A $3.74 million dollar project, officially opening on November 12, a 230 foot bike lane near Amsterdam, Netherlands has been constructed with solar panels, the first of its kind. With panels built using square concrete modules fitted with solar cells and covered with tempered glass, although sounding delicate, can handle the weight of a truck.
The TNO (The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research) has planned to elongate the bike path another 328 feet by 2016, and by then the path should be able to generate enough power to light three houses. With the solar power that could be potentially used for anything, the bike path is going to be monitored on the amount of energy generated and how it is like to bike on the path, especially with up to 2,0000 daily riders.
I found this article interesting since I believe solar energy is the most efficient way to generate energy.
Through the use of the worlds most powerful heat source, the sun, solar energy is sure to provide a sufficient amount of energy to provide for parts of our world.
Starting on a small scale such as bike paths, we can slowly male driveways, sidewalks, roads, and eventually highways!
link to article: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2014/11/05/worlds-first-solar-bike-path-netherlands/
Although I find this article to be delightful, I will have to disagree with the fact that currently solar energy is not an efficient way of getting power. The reason being that the amount of energy put into building solar panels is less than the amount of energy the panels produce. In the future, solar panels may be an efficient and useful form of technology and it would be great but as of now, it is clearly not.
ReplyDeleteI actually believe that nuclear energy would be better. Although many inefficiencies stop the vast production of energy, certain new systems are being tested world wide to lower that inefficiency. If this is possible, then great amounts of energy can be made easily with less nuclear waste, and other waste in general. Solar panels can help cut down of burning fossil fuels, however they are, as of now, extremely expensive, inefficient and a particular hassle to repair and replace. Not only that, but with no way to store useful way to store the energy (believe it or not, but batteries aren't as amazing as you think at such large scales), you are "left in the dark" at night, or during storms.
ReplyDeleteAs stated in the article above, I would like to say that I almost fully agree with the writer saying that we can slowly turn roads, streets, and highways into the energy efficient materials, such as solar panels. But the question is, does America have enough money to keep contributing more and more, if a 230 foot bike path cost 3.74 million dollars? I believe that though this is a very energy efficient decision, and will do the Earth good, it is too expensive to actually be put through.
ReplyDeleteThis article is interesting, however I'm not quite sure of the reason of having a "solar bike path". Why construct a bike path made out of solar panels, when you could just put solar panels somewhere else (such as on rooftops)? What is the purpose of having people ride their bikes upon solar panels? Also, the amount of resources and time going into building this path seems to outweigh the benefits of it.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you Kevin! Why build a bike path out of solar panels? You waste money on concrete as well. They should also make it more efficient because I don't think countries could afford to build a 230 ft solar-bike path to light up only 3 houses?! Although the concept is so nice, its costs way more than any country could afford.
DeleteBut nice one Trisha! The concept is outstanding, only needs efficiency and cost-cutting.
Although this is very interesting, and while it does raise awareness to global issues, why create a bike path out of solar panels. Would it not be more convenient to put the panels on the houses themselves? I also do not understand why bike energy would need to be monitored. What I'm trying to say is, what is the point of building this in the first place. I do agree with you that solar panels are a highly effective way to create the energy we need. This will make people aware and this is a subject I will look further in to.
ReplyDeleteI think this a great attempt to incorporate solar panels and clean energy into everyday life, but i agree with Miriam i think these solar panels can be put to better use and might be needed with perhaps places that use massive amount of energy. Maybe when these solar panels can be used for making roads they will make a bigger impact.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know that one of the roads have been totally under solar power. This is the most efficient and important form of energy and an energy without which one cannot survive. But the question is where from will we get resources to make such roads and will people give their consent to transform all roads into solar powered ones?
ReplyDelete