First Solar Powered Road in the Netherlands

What’s reported as being the first solar powered bike path will be officially opened November 12th in Krommanie, a small town north west of Amsterdam. Bikers will be able to get on the road and hop off by pedaling. The pavement currently stretches 230 feet although when finished, will expand to 328 feet. “Soaroad” is the invention of a collaboration between “a private sector of the government” and Academia. Here’s how it works.

“It’s the pilot road of just 100m, consists of concrete modules each of 2.5 x 3.5 m. Solar cells are fitted in one traveling direction underneath a tempered glass top layer which is approximately 1 cm thick. There are no solar cells on the other side of the road and this is used to test various top players. In time, the solar power from the road will be used for practical applications and street lighting, traffic systems, electric cars (what you drive on the surface) and households.”

One drawback of this progressive transport is it’s expenses. The cost of it is expected to reach 3.7 million. As technology advances these problems might dissipate reports the BBC:

Dr. Sten de Wit from SolaRoad, the consortium behind the project, envisages that solar roads could eventually be used to power the electric vehicles that use them.

“‘Electric vehicles are on the rise, but are not really a substitute until the electricity they use is generated in a sustainable way. Roads can generate power right where it is needed. “Sensors gathering information about traffic circulation can help improve traffic management, or even allow automatic vehicle guidance.”

 

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