In an attempt to improve its ability to be sustainable, a small village in Normandy, France, has created the world's first solar panel road.
The road is one kilometer long and was designed due to its potential to generate enough electricity to power the street lights that run along it. If the solar panel road succeeds, the French Ecology Minister Segolene Royal will be installing solar panels on 1,000 kilometers of French highway. The project could set a precedent for others around the world, and its experiential nature will allow companies to determine what works and what doesn't in future implementations.
This project provides insight into the future of solar energy's uses, and works to educate people in the industry as to how solar energy can be harnessed to the benefit of urban landscapes as well as the environment.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Solar Panel Roads
- The world's first solar panel road in France has set a precedent for other sustainable roadway projects.
- Highway Solar Panels
- If this project succeeds, highways across France could contain solar panels.
- Solar Energy Uses
- The use of solar energy can be harnessed to the benefit of urban landscapes as well as the environment.
Where This Applies
- Renewable Energy
- More research and development in the renewable energy industry will be needed to make solar panel roads feasible.
- Transportation
- The transportation industry has an opportunity to create sustainable infrastructure if solar panel roads become more common.
- Construction
- The construction industry will have to adapt to use new materials and designs to build roads that support solar panels.
