solar roadways proposal

Tennyson Parkway Solar Bridge Proposal

Eyad Almasri Ryan Paranzino Steven Reese Sudhir Nair


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Table of Contents 3…………………………………………..………………………………………………..………………………….…….Introduction 5…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….Background 6…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..……Proposal 7.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……...…….…….….Plan 8………………….……………………………………………………….……………………………..……………………..……Staffing 9………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…….Budget 10……………………………….……………………………………………………….…………..…Request for Authorization 11………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………...References


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Introduction By the end of the 19th Century, Sakichi Toyoda founded what would become the world’s largest car manufacturing company. In recent years, Toyota has pushed towards more environmentally friendly products, such as the Prius. Toyota is now a forefront leader in reducing carbon emissions and producing low emission automobiles. According to Mark Goodman, “Toyota has a significant financial motive in developing [electric cars]. The simple fact is that we are committed in the long term to developing these technologies which have already proved beneficial for consumers and the planet” (Goodman, 2014). More people are driving hybrids than ever before, because more people care about our environment than ever before. Toyota’s dedication to creating a sustainable automobile proves its dedication to preserving the environment. It now has the opportunity to make a significant impact upon the future of the health of our planet. Currently, a technology is being developed that has the potential to change how the world views infrastructure. Solar panels have already been placed on roofs and other locations in order to provide power. Some are taking this idea even further and proposing that we build our roads out of solar panels. Even as people use these roads to go about their daily lives, the panels will collect solar energy to power homes and businesses. When solar panels are placed on a roof, they are often subject to hazards such as hail and high winds. When placed beneath a road, the very glass used to allow cars to drive over the panels will also protect them from such hazards.

A solar road is comprised of 2’ by 2’ hexagonal panels. Each of these panels has three layers. Beneath these layers is a foundation that the panels will lay on. As seen in Figure 1 to the right, the first layer is the road surface, followed by electronic layers and the base plate layer. The surface layer is made of a high strength custom glass. It has been textured and conditioned so that it will have the same traction as normal road surfaces. It is weatherproof and can handle any heavy load pressed upon it. Beneath the surface layer is the solar panel. It is this layer that collects the sun’s energy to power the system. This is essentially the same as a solar panel you could find in any other location. The third layer contains a microprocessor board that communicates with adjacent sections of the road and controls the flow of electricity from the solar panel. Additionally, this layer contains a small heating element that can be used to warm the glass above and prevent snow and ice accumulation. Other channels can be added to allow for the collection of melted ice, snow, and rainwater (Solar Roadways, 2014).


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Introduction (Continued) Between the third and fourth layers of the road is a small groove. This is used to connect cables to the individual panels in the road and transfer the energy to the main power lines. In the future, this power cable channel can be expanded and used as the channel for main power lines, fiber optic cables to transfer data, and other similar connections. The final layer is the base layer used as a foundation for the rest of the road. In some future construction projects, the existing road can be used as this foundation layer. In this first construction, however, we will need to create a new foundation using cement. Some observers are worried about the price of the construction associated with building such solar roadways. These roads are currently more expensive than alternatives. However, the cost of solar panels has decreased significantly over the past few years, and once production of solar roads begins on a larger scale, costs would decrease further still. Also, the cost of traditional road surfaces is increasing with time. As visible in Figure 2 to the right, over the past 10 years the cost of asphalt has approximately doubled (Market Intelligence, 2012). Since asphalt is a petroleum-‐based product, it is projected that its cost will only continue to increase with time. Some projections indicate that it could increase by another 50% over the next five years (Market Intelligence, 2012). Additionally, solar roads produce sufficient electricity to pay for themselves over their lifetime. Toyota clearly views the environment as a precious resource. It is well known that the use of fossil fuels such as coal to create electricity causes large emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases cause the sun’s rays to become trapped in the atmosphere. This process, known as the greenhouse effect, is currently causing significant climate change. Furthermore, coal power plants create smog, which is highly hazardous. It is our responsibility as members of the human race to protect our planet from such toxins. Solar roads provide the opportunity to significantly decrease our reliance on fossil fuels.


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Background Solar roads are an intelligent, decentralized, futuristic solution that can greatly benefit the whole world. According to Green Energy, “The objective of the solar roadways is to be able to tap and store as much energy as possible to be used in homes and commercial places. In the heart of this project are the solar panels that collect this solar energy” (Green Energy, 2014). One advantage of this project is that it is will enable the United States to cut its greenhouse emissions by more than half. This is the core functional value that has been placed upon the solar roadways project. Toyota will be the first company to participate in the installation of solar roadways. This will allow us to promote company goodwill and gain a significant marketing advantage over other car manufacturers. The Solar Roadways campaign seeks to develop a modular paving system to transform every roadway, parking lot, landing strip, bike path, driveway and playground into solar panels. A solar grid like this would generate “three times more [clean power] than is needed [in the United States] and among other things cut carbon emissions by 75 percent” (Tapscott, 2014, p1). Solar roadways are roads made out of structurally engineered panels that would act as a massive energy generator that could feed the grid during daytime. According to Scott Brusaw, the founder of Solar Roadways, “solar road panels could theoretically be laid anywhere -‐ from motorways and parking lots to pavements and playgrounds.” He believes that such a prospect could transform the existing motorway infrastructure, prevent accidents, and ultimately help save the planet from an environmental disaster” (Kermeliotis, 2014). There are a few potential concerns associated with solar roads. Some critics worry that a glass surface would not be strong enough to use as a road. In actuality, glass is stronger than both asphalt and concrete (Solar Roadways, 2014). The glass used for the construction of solar roads is tempered and custom made for this purpose. It has been tested to be capable of supporting significantly more than an army tank. Other critics worry about security, as the solar panels from the road could make tempting targets. This concern can also be addressed. Each of the panels contains a microprocessor. Even if the panel is removed, it will be capable of communicating wirelessly with the other panels from the road. One piece of information that it transfers is its current location. Anyone that stole a solar panel would have stolen a tracking system that would lead authorities right to them (Solar Roadways, 2014).


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Proposal In order to produce electricity while protecting the atmosphere of our planet, we will replace the surfaces of a bridge on the intersection of Tennyson Parkway and the Dallas North Tollway. In meeting this goal, we plan to partner with Solar Roadways. They will manufacture the solar panels required for the bridge and will train the employees of Absolute Construction, which is the company that will install the new road. This partnership will allow us to create the first section of solar road surface used as a portion of a major roadway. The intersection of Tennyson Parkway and the Dallas North Tollway was chosen for numerous reasons. It is quite near the new headquarters of Toyota, allowing for greater visibility and a stronger association with the company. Ice is relatively rare in North Texas, but bridges are always the first places that frost will accumulate. Because solar roadways are capable of melting ice, it was also important to install this first system on such a bridge, where this feature will be of greatest use. This area is also scheduled for resurfacing by the City of Plano in 2018, which means that additional funds will be available from them to assist with the cost of replacement. Furthermore, the project will significantly improve the road surface (City of Plano, 2014). Finally, it is a small enough area to be economically feasible, and a large enough one to be effective as a prototype for future road projects. While this section of solar road will not produce enough electricity to make a serious impact upon the output of greenhouse gases in the Dallas area, this investment would come at a critical time for the development of solar roadways as a whole. By helping Solar Roadways create this first road, we will allow them to streamline their production process and significantly decrease future costs. We anticipate that after the completion of this project, Solar Roadways will be capable of making more road surfaces like the one we propose at Tennyson Parkway without additional assistance. The goal of this project is to help Solar Roadways make the solar road an economically feasible project so it will eventually be able to cover the majority of road surface in the United States. There are many benefits of such a solar road system. First, it would produce more than sufficient electricity to power the United States (Tapscott, 2014). This could eventually eliminate the need for coal and nuclear power plants altogether. Solar roads require “no large-‐scale mining or drilling operations,” and “produces none of the carbon, methane or particulate emissions that fossil fuels emit” (Wright, 2013, p4). As such, the contributions of the United States to global climate change could be significantly mitigated, air quality could be improved, and national reliance on fossil fuels could be reduced. These environmental benefits will allow Toyota to accurately depict itself as a company highly committed to benefiting the environment. This would provide serious advertising opportunities that could greatly increase sales and publicity.


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Plan We intend to begin construction work for this project in May 2018 as originally scheduled by the City of Plano. This will allow Solar Roadways time to complete all final testing needed for their system to be ready for implementation. The road surface we are planning to replace is approximately 25,000 square feet. This will take us 8 weeks to complete from the first work on site to the completion of the bridge. We will begin construction on the northern U-‐turn lane and work our way south. We will close only one lane at a time, spending five days to complete each lane. The intersections themselves are slightly more difficult, and will require separate time. Each north-‐south lane running through the intersection will be given one additional day of work. As visible in Figure 3 to the right, there are a total of ten lanes running east-‐west on Tennyson Parkway including the two U-‐turn lanes, and six north-‐south lanes. This work will total 8 weeks, or precisely 56 days. We will also need to run electrical wires from within the road structure to the main power lines nearby. For this purpose we will enlist the aid of Vault Energy Solutions, an electric company located on Tennyson Parkway. The electrical work can be done while completing the rest of the construction. Additionally, at the beginning of the project we will host a groundbreaking event on location in order to increase the publicity of both the project and Toyota. This will take place on May 7, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Present will be key members of Toyota such as Akio Toyoda, our CEO, the founder of Solar Roadways, Scott Brusaw, members of the Chamber of Commerce, and the mayor of the City of Plano. Figure 4: Timeline of solar road construction

Groundbreaking

• May 7, 2018

Begin Construchon

• May 8, 2018

Eastbound Lanes Complete

• June 1, 2018

Westbound Lanes Complete

• June 26, 2018

Project Complete

• July 2, 2018


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Staffing Donna Reed will be the Toyota manager who will oversee the entire project. Her experience managing full lifecycle projects will benefit her greatly in this capacity. Absolute Construction will be responsible for the staffing of construction workers for the Tennyson Parkway Bridge. Solar Roadways will train them on how to set up the solar panels with electrical connections. We will have a civil and electrical engineer from Solar Roadways on site for the entire project to help plan and complete the work. Vault Energy Solutions will manage the electric wiring. Solar Roadways will accommodate all training necessary for the project at no additional cost. We plan to have two police officers from Plano Police Department for safety and traffic management during construction. During the groundbreaking event, Toyota will employ one supervisor, four individuals responsible for snacks and beverages, two to set up and coordinate the event, one to run the sound system, one to hand out nametags, and one to call and track RSVPs. All Toyota employees working the groundbreaking event will be paid in 3 vacation days. Two photographers will be at the event for publicity. Two members of the Plano Police Department will provide security for the groundbreaking event. Hardhats, shovels, sound system, projector, and the nametags will all be provided for free by Absolute Construction and Toyota. After completion of the groundbreaking event, we will hold a press conference, where two Toyota representatives will speak about the finances and benefits of the project. The mayor of Plano and the founder of Solar Roadways, Scott Brusaw, will also speak about the impacts of the project.


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City of Plano Chamber of Commerce Toyota

23.9%

38.0%

38.0%

Budget Cost Per Unit Quantity Total

Groun

dbreak-‐

ing Even

t Tent $ 2,488 1 $ 2,488 Photographer $ 500 2 $ 1,000 Snacks & Beverages (per person) $ 25 40 $ 1,000 Subtotal

$4,488

Cost Per Unit Quantity Total

Materials Solar Panels $ 278.40 6250 $ 1,740,000

Wires (yds.) $ -‐ 2088 $ -‐

Subtotal

$ 1,740,000

Cost of Labor Square Feet Total

Labo

r Construction $ 8 25,000 $ 200,000 Wiring $ 6 25,000 $ 150,000 Subtotal

$ 350,000

Total

Contrib

utors City of Plano

$ (500,000)

Chamber of Commerce

$ (795,000) Toyota

$ (795,000)

Subtotal

$ (2,090,000)

Price Total

Returns

Per Year Electricity1 ($0.117/kwh) $ 301,022 $ 301,022

Advertisement (5 ads per mo.) $ 7,000 $ 420,000 Subtotal

$ 721,022

1Average of 7.8 hours of peak daylight per day (7.8hours/day x 365days/year = 2850hrs/year) 2850hrs/yr x 25,000sq.ft x 36.11w/hr x 0.000117$/wh = $301,022/year Figure 5: Percentage of investment Toyota will have a return from electricity revenue of $114,388 per year for its 38% share of the project plus $420,000 for the advertisement revenue. We will also make use of this road in advertising campaigns. This will increase sales revenue, but estimating a precise value is impossible. The groundbreaking event costs will be covered by Toyota. This will bring Toyota’s total contribution to $799,488.

Percentage of Investment

City of Plano Chamber of Commerce Toyota

23.9% 38.0%

38.0%


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Authorization Request Toyota is one of the largest firms fighting for a greener, more sustainable way of living in our world today. Its core values and continued efforts have made extensive progress in reaching this goal. By helping Solar Roadways create this first road, we help start a revolution in how the world uses basic infrastructure. The benefits of Solar Roadways are profound to say the least, and it only seems fitting that Toyota is the company catalyzing this great step forward. Below is the request for authorizing this truly amazing project; with your approval the most powerful part of the green revolution begins. Official Approval of Tennyson Parkway Solar Bridge ____________________________ ________ Akio Toyoda, CEO of Toyota Date ____________________________ ________ Chris Balliger, CFO of Toyota Date


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References City of Plano. (2014, June 28). Council agendas. Retrieved July 20, 2014 from

http://planotx.org/City_Hall/agendas/CouncilAgendas/AgendaItems/Forms/AllItems.aspx Clean Green Renewable Energy. (2014, January 1). Futuristic Benefits of Solar Roadways. Retrieved

from http://cleangreenenergyzone.com/futuristic-‐benefits-‐of-‐solar-‐roadways/

Current Results. (2014). Average Annual Sunshine in American Cities. Retrieved from http://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-‐annual-‐sunshine-‐by-‐city.php

Economagic.com: Economic Time Series Page. (2014, March). Average Price: Dallas-‐Fort Worth, TX;

Electricity per KWH; NSA. Retrieved from http://www.economagic.com/em-‐cgi/data.exe/blsap/APUA31672610

Goodman, M. (2014). Thank Toyota For Continuing Commitment to Environmentally Friendly Cars.

Retrieved from http://forcechange.com/34931/thank-‐toyota-‐for-‐their-‐continuing-‐commitment-‐to-‐environmentally-‐friendly-‐cars/

Kermeliotis, T. (2014, May 12). Solar-‐powered roads: Coming to a highway near you? CNN Tech. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/12/tech/solar-‐powered-‐roads-‐coming-‐highway/

Kobliski, K. (2006, January 17). Outdoor Billboard Advertising. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/83100 Solar Roadways. (2014). Frequently asked questions. Complex Cortex Designs. Retrieved July 21, 2014

from http://www.solarroadways.com/faq.shtml Tapscott, D. (2014, June 16). The Solar Roadways Campaign: What Does It Mean for the Fight Against

Climate Change?. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/don-‐tapscott/solar-‐roadways-‐climate-‐change_b_5499173.html

The simple introduction of the Toyota Motor Corporation. (2011, August 11). Retrieved from

http://www.aierfu.cc/en/NewscenterDetails.asp?newsid=93

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