The Rise and Fall of Solar Roads

Solar roads, introduced by the company Solar Roadways in 2014, aimed to replace conventional road materials with solar panels that could generate electricity while serving as road surfaces. They promised numerous benefits, such as charging electric vehicles, heating to melt snow, and integration of LED lights for road markings. However, real-world implementations fell short, notably a 2016 test road in France that deteriorated within two years, generating significantly less electricity than anticipated. The inefficiency of solar panels laid flat, coupled with high installation and maintenance costs, led to a consensus that solar roads are not a viable energy solution.