of what similar projects in Europe are known to have toll. Co-ordinate to him, the cost can be farther reduced with the continuing development of solar ability in China.