Asphalt Power

Researchers at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute have figured out another use for our planet’s millions of miles of asphalt roads. Using heat exchangers embedded just below the surface, the system would soak up, and convert all of the (normally wasted) sunlight absorbed by the asphalt into usable electricity. They also envision placing heat conducting water filled pipes beneath the road that would heat water to be used for home heating or, converted to electricity through a thermoelectric generator.

Inhabitat reports:

“For one, blacktop stays hot and could continue to generate energy after the sun goes down, unlike traditional solar-electric cells. In addition, there is already a massive acreage of installed roads and parking lots that could be retrofitted for energy generation, so there is no need to find additional land for solar farms. Roads and lots are typically resurfaced every 10 to 12 years and the retrofit could be built into that cycle. Extracting heat from asphalt could cool it, reducing the urban ‘heat island’ effect. Finally, unlike roof-top solar arrays, which some find unattractive, the solar collectors in roads and parking lots would be invisible.”

[via Inhabitat]