If 52.3 billion solar panels are installed along all world highways, it will be possible to cover 60% of global electricity consumption per year.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, Chinese Academy of Geosciences and Columbia University concluded that roads covered with solar panels could meet more than 60% of the world's annual energy needs. Wiley Online Library writes about this.
Scientists have determined that covering the world's highways with photovoltaic cells will be able to generate 17,578 TWh* per year, which is more than 60% of the world's electricity consumption in 2023.
Given the fact that more than 3.2 million km of highways have been built around the world, researchers have calculated the costs and benefits of building a network of solar batteries with a capacity of 250 W. The analysis found that covering highways with solar panels could generate more than 4 times the annual energy production of the United States and offset 28.78% of current CO2 emissions, as well as reduce global road deaths by 10.8%.
Researchers also identified regions such as eastern China, western Europe and the east coast of the US as the most suitable for the deployment of photovoltaic cells, despite problems related to installation and maintenance costs.