The provinces of North Holland, North Brabant and South Holland are joining forces. Together, they want to accelerate the development of energy generation on roads. They are doing this, among other things, by covering two cycle paths with solar panels. In doing so, they want to learn more about this promising technology.
CO2 emissions in the Netherlands must be reduced. Solar bike paths can make an important contribution to this. One advantage of integrating solar panels in the road surface is that it does not take up any extra space. In fact, the cycle path gets a double function. They provide mobility and generate solar energy.
Vijfhuizen and Wagenberg
Solar panels will be installed on two cycle paths. In North Holland, it concerns the cycle path along the N232 near Vijfhuizen. In North Brabant, the cycle path along the N285 near Wagenberg will have solar panels. No bids have been received for a cycle path in South Holland. The bike paths will be about 400 metres long each. They are to generate a minimum of 80,000 kWh per year. BAM Infra is handling the implementation. The work is expected to be completed by mid-2023.
Learning as an objective
The three provinces are pulling together. Previous knowledge will be included in this further development so that they can learn from each other. What does it mean for construction and maintenance? How much energy generation is possible? Can this still relatively expensive technology eventually be used to make a sound business case? Province of South Holland will also evaluate with market parties. For example, they want to investigate why the cycle path did not attract any bidders. The aim is to learn from this for future tenders. The monitoring of the two solar bike paths will take 5 years. Its results will be shared.
Sustainable ambitions
The provinces of North Holland, North Brabant and South Holland are investing in and making space for sustainable energy generation. In doing so, they are contributing to the ambition of the Climate Agreement; to reduce CO2 emissions by 95% by 2050. It is therefore important to develop new ways of sustainable energy generation. The provinces see the further development of solar bike paths as an important step in this.
