December 25th, 2023
Via Interesting Engineering, an article on an innovative Dutch project which uses solar panels transform Dutch cycling paths into green energy corridors:
Aiming to advance a more sustainable future, the Netherlands has debuted cycling paths lined with photovoltaic cells to harness solar energy.
Two of the country’s cycling paths were installed with photovoltaic coating by a construction company named Colas and BAM Royal Group under its Wattway project. “With a surface area of 1,000 m² each, they were commissioned by the provinces of North Brabant and North Holland. This is the first project of this scale in the country,” said a statement by the firm.
The Netherlands, renowned for its expansive cycling infrastructure, stands at the forefront of global cycling networks with an impressive expanse of 21,747 miles (35,000 kilometers) of cycling tracks. This extensive network reflects the nation’s commitment to sustainable transportation and presents a unique opportunity for transformative initiatives concerning harnessing renewable energy.
Practical concept
Wattway introduces a novel solar panel technology with remarkable thinness (mere millimeters) and robustness. These photovoltaic panels adhere seamlessly to surfaces such as roads, bicycle paths, and parking lots, eliminating the need for extensive civil engineering projects. The technology allows electricity generation without encroaching upon agricultural land or disrupting natural landscapes.
Each panel comprises traditional photovoltaic cells that efficiently convert solar energy into electricity. “These extremely fragile cells are coated in a multilayer substrate composed of resins and polymers, sufficiently translucent to let in sunlight and resistant enough to withstand vehicle traffic,” said the company website.
Furthermore, the surface in direct contact with tires is specially treated to provide the same level of grip as conventional road mixes, ensuring functionality and safety in this innovative solar infrastructure.
In the Netherlands, South Holland, North Brabant, and North Holland provinces collaborate on a unified program. At the same time, Utrecht pursues a separate initiative, focusing on pilot projects that integrate solar panels into bicycle paths. The primary objective is to generate sustainable electricity by leveraging existing road space without the necessity for additional land allocation. The intention is to gather tangible and organized feedback, providing essential insights to assess the potential of this technology, according to the firm.
Moreover, the Dutch project aims to potentially contribute to establishing a viable market for solar energy production on bike paths, specifically emphasizing the extensive 35,000 km of cycle paths in the Netherlands, presenting a compelling opportunity for harnessing solar power.
Diverse applications
The technology enables equipment linked to Wattway to achieve energy autonomy, encompassing diverse applications such as charging stations for bicycles or electric scooters, closed-circuit security cameras, connected benches, bus shelters, and dynamic signs.
The firm has rolled out pilot projects to test the technology’s viability for various applications. In Montpellier, France, a CCTV security camera monitors bike path traffic, powered by 12-wattway panels and a corresponding storage system. Meanwhile, a Lidl supermarket in Molt has embraced Wattway innovation by installing 50m² of solar panels in its parking lot. This contributes to reducing the supermarket’s energy expenses and exemplifies Wattway’s capability to generate substantial electricity, according to the firm.
“Energy autonomy, quick installation times, and scalability open up opportunities to power electrical equipment on the roadside in view to provide services to users in zones with little to no access to electricalgrids,” said the company website.
'Black Swans' are highly improbable events that come as a surprise, have major disruptive effects, and that are often rationalized after the fact as if they had been predictable to begin with. In our rapidly warming world, such events are occurring ever more frequently and include wildfires, floods, extreme heat, and drought.
'Green Shoots' is a term used to describe signs of economic recovery or positive data during a downturn. It references a period of growth and recovery, when plants start to show signs of health and life, and, therefore, has been employed as a metaphor for a recovering economy.
It is my hope that Black Swans / Green Shoots will help readers understand both climate-activated risk and opportunity so that you may invest in, advise, or lead organizations in the context of increasing pressures of global urbanization, resource scarcity, and perils relating to climate change. I believe that the tools of business and finance can help individuals, businesses, and global society make informed choices about who and what to protect, and I hope that this blog provides some insight into the policy and private sector tools used to assess investments in resilient reinforcement, response, or recovery.