Solar Cycle Path

[Galant]

Article - Official Website

"A year ago, in November 2014, a consortium of companies and organisations in The Netherlands constructed a ‘solar cycle path’ called SolaRoad in Krommenie, in the province of North Holland."

"The prototype SolaRoad was constructed from 2.5 by 3.5 meter prefabricated slabs with a 1 cm translucent surface made of tempered glass. Crystalline silicon solar cells were layered beneath the glass. This is potentially very tricky, since the surface has to be translucent in order to admit light but it also has to remain as dirt-free as possible while also being non-slippery and skid resistant. For this reason, a skid-resistant coating was applied to the glass after having first been extensively tested in a laboratory. "

"In May this year, the consortium announced that the energy generated by the SolaRoad had exceeded initial expectations.... Indeed, the target of 70 kWh has been reached this year. According to Sten de Wit, a typical Dutch house could be powered by around 50 square meters of roadway. 70 kWh is enough to power three such houses. Although the current pilot project is a cycle path, car’s might also use it occasionally, given that the consortium want to keep on developing the project with a view to replicating the US Solar Roadways project, which believes that such a network could one day supply enough power for the entire United States."

"The SolaRoad cycle path cost $3.75 million for a stretch of path only 230 feet long. Nevertheless, in common with those other technologies, the cost will come down over time, particularly given that the surface itself generates energy and will therefore pay for itself over time. The consortium believes, given the recent results, that this will probably be around 15 years at most. As this approach begins to increase in popularity among local authorities and transport organisations around the world, constructing a solar roadway may even become cheaper than building a conventional roadway."