Solar Energy , Just Under Your Feet !
Posted by Srikant Rajan | # |
05:34:24 am on August 17, 2008

The solution to cost effective solar power may now be just under your feet.Anyone who has had a walk down the asphalt lane on a hot day will tell you that heat literally radiates from the pavement.Now researchers are trying to tap into this asphalt pavement as an effective source of heat collector.Through asphalt, the researchers are developing a solar collector that could turn roads and parking lots into ubiquitous—and inexpensive–sources of electricity and hot water.Researches are presently evaluating alternatives that will allow for construction of parking and paving lots in order to maximize their heat absorbing capabilities.

Rajib Mallick, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering ,heading the research says “ Asphalt has a lot of advantages as a solar collector .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 “

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