As part of a pilot project to examine the potential of sustainable energy in cities, Germany recently launched the nation's first bike lane covered with solar panels in Freiburg. Over 900 solar modules make up this creative installation, which covers the bike path at the Freiburg Exhibition Center and measures 300 meters long (984.3 feet). It was created by BadenovaWaermeplus, a division of the public utility company Badenova, in collaboration with the city of Freiburg and the research organization Fraunhofer ISE, and has the capacity to produce 280 MWh annually.
This novel technique has the potential to be used on a bigger scale, as shown by the accomplishment of this pilot project. To increase the production of renewable energy, it can be used in a variety of urban places, including open spaces, traffic zones, and roofs.
Additionally, a generic carrying system that can be applied in other places at a lower cost has been created for the pilot project. Future cycling lanes could take on a new look thanks to this technology, becoming not just a sustainable energy source but also an alternate means of transportation.
One of the numerous cutting-edge sustainable energy solutions in Freiburg is the solar cycling path. For instance, the soccer stadium of SC Freiburg has a 2.38-MWp solar array on its roof, which is more than enough to supply the building with all of the electricity it requires each year. Cities must have these installations in order to satisfy their climate targets and lower their carbon impact.