Pilot project allows cycle path to generate energy with integrated solar panels

The first element of the SolaRoad has been installed in Krommenie, Noord-Holland, a futuristic road surface for bicycle paths that should generate energy thanks to integrated solar panels. The test track will be 100 meters long.

SolaRoad is an initiative of TNO, the Province of North Holland, Imtech Traffic&Infra and Ooms Civiel. The aim of the pilot is to investigate whether the road surface can be used efficiently by integrating solar cells. Work has been going on on the SolaRoad since 2009 and the first element of the test track has now been installed.

A concrete module measures 2.5×3.5 meters and contains a 1cm thick, translucent top layer of toughened safety glass. Underneath are crystalline silicon solar cells. The top layer has been made non-slip to make it safe for cyclists, but the material is also said to repel dirt, so that the solar cells continue to receive sufficient sunlight.

After placing the modules over a distance of one hundred meters, it is examined, among other things, whether the SolaRoad is sufficiently safe for traffic and what efficiency is achieved in practice. The researchers expect to generate enough electricity for three to four households. According to the researchers, the generated electricity can be used for street lighting and dynamic road signalling. A possible future application is the charging of electric cars. Consideration is also being given to the use of thin-film solar cells instead of standard silicon solar cells.