Innovation in Sustainable Mobility
If it is surprising enough the fact that nowadays, Netherlands have 32 thousand miles of bike paths, knowing that now have the first solar bike path in the world is something really fascinating. This project is named “SolaRoad” and is one of the most innovative ones on their type, able to light a house.
Do you want to know more? Well, oil and lube your bike chain because there we go.
SolaRoad, the first solar bike path
In 2014, Netherlands inaugurated the SolaRoad, a bike way made of special materials able to absorb sun energy and provide it to other sources.
Receiving the title of the first solar bike way at global level. It was necessary to use special materials for their construction to allow cyclist circulation without damaging solar panels.
And these panels aren’t at a side or over the bike way, but are the bike way itself. Meaning, cyclists ride on them.
Soraya Rosa Saenz spokesperson of SolaRoad, mentioned that “bike path is made of concrete modules covered by solar cells and over these exist a thin layer of tempered glass.” In this way, is possible for cyclists to ride on path without damaging it and without any inconvenience for them.
In fact, Sten de Wit, spokesperson of the project said that a lot of users that transit on it, don’t notice the difference between this path and others. “This is exactly what we want to achieve: paths that comply with original functions, while generate solar energy”, said de Wit.
How resistant it is?
We already know what you’re thinking, “that sounds fragile, maybe won’t withstand so much”, we used to believe that. However, this solar bike path is more resistant than it looks.
Saenz mentioned that technology is built with the SolaRoad that allow to withstand up to 12 tons, equivalent to the weight of a vehicle. Of course this doesn’t mean these motor vehicles can transit on it, but can park for a really short time.
As a matter of fact, one of the main ideas is electric vehicles can recharge their battery in these bike paths. Even though this innovative bike way doesn’t resist the demands of traffic in a normal highway, it is expected the creation of solar bike lanes for electric buses, Saenz said.
Ok, very resistant but, how much energy?
Even though this bike lane was inaugurated in 2014 with a 229 ft track in Krommenie, nearby Amsterdam, the results were shocking a year and a half later when this was finally finished.
After the first year, we have registered almost 10.000 kilowatt per hour of electricity production with 229 ft of bike way, informed De Wit, who accepted worked better than they though.
“We thought this technology is pretty promising and powerful enough to supply the energy of approximately three Dutch homes. In addition, we’ve proved that the route works pretty well to technical level.”
Solar bike way, the first of many
Even though this was the first solar bike way in the world, there are so many that use renewable energies, even if their functioning is different.
For example, the Starpath in Christ’s Pieces Park of Cambridge. It is located in the middle of a park with ability to shine during night. This is because during day, absorb UV rays and reflect them during night with different lighting levels.
Other project is the SolaRoadways that absorbs sun energy and transforms it into heat. Due that, is thought in zones or cities where snows. In this way, solar panels help to melt snow.
Other of the most beautiful ones is placed in Lidzbark Warminsky, Poland. As the one in Cambridge, shines at night thanks to synthetic material which is built with. The light that provides on the 328 ft length, can last 10 hours at night thanks during day absorb the greater quantity of sunlight.
Netherlands at the forefront of solar technology for cyclists
In addition to SolaRoad, by the end of 2023 it was announced that Wattway, part of the Colas Group and the Dutch construction giant BAM Royal Group, aims to transform the bike way net in Netherlands into solar energy generators.
Nowadays, have been installed 2 of them in North Holland and North Brabant.
The project is so ambitious that Colas Group estimations, preview that a solar bike way of 1 kilometer could generate up to 160 MWh of electricity per year. This would be suitable to supply sustainably to 100 homes.
We’ve finished with today’s ride. If you have some energy left, we invite you to explore the best bike ways of the world.
