Italy Prepares to Build the World's First Solar Energy Highway

When it comes to blending renewable energy concepts with green transportation, one of the more interesting ideas that is born from the combination is the renewable energy highway. Some believe that one of the best ways of marrying the two concepts together would be to utilize wind power along with the extension of the world's roadways. Others want to integrate electric vehicle charging services into the very road itself to allow a car to travel extended distances as it charges. In Italy, however, they have transcended beyond just planning to blend the two concepts and are preparing to make it a reality.

On the west coast of Sicily, the government is getting ready to begin construction on what is to be the world's first totally solar highway in a plan that seeks to be the best in green transportation technology. Situated between the cities of Catania and Syracuse, the highway will be approximately nineteen miles long and cost around $81 million to complete. The roadway will be integrating a series of photovoltaic solar panels along the entire distance of the roadway that will generate enough electricity to power all of the highway's systems including the lighting and fans inside the tunnels and the highway lighting and emergency phones placed along the stretch of road. The solar panels, which have already been in place for some time now, will generate an estimated twelve million kilowatts of solar power annually.

Though the highway's renewable energy credits are among the more important aspects of the highway design, Italy has also said that they will be using the most up to date highway safety features while laying the roadway. Once completed, it is said that the highway will be paved with the highest quality product and that the tunnels are being designed to be amongst the safest in the entire world. Considering the potential disasters that can come about if an accident takes place within a tunnel, it is a good thing Italy is taking the tunnel design seriously.

Though the highway is not overly substantial in size, the impact it will have on the future of green transportation is sizable. If they are able to successfully integrate solar power into the highway, essentially creating a self sufficient stretch of road, than the concept could easily catch on across Italy, Europe, and then possibly the world. The cost may be high, but the eventual adoption of solar highways across Italy would go far in helping the nations cut down on their carbon emissions.

It is believed that the green transportation highway will be open for drivers on January, 1 2011. Hopefully the system will remain successful and popular amongst drivers so that Italy will be willing to spend the money on more solar highways in the future.

Photo Credit: reverberi.it