Strukton Civiel West chose SPIE as a partner for the development of an innovative 330-metre solar cycling path near Utrecht, the Netherlands, known as the SolaRoad. Using an already existing cycling path, the client wanted to create solar power without having an impact on the existing landscape.
SPIE designed and installed the electrical connections for the cycling path, and advised the client during the design, production and installation of the concrete slabs that contain the solar panels, which are covered in a non-skid layer of glass beads. Each panel has its own microinverter connected to the cloud that permits the client to monitor the performance and measure yield. With a total capacity of 178.5-kWp, the cycle path can provide an energy supply equivalent to the needs of 40 households.
