As part of a major investment in renewable energy, the French government is to begin a project to lay 1,000km of solar roadways over the next five years. Based on logic alone, the concept of solar roadways makes complete sense given that roads take up a significant amount of land across a country, but have only one use. 8pc of France’s energy needsAccording to Global Construction Review, the decision is being instigated by France’s minister of ecology and energy, Ségolène Royal, who wants to lay 1,000km of roads embedded with photovoltaic strips. It’s envisioned that the 7mm long strips – called Wattway cells – will be glued to the existing roadways based on technology that is already available, with each strip generating enough energy to power one household. Despite being made from thin polycrystalline silicon, the strips would be able to withstand all road vehicles without causing them to slip.