Although there have been a slew of solar-powered public lighting designs hitting the streets lately, I think the Solar Arch offers something more. A energy-generating road tunnel, the Solar Arch would not only power highway lights, but also provide electricity for neighboring areas.
Designed by Tyson Steele and developed in compliance with AASHTO standards for US interstate bridges and passageways, the Solar Arch is 18 feet high, 40 feet wide and 10 feet in length. Although made with rural roads in mind, it's only a matter of time before the Solar Arch's aesthetic is applied to city streets.
What's Driving This Trend
- Energy-generating Tunnels
- Expanding the use of energy-generating tunnels beyond street lighting to providing electricity for other purposes.
- Solar-powered Infrastructure
- Incorporating solar energy as a primary source in the construction of public infrastructure, i.e., tunnels and bridges.
- Urban Solar Integration
- Integrating solar-generated energy sources into urban infrastructure planning and development.
Who This Affects Most
- Transportation Infrastructure
- Opportunities for solar-powered solutions which can be integrated into transportation systems or used to power street-level services.
- Urban Development
- Urban planners can evaluate implementing energy-generating tunnel technology to create self-sustaining infrastructure within heavily populated cities.
- Renewable Energy
- An opportunity to integrate urban infrastructure projects with renewable energy options such as solar power.
