The French ministry of Ecology and technology has announced that it plans to cover 1,000 km of roads with solar panels , which could generate power for up to five million , or 8 % , of the country 's population . The photovoltaic cells are coated like tiles in a thin silicon layer that is applied directly to the road which will have the same amount of traction as asphalt and be strong enough to support fully - loaded lorries . Testing of the new road surface is expected to begin in the spring ; the installation across the network of roads will take five years .
The French Minister of Ecology and Energy has announced that it plans to cover 1,000km of roads with solar panels, which could generate power for up to five million, or 8%, of the country's population. The photovoltaic cells are arranged like tiles in a polycrystalline silicon layer that is applied directly to the road which will have the same amount of traction as asphalt and be strong enough to support fully-loaded lorries. Testing of the new road surface is expected to begin in the spring; the installation across the network of roads will take five years.