We’ve been big fans of Solar Roadways since we first learned about the combination paving surface and energy collecting solar panel in August.

Solar Roadways founder Craig Brusaw was spurred to action by the realization that the rising price of oil will one day make it prohibitively expensive to use asphalt to as road surface, and we’re already starting to see some of the effects. At the same time, because we have such an extensive network of roads, and they take up so much space there are many ways that this mass agglomeration of resources and public space can be put to better use. The Internet loves the Solar Roadways concept too, which is why Craig and his wife Julie were awarded the first cash prize of $50,000 from the GE Ecomagination Challenge.

It turns out there are many clever ways to generate heat and electricity from the road surface. Here are a few more:

Solar Cells Mounted on Jersey Barriers

Not actually in the road, the Jersey Barrier, which keeps oncoming traffic apart and cars from crashing into each other, is a ubiquitous part of the road network. Topping these barriers with slim photovoltaic panels requires costly construction and minimal, if any disruption of traffic at night. Heck, install them at night, when traffic volumes are low and watch them go to work their first day on the job.

Ambient Heat From Pipes

Building roads with pipes containing baked into them could store the heat that normally collects throughout the day and dissipates at night. The heat generated from the road could then be piped into nearby buildings, saving on fuel costs, while still helping to maintain a comfortable environment. This idea is not unlike one being tried on the Paris subway, where passenger’s body heat is being used to warm a nearby housing complex.

Thermo-electricity

When a semiconductor with a hot and cold are is connected, a small amount of electricity is produced. By burying semiconductors at different depths inside the paving surface the temperature difference between sunny and shaded areas, or areas where a breeze provides a cooling effect could create a circuit and generate power.

Via Gizmag