World’s First Solar Road Exceeds Expectations

The first SolaRoad, completed November 2014 in the Netherlands, generated 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity in the first six months. This is equivalent to the amount of electricity needed for a single-person household for one year.  The SolaRoad is currently 70 meters long and made from several synthetic layers of rubberized silicon and concrete, topped by 3-millimeter thick glass-covered solar panels. The skid-resistant panels are able to sustain the pressure of a 12-ton load and are predicted to have a 20 year lifespan.  A variation of the SolaRoad is expected to come to the U.S. within the next ten years. For more information