The Dutch launch solar-powered bike path

Dutch Finance Minister Henk Kamp opened the first 70-metres of solar-powered bike path called SolaRoad Wednesday in Krommenie, The Netherlands, as part of the Smart Highway project that endeavours to create a sustainable mobility system.

SolaRoad consists of interlocked modules, each made of rows of crystaline silicon solar cells set in concrete and covered with a layer of translucent tempered glass that is rough enough to ride on. Kemp said, “This is not economically feasible, but we will make it economically feasible.”

Sten de Wit of engineering company TNO said that each square metre of the road surface can generate 50-70 kilowatt hours of energy per year. He claims that the panel surface is suitable for up to a fifth of Dutch roads and can be used to power traffic lights and electric cars. The initial 70-metre strip can power two homes.

Though the cost is initially high, de Wit believes that if the easily connected SolaRoad is laid down by the kilometre on existing paths, “the economies of scale will push installation costs way down proportionately.” Unlike solar farms, SolaRoads would be close population centres, and they wouldn’t take up land that could be used for something else if they are integrated with The Netherlands’ 35,000-km of existing bike paths.

The lengthening test strip in Krommenie near Amsterdam is scheduled to run for three years at a cost of $3.7 million.