| Imagine a world where the sun powers everything, | | | | Speaking of electricity, unconventional ways - at least |
| from your heating to all your electrical needs, and all of | | | | they sound so now - are being brought to light to help |
| it effortlessly, in an environment that generates and | | | | maximize the potential the sun represents. Much of the |
| converts solar beams into power automatically. The | | | | electricity we get in the future may come from the |
| sun itself powers the whole planet, and no pollution | | | | road we travel on. |
| results from making the electricity we need. | | | | You heard that right. In a project being researched by |
| Sounds like science fiction to you? | | | | American scientists, it is estimated that a road that has |
| You may actually be surprised to know that a lot is | | | | a glass surface and that uses collectors just beneath |
| going on that can prove this allegation true in the future. | | | | the surface could provide the equivalent of the worlds' |
| A lot of effort and genius is going into researching | | | | power needs simply through the extent of roads on |
| ways to more efficiently make use of solar power. | | | | the US continent. |
| What we know as solar panels that heat out water | | | | This isn't the only project linked to roads generating |
| and pool and provide a bit of our electrical needs may | | | | electricity. Another one in the Netherlands uses solar |
| sound like prehistoric attempts in a not so distant | | | | energy from the tarmac of asphalt roads to de-ice |
| future. | | | | them in winter and also to provide electricity to |
| More and more research is going into ways to exploit | | | | adjoining buildings. Sounds far fetched, doesn't it? But it |
| and make the best use of solar rays, light and heat. As | | | | is all very true. |
| the situation stands nowadays, a good deal of the | | | | Not only do these road projects concern electricity, but |
| energy from the sun that we receive on earth is lost | | | | generating this power using solar energy and cells also |
| or wasted. | | | | implies that roads are not liable to icing over, thus |
| How can this happen, you may ask, considering we | | | | increasing road safety. |
| make use of these shiny panels to capture this power | | | | A project in the UK uses this reasoning to also help |
| and convert it into a form which we can use? | | | | provide lighting on dark roads where accidents happen. |
| Well, it starts with the equipment itself. The photovoltaic | | | | Since the start of this venture, where LED lights |
| cells that are used to convert solar beams in to | | | | powered by solar cells lit previously dark roads, the |
| electricity cannot exploit the full potential of the energy | | | | authorities have seen a drastic decrease in accidents |
| it perceives. | | | | in those areas. |
| However, research is being undertaken to address this | | | | In a few decades' time, someone may laugh when he |
| issue. If cells used could focus the solar energy in a | | | | or she looks back on what we are exclaiming our |
| better way, more electricity could be created. Creating | | | | awe at where solar energy is concerned. For now, we |
| better conductive and receptive material to capture | | | | dare to hope. |
| this light is on many priority lists of scientists. | | | | |