This is another
typical example
of environmental
engineering
insanity.
Two years after the
world’s first solar road
was set up
— the Normandy
road in France —
it has been a failure,
according to a
Le Monde report.
The 1km road is in
Tourouvre-au-Perch,
Normandy, France
and was made by the
Colas subsidiary Wattway
( Bouygues Group )
The road has deteriorated
and is not producing anywhere
near the amount of energy
it was supposed to produce.
It was obvious this would be
a failure: The area is not
very sunny, the panels were
not tilted and aimed at the sun,
and tire dust, brake dust and
leaves on the panels are
sunlight blockers.
The original aim was to produce
790 kWh each day, a quantity
that could illuminate a population
of between 3,000 and 5,000 people.
The rate actually produced
is only about 50% of that.
The road is also very noisy,
so the speed limit had to be
lowered to 70 kmh.
Costing up to $6.1 million,
the solar panel road
became operational in 2016.
The stretch of the road
in Tourouvre-au-Perch, Normandy,
France was meant to produce
about 150,000 kWh a year.
It made less than 80,000 in 2018,
and fewer than 40,000 by July 2019.
The general director of services
of the departmental council
of the Orne said:
“The revenue from
the sale of electricity
produced by the road
should bring us 10 500 euros
per year, details Gilles Morvan.
In 2017, we received 4,550 euros.
In 2018, 3,100 euros, and for
the first quarter of 2019,
we are at 1,450 euros. “
Colas has admitted
the project is a bust.
“Our system is not mature
for inter-urban traffic,”
Etienne Gaudin,
Colas’ chief executive
of Wattway, told Le Monde.
DETAILS:
Tourouvre-au-Perche, France
has a maximum power output
of 420 kW, covers 2,800 m²
and cost €5m to install.
This implies a cost
of €11,905 (£10,624)
per installed kW.
The road’s capacity factor,
dividing average power output
by the potential maximum
power output – is only 4%.