Innovative solutions to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions are gaining increasing attention, particularly the installation of solar roofs over highways, which would not only be environmentally beneficial but also improve traffic safety. According to the latest research, solar roofs installed over highways worldwide could significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions and enhance public safety. Innovationnewsnetwork.com highlighted that by mitigating the demand for fossil fuels, these roofs could reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by up to 28%.
Utilization of areas occupied by highways. The idea is to build solar panels over highways and main roads, which would not only generate electricity but also provide protection against adverse weather conditions. Ling Yao, a remote sensing researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and lead author of the study, mentioned the great potential of the idea: “Covering the Earth’s highways with solar roofs could generate 17.58 petawatt-hours of electricity annually, equivalent to more than 60% of global electricity consumption in 2023.” The role of solar energy is growing among renewable energy sources, and photovoltaic solar energy represents a significant portion of new renewable energy installations, accounting for 40% between 2012 and 2021. ### Optimizing existing infrastructure Utilization of the world’s more than 3.2 million kilometers of highway networks for solar energy production would be a huge step toward green energy.
While solar-covered parking lots are more widespread, photovoltaic highways are still in the initial stages. Some countries have already launched pilot projects, but widespread implementation is still awaited. Researchers suggest installing solar panels with a capacity of 250 watts at a 10-degree angle above the outer lanes of highways. The most potential lies in densely populated regions such as Eastern China, Western Europe, and the eastern coast of the United States. ### Benefits and challenges Covering highways with solar roofs to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions could replace up to 9.66 gigatons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to two-thirds of the 2022 greenhouse gas emissions of the USA. These roofs would offer not only environmental benefits but also significantly improve traffic safety.
Preliminary research suggests these roofs could reduce the number of traffic accidents by up to 10.8%, particularly in adverse weather conditions. Despite economic benefits, the high costs of installation and maintenance, as well as the cleaning of large numbers of solar panels, may pose significant logistical challenges. Nonetheless, Ling Yao is optimistic that with the success of smaller-scale experiments, broader adoption of the technology can be realized. Countries with long, flat highway sections, such as the southwestern United States, could be ideal locations for introducing these large-scale solar roof structures.
