The road to a renewable energy future is getting a whole lot sunnier, as highlighted in this article from Adele Peters of Co.Exist.
One year after a bike path outside Amsterdam was plastered with custom solar panels, it’s generating more power than predicted – and the designers are convinced that it’s proof that networks of solar-covered roads could eventually be a viable energy source.
While typical rooftop solar panels are cheaper to build and can pump out more power, the SolaRoad team argues that pavement could add valuable real estate as roofs start to fill up. In the Netherlands, there’s more available space on roads than all rooftops combined.
“Solar panels on rooftops are a no-brainer and fortunately the application is growing rapidly,” says Sten de Wit from the SolaRoad consortium, adding that some cities are also experimenting with solar panels next to highways. “If we can additionally incorporate solar cells in road pavements, then a large extra area will become available for decentralized solar energy generation without the need for extra space … and just part of the roads which we build and use anyway.”
Though the prototype was pricey, and the team doesn’t yet know what the final cost will be, they’re aiming for it to pay for itself over about 15 years of use. A solar-paved street could ultimately be cheaper than something made of asphalt or concrete.
The pavement could power streetlights, electric cars, or just send power into the local grid.
