Innowattech Ltd., which is developing technology to generate electricity from road traffic, will supply its technology for lighting road signs on the Venice-Trieste autostrada in Italy. This is the first commercial project for the company, which has an R&D center at Technion Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa.
Innowattech's technology converts mechanical energy from vehicular or rail traffic into electricity.
Innowattech is working with Italian infrastructure and civil engineering contractor Impregilo SpA (BIT: IPG), which is upgrading the Venice-Trieste highway at an investment of €225 million. Work began in 2010 and is due to be completed in 2013. The project involves widening the road to three lanes in each direction and building 18.5 kilometers of bridges and overpasses.
Innowattech CEO Dr. Lucy Edery-Azulay said, "Drivers will read traffic reports on electronic signs, which will be powered by electricity from the drivers' own vehicles."
Innowattech's generators will be placed beneath the autostrada's upper asphalt layer.
Edery-Azulay added that, by the end of June, the company would sign more agreements with various companies around the world that are interested in its technology.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 12, 2010
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