Building a bridge to renewable energy
| francesco colarossi (italy), giovanna saracino (italy), luisa saracino (italy) |
 |
The hybrid system proposed (combining solar and wind power) allows for a continuous production of Energy. The project is based on the idea of utilizing the space between the pillars of the existing viaducts to house a system of wind-powered turbines which will be integrated into the structure. This ensures contained land use and therefore a reduced impact on both landscape and environment in addition to re-designing the visual profile of the viaduct.
The solar park proposed in the competition will stretch the full length of the inner carriageway, with the outer carriageway remaining reserved for the transit of vehicles. |
francesco colarossi (italy), giovanna saracino (italy), luisa saracino (italy) |
The solar park is conceived as a green "promenade", along which there alternate panoramic viewing points and entirely self-sufficient solar greenhouses. As with city farms, visitors to the park will be able to stop and buy the local produce grow in these greenhouses.
The asphalt will be substituted with a technological road surface of a kind already in use in the USA ("solar roadways"). The road surface itself will, therefore, collect energy as a part of a power-generating system composed of a dense grid of solar cells coated with a transparent ad highly resistant form of plastic.
The entire system is capable of producing around 40 million kWh per annum – enough energy to provide power for approximately 15.000 families.
Building a bridge to renewable energy
The Solar Wind bridge concept combines solar cells and wind turbines to generate power for around 115,000 homes
The brainchild of Italian designers Francesco Colarossi, Giovanna Saracino and Luisa Saracino, the Solar Wind concept was designed for the Solar Park Works – Solar Highway competition that asked entrants to modernize sections of a decommissioned elevated highway stretching between Bagnera and Scilla in Italy.
The road surface would replace traditional asphalt with 20 km (12.4 miles) of "solar roadways" consisting of a dense grid of solar cells coated with a transparent and durable plastic coating providing 11.2 million kWh per year. The designers say this system, combined with the 26 wind turbines integrated underneath the bridge generating 36 million kWh per year, would provide enough electricity to power approximately 15,000 homes.
In addition to the "solar roadways," the top surface of the bridge would also include a "green promenade" along its length comprising solar greenhouses for growing local produce. Drivers would be able to stop along the bridge to buy some fresh fruit and veggies while enjoying panoramic bridge views (an idea which strikes us as "a bridge too far" for this concept).
The Solar Wind entry was awarded second prize in the Solar Park Works – Solar Highway competition and the design clearly has merit. The integration of wind turbines into the underside of high altitude bridge exposed to constant strong winds seems like a particularly good idea – given that this could be achieved from a structural engineering point of view. Let's hope someone will see the concept and run with it.
|
تعليقات
إرسال تعليق