SolaRoad opens in the Netherlands

The world’s first solar powered cycle road officially opens today along the N203 at Krommenie, north-west of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Developed by TNO, the Province of North-Holland, Ooms Civiel and Imtech Traffic&Infra, the SolaRoad pilot project is a road surface that acts as a solar panel, converting sunlight into electricity.
November 12, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Construction of the Solar Road
The world’s first solar powered cycle road officially opens today along the N203 at  Krommenie, north-west of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Developed by 7087 TNO, the Province of North-Holland, Ooms Civiel and 769 Imtech Traffic&Infra, the SolaRoad pilot project is a road surface that acts as a solar panel, converting sunlight into electricity.

The 100 metre road consists of prefabricated concrete slabs each 2.5 by 3.5 metres. Crystalline silicon solar cells are installed in one travel direction underneath a one cm thick tempered glass top layer, which has to be translucent to let sunlight pass through, yet also provide a safe, skid-resistant surface. No solar cells are fitted in the opposite direction, which will be used to test various alternative road surfaces during the trial.

During the three-year trial period, various measurements will be taken and tests performed to see how the road behaves in practice, what it is like to cycle over and the amount of energy it produces. Future plans using the solar power generated by the road will be used for practical applications in street lighting, traffic systems, households and, ultimately, electric cars, which would drive on the surface.
Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • European Truck Platooning Challenge winds up at Intertraffic
    March 2, 2016
    As holder of the EU Presidency in 2016, the Netherlands has organised the 2016 European Truck Platooning Challenge and it is no coincidence that it will involve Intertraffic Amsterdam. Truck platooning, where two or more trucks travel in convoy very close to each other, provides many benefits. The first truck does the driving while the ones following are connected by a wireless electronic communications system, like the carriages of a train.
    Read More
  • Moxa provides clear vision for Caldecott Tunnel’s Fourth Bore
    September 15, 2014
    Caldecott Tunnel’s new Fourth Bore is utilising a bespoke high-capacity monitoring and communications network from Moxa. The Caldecott Tunnel connects Contra Costa and Alameda counties in Northern California and traditionally it has suffered severe congestion - especially during peak hours. Opened in 1937 as a twin-bore arrangement, by 1964 the increase in traffic volumes led to a third bore being added. Shortly after the third bore was opened a tidal flow was introduced with the centre bore alternating in
    Read More
  • Autonomous truck platooning moves up a gear with NXP and DAF Trucks
    November 25, 2016
    NXP Semiconductors is setting the pace in truck platooning with full-size commercial vehicles that can run at 80kmph only 11 metres apart, offering up to 11 per cent in fuel savings. The Dutch technology company believes that “there’s no better place than truck platooning to demonstrate the merits of autonomous driving.” Its research team has been working with DAF Trucks to develop leading edge technology that can make driving decisions ‘30 times faster than human reaction time’. NXP says that adapt
    Read More
  • UK to lead the way in testing driverless cars
    July 20, 2015
    The UK government has launched a US$30 million competitive fund for collaborative research and development into driverless vehicles, along with a code of practice for testing. The measures, announced by Business Secretary Sajid Javid and Transport Minister Andrew Jones, will put the UK at the forefront of the intelligent mobility market, expected to be worth US£1.4 trillion by 2025. The government wants bidders to put forward proposals in areas such as safety, reliability, how vehicles can communicat
    Read More

Highlighted Content