I propose that the Government adopts the proposal to organise an R&D multidisciplinary project to develop a model of an INTELLIGENT SOLAR ROAD. The idea involves the integration of photovoltaics, LED lane lighting and heating into the roadway.
For this purpose, different materials would be used (glass), composites, more mechanically durable and renewable, with a longer lifetime (at least 3 times that of asphalt) and cheaper maintenance. They should maximise the efficiency of the transformation of light and heat (asphalt can heat up to 60 degrees C and more in summer, which also allows the thermoelectric effect to be exploited) into electricity.The system would heat the roadway in winter, thus eliminating costly winter maintenance, power electric vehicles (perhaps even induction) and generate electricity and heat for other users. E.g. a 4x4m panel with 16 modules 1m2 and 15% efficiency with an average of 4 hours of light produces 7.6 kWh/day. The control of the system should be decentralised with a microprocessor in each panel.
The use of public areas such as roads, car parks, etc., which are huge in area, would gradually be the most suitable for renewable energy generation. The transition to a less carbon-intensive society requires new technologies. I would like to see the R&D resources pooled in the proposed project and Slovenia to be at the cutting edge of the development of one (or more) segment of new technologies.
The government certainly has the opportunity to verify the proposal in the institutes of materials, physics and electronics as well as in higher education and manufacturing.