The Dutch are riding their bikes on two new solar cycle paths

[Think. Again.]

Michelle Lewis | Dec 18 2023 - 10:51 am PT
Full Article: https://electrek.co/2023/12/18/dutch-riding-bikes-solar-cycle-paths/

Two solar cycle paths came online in the Netherlands, and they’re the country’s first to have 1,000 square meters (10,764 square feet) of solar surface area each.



Colas Group company Wattway and Dutch construction company BAM Royal Group installed the solar cycle paths in the North Holland and North Brabant provinces. Wattway makes solar road surfaces that produce clean electricity while bearing vehicle traffic.

Wattway, which claims to be the world’s first solar road surfacing company, has been running around 40 trial sites in multiple countries since its founding in 2015. As a result, it’s been making improvements to its solar roads.

The Dutch installations have increased power – 148 Wp/m² compared to older paths with 119 Wp/m² – and the provinces hope to produce “160 MWh/year of renewable energy in its first year, helping to supply the Dutch grid.” The sites will be monitored and maintained for five years.

-snip-



The solar cells are coated in a multilayer substrate composed of resins and polymers. They’re translucent enough to let in sunlight and resistant enough to withstand bike traffic. The solar panel surfaces aren’t like smooth rooftop panels – they’re treated so that they provide the same grip as conventional road mixes.

[2naSalit]

1. K&R

[liberalla]

2. How cool! I have some friends who will really enjoy this!

Thank you!

[PatrickforB]

3. This is magnificent! What an amazing thing.

We must wonder when we will begin doing things like this in the US.

[Think. Again.]

4. As soon as we...

...get out from under the political forces of the fossil fuel industry.

[Jean Genie]

5. Wonderful!

I LOVE the Dutch! They are so innovative, creative, and smart. Well, except for their new PM, Geert What's His Name. How did that happen?!
Best vacation of my life was a home exchange in Amsterdam for a month. Wish it could have been a year!

[Wild blueberry]

6. Smart and creative!

Thank you.

[RocRizzo55]

7. Another side of this from an Electric Engineer

Dave Jones in Australia has done a few of these videos.
Here's the latest:

TL;DR: Solar roads do not generate as much power as stated, and are prone to wearing out/breaking due to the degradation of the road surface and panels. He has done extensive research on this.
Twice the output of energy could be gotten if these solar panels were put ABOVE the roadway. This has been going on for years now.

[Think. Again.]

8. Yes...

...the article addresses that lightly, apparently this is part of a larger trial project;

"Wattway, which claims to be the world’s first solar road surfacing company, has been running around 40 trial sites in multiple countries since its founding in 2015. As a result, it’s been making improvements to its solar roads."

Of course, as with any new technology, the trial and error will hopefully lead to improvements.

[RocRizzo55]

9. Read the replies to the original article.

This is mostly error. Rooftop solar is much more efficient.

[Think. Again.]

10. We're going to need...

...all we can get.

[mopinko]

11. yeah, this makes no sense to me.

i know the netherlands is a small place, but they cant b SOOOO cramped for space they need to do this.
suspect they cd build a canopy over the trails for less money, and to better effect.

[Think. Again.]

12. Perhaps they are hoping...

...to trial new ideas of creating electricity without disrupting any more spaces than needed.

[mopinko]

13. yeah, i guess.

i remember reading about roads that used the compression of the cars to make electricity. that makes sense.
that’s a big investment for a pretty small return even if it works. i’m assuming they arent even that efficient w all that coating.

[Think. Again.]

14. We'll need to find...

..a LOT of new ways to make electricity if we hope to keep the society we have that needs that electricity.

[mopinko]

15. yeahbut

we need to keep an eye on the cradle to grave costs. there’s enough criticism on that score already.

[Think. Again.]

16. Absolutely...

...technology reasearch and development must always factor in the financial aspects.

[RocRizzo55]

17. Exactly, which

Is why putting them in roads is not a good idea. Better OVER the roads. Not only would they suffer less damage from bikes riding over them, but they would be much easier to install and maintain. They could also provide shade from the sun, and protection from the rain. (It rains here in the Netherlands a lot)

[mopinko]

19. yeah.

y’all got parking lots, right? put them there.

[RocRizzo55]

20. Many parking lots

Are underground, or inside buildings. so not really as good as they may seem, though bicycle parking areas are outdoors.

[RocRizzo55]

18. Yes, also

Easier to maintain and replace than getting run over constantly