System and method for creating a networked infrastructure distribution platform of small wind energy gathering devices

Abstract

A roadway system for energy generation and distribution is presented. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the roadway system comprises a plurality of ground-based wind energy generating devices, one or more roads, and a roadway system electricity grid. The roadway system may additionally include, for example, a plurality of ground-based solar energy generating devices, one or more vehicle-based solar energy generating devices and one or more vehicle-based wind energy generating devices. The energy generating devices are connected to the roadway system electricity grid and substantially all of the ground-based wind energy generating devices are positioned on part of one of the roads or near to one or more of the roads to thereby allow energy generation from wind created from passing vehicles in addition to energy generation from atmospheric wind.

1 . A wind energy generating device comprising one or more piezoelectric nanowires and a sheet with circuitry, wherein the nanowires are attached, independently, with one end to the sheet, positioned on the sheet in a substantially perpendicular position in the absence of wind, flexible to allow mechanical bending to a bent position in response to wind acting on them, and electrically connected to the circuitry to allow transfer of electrical energy generated by the one or more nanowires upon returning from the bent position to the substantially perpendicular position. 
     
     
         2 . A method for generating and distributing energy, comprising:
 generating energy from wind created from passing vehicles using a plurality of ground-based wind energy generation devices, the ground-based wind energy generating devices being electrically connected to a roadway system electricity grid and positioned along roads;   storing energy generated by the ground-based wind energy generating devices in a ground-based energy storage system;   inverting energy stored in the ground-based energy storage system;   distributing energy stored in the ground-based energy storage system to a service station and refilling an substantially empty vehicle-based energy storage systems at the service station; and   exchanging a substantially empty vehicle-based energy storage system of a vehicle with the vehicle-based energy storage system that has been refilled at the service station.   
     
     
         3 . A method for generating and distributing energy, comprising:
 generating energy using a plurality of ground-based solar energy generation devices, the solar energy generating devices being installed along a roadway in a contiguous or semi-contiguous configuration and electrically connected through a roadway system electricity grid;   transferring the generated energy via wired connection to a battery;   inverting the energy stored in the battery with an inverter to condition energy transmission to a vehicle;   transferring the energy from the inverter to the vehicle; and   metering the energy that is transferred to the vehicle with an electricity meter.