In 2016, France became the envy of countries racing for a renewable future when it turned a one-kilometer stretch of a roadway into the worldâs first solar road. After less than three years in operation, the project has turned out to be an absolute disaster, reports French newspaper Le Monde.
The road surface has deteriorated beyond recognition, according to the paper. The photovoltaic panels that made up the 2,800 square meter of road surface have started peeling off the road and cracking.
The worldâs first solar road project was a colossal failure right from the start. According to Daily Caller, seventy-five percent of panels were broken before even being installed back in 2016. When panels become loose or break, they are simply discarded.
ChambĂ©ry (France) â The sun trip race © Didier Gourbin
The road also never reached the estimated 790 kilowatt-hours a day efficiency because of rotting leaves, thunderstorms, shade, dirt and the weight of tractors that used the rural road in France.
To make matters worse, thunderstorms also blew its circuits.
The stretch of the road in Tourouvre-au-Perch, Normandy, France was meant to produce about 150,000 kWh a year, which is enough to provide light to up to 5,000 people, every day. Instead, it made less than 80,000 in 2018, and fewer than 40,000 by July 2019.
According to Energy Reporters, the developer Wattway admitted that âour system is not mature for inter-urban traffic.â
Boulogne-Billancourt (France)
© Saragoussi
Does this mean all other existing solar panel roads are fragile and inefficient? The short answer is âno.â
The Netherlands SolaRoad Proves Successful
In the Netherlands, a solar bike path has been declared a success. Dubbed the SolaRoad, the bike path is exactly what its name suggests. The electricity generated by SolaRoad is used for various purposes such as traffic management systems, public lighting, households, and electric mobility.
At the beginning of the trial, an energy yield of between 50 and 70 kWh/m2/year was expected. SolaRoad exceeded expectations by yielding 73Â kWh/m2/year (first version, built in 2014) and 93 kWh/m2/year (second, improved version, built in 2016).
There were hiccups despite its impressive results. Due to poor weather conditions, a top layer of the solar bike path came off, and a major path had to be shut down. The mishap occurred even though engineers had rigorously the materials in a lab beforehand to ensure they could withstand pressure.
The Future of Solar Lanes in France
So, what happens to the less successful solar lane in France? The road has already cost âŹ5 million in state aid, and the environment minister at the time, Segolene Royal, had announced a four-year plan for a national roll-out.
Inauguration of the Solar Road
Photo © COLAS-Yves SOULABAILLE.
The deteriorated panels will now be replaced on the 400-metre stretch, according to Alain Pelleray, a senior regional official in the Orne department.
“We have no regrets, the department did not spend anything on this and we are talking about applied research. In terms of renown, we hit the jackpot. We’ve had visits by Korean and Chinese tourists and industrialists.”