EEVblog 1591 - MORE Colas Wattway Solar Cycleways in the Netherlands!

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  • Опубліковано 1 чер 2024
  • Colas Wattway is back with the two 1000sqm solar cycleway installations in the Netherlands!
    electrek.co/2023/12/18/dutch-...
    Just 4 months ago! • EEVblog 1556 - SolaRoa...
    Forum: www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/ee...
    Some FAIL articles:
    nos.nl/artikel/2484255-innova...
    www.dutchnews.nl/2023/07/sola...
    www.wattisduurzaam.nl/37168/e...
    www.wattwaybycolas.com/en/ref...
    www.colas.com/en/media/press-...
    s.www.colas.com/cdn/ff/t-EqId...
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    #ElectronicsCreators #Solar #netherlands
  • Наука та технологія

КОМЕНТАРІ • 713

  • @Wesley-bf8cp
    @Wesley-bf8cp 4 місяці тому +95

    With a quick search I see it's in Drimmelen. On the N285 between Langeweg en Wagenberg

    • @muppetpaster
      @muppetpaster 4 місяці тому +1

      Also in Krommenie 2019....and Noordwijk, Spijkenisse, Haaksbergen and Blauwestad.

    • @salland12
      @salland12 4 місяці тому

      These are the new ones mentioned.
      Vijfhuizen Noord-Holland 52.36920797244019, 4.701770451860774 (it isn't build yet on the google images)
      Oirschot Brabant 51.49314962427526, 5.307194512498644

    • @wernervt2456
      @wernervt2456 4 місяці тому

      N395 in Oirschot near the crossover of the A58.

    • @kkzooi
      @kkzooi 4 місяці тому +2

      @@muppetpaster Krommenie started in 2014 if im not mistaking. But that one will be replaced by a regular cycle path soon.

    • @pim
      @pim 4 місяці тому

      Take a look at 52.3690815,4.7024318 or search for 'Zonnefietspad N232' for the picture Dave showed at 8:39.

  • @kkzooi
    @kkzooi 4 місяці тому +128

    The solar cycle path closest to me in Krommenie (the Netherlands) is being replaced by a regular cycle path because of all the problems it had. There was a piece about it in a local paper last week on January 3th
    It's in Dutch but if you google '' de orkaan, de stekker uit Solaroad'' it's the first article. With a translator you could probably read it

    • @guidologo
      @guidologo 4 місяці тому +5

      Ja dat dus... gekte! 😂

    • @Eslar
      @Eslar 4 місяці тому

      wise words mr. Bakker. maybe tell Kocken about the 300m bike path that generates 280kw peak in freiburg by just not driving on it.
      "That the commercial application was the problem seems to be contrary to the facts: the ‘innovation’ itself was the problem."
      also for just 1million instead of 5million, it is rare that i can be proud of my government doing something right :P

    • @psychosis7325
      @psychosis7325 4 місяці тому

      Cheers Mate 👍 found it easy.

  • @Rob2
    @Rob2 4 місяці тому +95

    During all that talking about the Netherlands it seems you have missed the BEST news!
    SolaRoad, the company behind the solar cyclepath in Maartensdijk, the "longest in the Netherlands", that produced only 1/4 of the predicted output, has gone OUT OF BUSINESS!
    The poor director blames the 1/4 result on "trees along the bikepath that gave shade and dirt". Yeah, surely these weren't there when they constructed the solar path. And, as you also saw in the other example, the typical Dutch road with bikepath almost always has trees along it.
    Now that there is no more backing from the company, he says that "should not affect the trial as the path will provide electricity for the coming years"... Well, we will have to see that. I think it will be demolished before next summer.

    • @LogiForce86
      @LogiForce86 4 місяці тому

      I swear our country only creates brain dead morons in schools that are only good in exploitation and corruption, because through their contacts and knowing a guy that knows a guy in government or other high place they get to execute this type of crap on tax payers money.
      The Netherlands is the most corrupt country on the face of this Earth. It seems all well on the surface but all the crap is done through backdoor deals. As we also like to call them... these are "prestige projects". It'll look good on someone's resume but it won't add anything but a heavier load on the tax payer.

    • @MisterMakerNL
      @MisterMakerNL 4 місяці тому +9

      What a cluster f, guy who ran the company said he spend 1 day a week on it. Just did a mayor cash grab. And he went bust because the government stopped funding his bs.

    • @SianaGearz
      @SianaGearz 4 місяці тому +7

      I would say for sure trees are better than a solar freaking cycleway... for safety, comfort, and for the environment. A bad businessman blames the competition or something like that? For being better than him at everything?

    • @HenryLoenwind
      @HenryLoenwind 4 місяці тому +4

      Trees along a bike path? That's so sad for the guy who commented he'd be afraid of running into those canopy posts. He'd never be able to bike in the Netherlands unless he gets over his fears with all those trees...

    • @volodymyrzakolodyazhny7740
      @volodymyrzakolodyazhny7740 4 місяці тому +2

      Those trees, which rise suddenly along the road? If we could just cover EVERYTHING in our top-notch solar roadways!

  • @blunderingfool
    @blunderingfool 4 місяці тому +117

    Imagine, like, if they'd just put it on top of a canopy so bike riders have protection from the rain as they cycle around. We could call it, like, solar roofway or something.

    • @danpatterson8009
      @danpatterson8009 4 місяці тому +18

      And not have to cover the solar cells with thick plastic to protect them from bicycle tires...

    • @arbiterofuntruth6098
      @arbiterofuntruth6098 4 місяці тому +16

      Interesting idea. I had another thought. It’s a long shot, but the panels might prevent sunlight from passing through them, thereby keeping the sunlight out of the riders eyes. It might be more comfortable even when it’s not raining

    • @floodo1
      @floodo1 4 місяці тому +5

      the complaints are easy to predict for any idea “that’s ugly” lol

    • @markschroter2640
      @markschroter2640 4 місяці тому +2

      What if they put water on top and then they could match the Romans. (No not really)

    • @EndOfLineTech
      @EndOfLineTech 4 місяці тому +6

      @@floodo1they don’t have to be. That one Dave showed is definitely how you doing. And that’s not a goal that needs billions on dollars, I saw someone complain about “colliding” with the supports. That just goes to show you how stupid cyclists are. All this could be fixed with a first year engineer lmao in a year max. But oh “that’s too much work” lmao okay what’s 10 years on this then 💀💀💀

  • @bask2140
    @bask2140 4 місяці тому +26

    It's our (I'm Dutch) way to promote and indirectly finance EEVblog. And ofcourse we hope Dave will visit The Netherlands eventually.

    • @mkolt
      @mkolt 4 місяці тому +3

      Why would you do this to him? 😂

  • @gammaraider
    @gammaraider 4 місяці тому +161

    As a Dutch guy, I feel so embarrassed by this. Our infrastructure is generally top notch..

    • @samholdsworth420
      @samholdsworth420 4 місяці тому +4

      Schmoke and a pancake 🥞?
      Bong and a crepe?

    • @technoman9000
      @technoman9000 4 місяці тому

      Unfortunately, the Monorail Man has many disguises... Who can resist that irresistible combination of "sustainability" and "this could put our town on the map"? After all, it's only the taxpayers' money being thrown away...

    • @edgarwalk5637
      @edgarwalk5637 4 місяці тому +7

      It's OK, Australia spent $150m+ on the carbon capture scam.

    • @i.k.8868
      @i.k.8868 4 місяці тому +8

      ​@@edgarwalk5637 LOL, that is nothing! Here in Utrecht we spent over €500m on a single freaking light rail line which doesn't even work most of the time. It is by far the most expensive tramway in the world, and now our municipal government wants to build a metro as well. A single line for € 4,5 billion !!!!!! For a tiny city where literally everyone bikes, and everyone hates trams and buses. You do the math. And we are also investing massively in carbon capture...

    • @calholli
      @calholli 4 місяці тому

      It's fine.. It's always good to have a definitive test. Even when it fails, they might learn a few things.

  • @Direkin
    @Direkin 4 місяці тому +51

    Whenever projects that are known to fail are publicly funded, there's two questions that immediately come to mind: 1) are the ministers who approved it actually that stupid? and 2) how much of a kickback are they getting for funding this nonsense?

    • @Rob2
      @Rob2 4 місяці тому +9

      These projects are not approved by ministers, they are done in lower ranks of the public authority, like provinces and municipalities.
      The problems is that these ranks get a task and budget to promote and implement renewable energy.
      So they have a couple of million in their pockets burning to get spent.
      Combine that with greedy companies (and even approval/testing institutes) who do not mind getting money for things they know will not work, and you have a disaster waiting to happen.
      It is not like this is the only field where this problem occurs! It happens in healthcare and childcare as well.

    • @i.k.8868
      @i.k.8868 4 місяці тому +2

      ​@@Rob2 So many layers of governance are complicit. From EU-level 'sustainability funds' and national funds, to provinces and municipalities... Perhaps it is not the minister that signs off on such projects, but I would wager at least a few dozen civil servants were involved in each one. They should all be found incapable of their job.

    • @Kabodanki
      @Kabodanki 4 місяці тому

      thinking these people are stupid might be what they want you to believe, they do it for publicity and ideological purity, they don't care about outcomes. Why would they care ? there's virtually no check and balances.

    • @Kabodanki
      @Kabodanki 4 місяці тому

      @@i.k.8868 The EU that are killing farmers because for the EU they pollute too much... only to import farming products from South America that doesn't have to follow env and social norms that EU farmers have to follow. In the future we will have milk from NZ.... how dumb this is.

    • @sandrorass890
      @sandrorass890 4 місяці тому +1

      Side note: Politicians are selected by the people and not by engineers or scientists. You will always have politicians with a lack of understanding in many areas, even in the area where they make important decisions.
      A fix to this would be that more engineers and scientists become politicians or more politically active. But in my experience, engineers rather want to rant about politicians than actually do something and scientists are usually poor public speakers.

  • @p_mouse8676
    @p_mouse8676 4 місяці тому +59

    As a Dutch person, I feel deeply ashamed.
    Mostly also why people can't follow very simple basic logic that's being taught at high school?

    • @LogiForce86
      @LogiForce86 4 місяці тому

      Schools are there (in the Netherlands at least) to make their students brain dead. They are taught to do a trick but they also get their own brain switched off. You could basically call them zombies from an Idiocracy.

    • @markschroter2640
      @markschroter2640 4 місяці тому +1

      They don't teach logic in high school, you need tertiary to get that. (It isn't worth the money to take that course either.)

    • @toomanyaccounts
      @toomanyaccounts 4 місяці тому

      climate change is a religion that persecutes skeptics

    • @teslatrooper
      @teslatrooper 4 місяці тому +2

      @markschroter2640 They teach physics though, calculating some basic power figures is a lot easier than what I remember from my exams

    • @i.k.8868
      @i.k.8868 4 місяці тому +2

      @@markschroter2640They don't teach logic at Dutch universities!

  • @Mightydoggo
    @Mightydoggo 4 місяці тому +16

    "So, how much greenwashing vaporware do you want?"
    Netherlands: *yes.*

  • @MoneGetsIt
    @MoneGetsIt 4 місяці тому +44

    Ft Carson US Army Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, had solar panels lifted above some parking lots, and it was so nice to park under them in the summer or when it was raining/snowing. They also covered unused/untraveled land with the panels, as well as putting it on a lot of base housing roofs. I liked how they did it. Unfortunately when I was stationed there it was hit by a big hail storm with grapefruit sized hail and that destroyed a bunch of the panels, but that was 6 years ago and I am sure they have repaired them all by now.

    • @sithus1966
      @sithus1966 4 місяці тому +7

      I always said we have tons of big parking lots at big box stores and such that they could cover.

    • @i.k.8868
      @i.k.8868 4 місяці тому +1

      There has been pushback against PV on parking in the Netherlands. The municipalities don't want it, because they fear residents won't like looking at it.

    • @MysteriousFigure
      @MysteriousFigure 4 місяці тому +5

      @@i.k.8868 Well do they want to be eco or do the residents just want the panels somewhere because it looks fashionable and is the next best thing, just not in *their* backyard? Really shows you where these people's priorities lie.....

    • @i.k.8868
      @i.k.8868 4 місяці тому +1

      ​@@MysteriousFigure Sustainability is not a priority of Dutch voters (it was literally at the bottom during the last elections a few weeks back). People don't care about sustainability. They care about how much cash is in their wallet, and they certainly don't want their environment to change. PV on your roof is a smart financial choice, not a fashion or philosophical statement. PV in public space is just a nuisance to most people, because they aren't making money off of it themselves. Let me say it this way: most people have solar panels because it saves them money, not because it is "eco". People that do things because they believe it to be eco-friendly account for less than 15% of the population, unfortunately.

    • @Rob2
      @Rob2 4 місяці тому +1

      @@i.k.8868 On the other hand, it is fortunate that apparently more and more people realize that you cannot change the environment using projects like this, they are just there to offer "peace of mind", not to actually solve the problem.
      I am happy that we will no longer be forced to spend money on projects that look nice but have near-zero effect.
      Better spend that money on research than on actual implementation.

  • @patrickverdonk880
    @patrickverdonk880 4 місяці тому +19

    It seems to be in Drimmelen. The provincie Noord Brabant payed 1,1 million Euro for it. The provincie is like a state, just 1/12th part of the Netherlands. Yee, that's where we pay our taxes for...

    • @SianaGearz
      @SianaGearz 4 місяці тому +2

      Shouldn't tax payer association exercise oversight so they don't spend money on things that we know are bad?

  • @vectrum8314
    @vectrum8314 5 місяців тому +72

    I don't get the logic, what is the point of put some fragile thing in the ground so everybody can stomp it?

    • @marcogenovesi8570
      @marcogenovesi8570 4 місяці тому +18

      you must be new here, we have been laughing at solar roadways for a while now. No it does not make any sense, but the grift keeps going for some reason

    • @punkfingerboards6283
      @punkfingerboards6283 4 місяці тому

      They get taxpayer money for these "green" projects, a few people get rich, and they move on to the next grift.
      They rely on liberal sheep that foam at the mouth when they hear "climate change"...

    • @EEVblog
      @EEVblog  4 місяці тому +28

      It's "Innovative" so it gets funding.

    • @marcogenovesi8570
      @marcogenovesi8570 4 місяці тому +12

      @@EEVblog not even the "innovative" holds water at this point, it's an idea from decades ago. It's just corruption imho

    • @AvidiaNirvana
      @AvidiaNirvana 4 місяці тому +12

      ​@@marcogenovesi8570It's just like Communism, it just hasn't been done right yet.... Lol

  • @KiwiCatherineJemma
    @KiwiCatherineJemma 4 місяці тому +21

    Scams like "Solar Roadways" will continue for as long as "other people's money" (be it from web based platforms like "kickstarter" or similar) or government funding for these stupid "trials" continues . Now if only I could get myself funded for a "trial" where I just sit at home eating Ice-cream and Chocolate Biscuits, while watching Netflix.

    • @modrobert
      @modrobert 4 місяці тому +5

      As long as there are politicians around who only care about initiative instead of results.

  • @bastiaan1brink
    @bastiaan1brink 4 місяці тому +6

    the photos are form near vijfhuizen, here are the cords: 52°22'09.0"N 4°42'08.5"E

  • @highvoltagefeathers
    @highvoltagefeathers 4 місяці тому +12

    Let's take a moment to appreciate how difficult engineering actual road surfaces is. The task is almost impossible given the expectations on value and cost per km.

  • @rpontonjr
    @rpontonjr 4 місяці тому +19

    Solar cycleways / walkways are a fantastic idea! Wait... Why TF did they put the panels on the ground, when for less cost, they could make shaded cycleways with panels on top that produce more power and have lower maintenance costs?

    • @SurfinScientist
      @SurfinScientist 4 місяці тому +4

      With sunny weather so rare in the Netherlands, I am not sure you want to cycle in the shade. But they would serve as a nice cover against the rain, provided there is no wind blowing the rain below the panels.

    • @i.k.8868
      @i.k.8868 4 місяці тому +4

      You can steal our money, but not the sky above our cycle path!!!

  • @Sal3600
    @Sal3600 4 місяці тому +8

    Seen those glass platforms on popular look outs? See how blurry and opaque they get due to usage...

  • @awesomeferret
    @awesomeferret 4 місяці тому +1

    This popped up in my news feed about a week ago and I immediately thought "I'm looking forward to hearing Dave talk about it".

  • @zerothewicked
    @zerothewicked 4 місяці тому +29

    ya know what would be nice, is a cover for the cycle path that was solar... It would be nice to not get rained on while cycling

    • @phillyphakename1255
      @phillyphakename1255 4 місяці тому +4

      Shade, too! I live in 100 degree summer land, where cycling is not conducive to life. Some shade would help.

    • @AWriterWandering
      @AWriterWandering 4 місяці тому +1

      6:38 that’s what Germany is doing. And yeah, it’s way smarter.

    • @bbbf09
      @bbbf09 4 місяці тому +3

      Agreed. Even the solar panels we have at work above the car parks act as a nice rain cover. When you are forced to park far from the main door you can now walk in dry instead on 10mins in rain (it's a big site).

  • @Phantom-mk4kp
    @Phantom-mk4kp 4 місяці тому +7

    This has just inspired me to create a new kick starter project.
    Hamster wheel generator for mobile phone charging. There must be millions of pet hamster owners

  • @user-it7lf7kk8m
    @user-it7lf7kk8m 4 місяці тому +2

    The thing with the solar roof for the bike path ; at least it provides cover to keep rain off and might encourage more people to use bikes when the weather isnt great.

  • @TD-er
    @TD-er 4 місяці тому +12

    I wonder what they will do when it starts freezing... like it does now as we speak ;)
    I guess they will be either sweeping the snow away with those metal brushes which light up orange due to the heat they generate while brushing the street or they spray salt on it using those relatively heavy snow machines.

    • @TD-er
      @TD-er 4 місяці тому +4

      @@Okurka. I live in the Netherlands, so I know how they do it and it is already damaging regular bike lanes, let alone solar panel roads

    • @Valenorious
      @Valenorious 4 місяці тому

      @@Okurka. Do they even? Sweeping bikepaths from snow is a tertiary priorit it seems.

    • @babbadge
      @babbadge 4 місяці тому

      In the Netherlands, cycle paths will be swept after snow. It happens only a few days per year. And salt is used also, depending on the form of precipitation, on cycle paths from small vehcles. It's quite a high priority, because otherwise half the country can't get to their jobs.

  • @cp1cupcake
    @cp1cupcake 4 місяці тому +8

    "Peddling towards sustainability" reminds me of the stuff a decade and more ago when they were trying to attach generators to exercise bikes.

    • @stusue9733
      @stusue9733 4 місяці тому +3

      This idea works GREAT, (if you lack basic maths skills lol)

    • @Kirillissimus
      @Kirillissimus 4 місяці тому

      Oddly enough implementing all the stupid ideas will indeed bring us closer to sustainability. It will pollute our environment with a lot of metallic dust along with tiny chips of silicon and glass and plasics, it will waste our energy and all kinds of resources, it will create new risks and expenses for the inhabitants creating more pressure for the healthcare, and it will waste our time and effort for nothing. Basically it will bring us closer to the inevitable crisis of modern society and we will be forced to find a real solution much earlier than it would be needed otherwise.
      The only problem is that we know from history that every time such an existential crisis emerged before, it always started with chaos and wars and were followed by at least a century long dark age with significant population decline and even some entire countries no matter how great or powerful they were before getting wiped out almost completely and their territories getting near empty waiting for centuries to be repopulated by someone else again. But that is a minor issue of course. Some may even argue that by sacrificing all the billions of people for our next great ambition we will give some purpose and meaning to the otherwise completely worthless souls.

    • @how2pick4name
      @how2pick4name 4 місяці тому

      That was on Black Mirror.
      A lot that was on there will become reality, because we let it.

  • @SwitchingPower
    @SwitchingPower 4 місяці тому +2

    The one in North Brabant is the cyclepath next to the N285 road between the towns of Langeweg en Wagenberg around 51°39'38.2"N 4°42'17.5"E

  • @fenna_pel
    @fenna_pel 4 місяці тому +7

    the section in North Holland is not too far from where i live, will check it out at some time in the future. Doing little research it seems to be funded by the province North Holland and designed to be a research project

    • @Rob2
      @Rob2 4 місяці тому +3

      The problem is that the province is running a research project for a topic that any non-biased engineer can tell them BEFOREHAND is not going to work.
      But they get their information from companies and institutes that are funded by the money they have in their pockets.
      No wonder that those bring it as a project where research is needed. While it actually isn't: the answer is already known.

  • @darkfoxfurre
    @darkfoxfurre 4 місяці тому +18

    It would be sooooo much cheaper to just build a roof over the sidewalk and put solar panels on the roof. It's all proven technology, too. If you really wanted to get daring, you could store batteries underneath the sidewalk or something.

    • @justanothercomment416
      @justanothercomment416 4 місяці тому +5

      But that doesn't allow for as much fraud and milk.

    • @samuraidriver4x4
      @samuraidriver4x4 4 місяці тому

      The powergrid probably can't even handle it as its overloaded nationwide.
      So less output is probably the smart thing to do.😂😂

    • @Rob2
      @Rob2 4 місяці тому +1

      The Netherlands and their people like a clean-looking environment. You will immediately notice that when you visit the country and compare it with the visual picture in many other countries.
      Overhead powerlines: we don't have any.
      Elevated roadways or railways (2-level highways): not something we generally have.
      etc etc.
      I am sure that when the typical test cyclepath which is alongside a road in the open countryside would be covered with a roof, lots of people would be against it. No matter if it covers from rain or provides solar power.
      That will be seen as a visual nuisance.

    • @kriss1_
      @kriss1_ 4 місяці тому +1

      @@Rob2 Yes, they like a clean looking environment so much they put very ugly panels right in their bike path

    • @Rob2
      @Rob2 4 місяці тому

      @@kriss1_ I'm sure lots of people do not like the solar bike paths... but hesitate to argue against something promoted as "saving the environment".
      However, construction above the bike path is likely a bridge too far.

  • @Phantom-mk4kp
    @Phantom-mk4kp 4 місяці тому +6

    The reason they've installed in multiple countries will be grants from multiple countries, also wonder if they're getting carbon offfset money

    • @CarlRhoades
      @CarlRhoades 4 місяці тому

      I hadn't thought of that, makes it all make that much more sense!

  • @technoman9000
    @technoman9000 4 місяці тому +6

    Here's a crazy idea: instead of putting solar panels on bike paths, put the solar panels in a central place where they can easily be maintained and connected to the power grid...

  • @chrisl6199
    @chrisl6199 4 місяці тому +4

    Riding on smooth solar panels, awesome! I may as well just ride on ice.

    • @torstenscholz6243
      @torstenscholz6243 Місяць тому

      That's also a point that's hugely overlooked. Such a smooth, slippery surface really just poses unnecessary danger for anyone who uses them. I highly doubt that these glass panels provide any kind of grip, which asphalt does. Not to mention that they become even way more dangerous when they become wet during rain or even frozen in winter.

  • @jensschroder8214
    @jensschroder8214 4 місяці тому +2

    I think the solution in Freiburg, Germany makes sense. The cyclists have a shade and the solar cells last 20 years.
    It would be even easier to mount the solar cells on roofs. Houses and factories usually have electricity, but streets and bike paths usually don't.

  • @wapted
    @wapted 4 місяці тому +10

    Omg can they just keep solar to roof tops. AAAAAAAAAAAA.

    • @EEVblog
      @EEVblog  4 місяці тому +3

      "Innovation"

    • @wapted
      @wapted 4 місяці тому

      @Okurka. I did - so it seems you can ;)

    • @torstenscholz6243
      @torstenscholz6243 Місяць тому

      @@EEVblog Solar Freakin' Rooftops!

  • @Danandrea737
    @Danandrea737 4 місяці тому +4

    Wanna have a laugh? In Italian, more precisely in Rome since it's a local slang, "Sola" literally means "scam" ahahahah

  • @paulhyland7456
    @paulhyland7456 4 місяці тому +1

    Love your work. Happy new year from Brisbane!

  • @bluephreakr
    @bluephreakr 4 місяці тому +1

    Alright, I have something that would basically destroy any anti-canopy argument; create a canopy that is propped up _only on one side._ Not only would it look hella-futuristic, it would also enable the overhang to have an unabated and safe exit from one side, while the other side - the street side - would have a greater collision area for vehicles _that isn't the bike path and / or riders._

  • @alainmilette6460
    @alainmilette6460 4 місяці тому +9

    Wouldnt it be preferable to cover biking pathes with some sort of solar "roof" like you know not expose the fragile bits and double a a shade/rain protection. Then again what do I know

    • @guidologo
      @guidologo 4 місяці тому

      Especially over here... we had so much rain these last few months... crazyyyyy

  • @floodo1
    @floodo1 4 місяці тому +12

    Dave’s really gonna have egg on his face when they figure out this technology in a 1000 years

    • @AlanTwoRings
      @AlanTwoRings 4 місяці тому +3

      Don't have to worry about dirt and damage to the solar road when you have flying cars.

    • @EndOfLineTech
      @EndOfLineTech 4 місяці тому +3

      See I get this is a joke but that’s what these idiots think. There’s no doubt in my mind that with the right funding, and the right amount of time this could be achieved. Nothing is truly impossible. But as an engineer one must be able to ask themselves “is it worth it” and the answer is no. With all the money and time this will take to complete successfully the world would be able to go fully energy independent, with panels on every roof, household, doghouse, and more. All for what? Not much…. Thats the issue. It’s trying to solve a problem before that problem exists.

    • @LarixusSnydes
      @LarixusSnydes 4 місяці тому +2

      "You canna break the Laws of Physics" That's why it will never keep working when you put the panels on the ground.

    • @SianaGearz
      @SianaGearz 4 місяці тому +3

      @@LarixusSnydes There is no law of physics that says you can't put solar panels on the ground and have them make some electricity; and there's no law of physics that says you can't protect them.
      But it's a spectacularly shitty idea because it's insanely less efficient than other opportunities that we haven't come close to exhausting yet. Until every roof, every parking spot and every bus station canopy is covered to the brim with solar, you don't even need to consider converting your paved areas, and we're decades upon decades from that away.

    • @sachamm
      @sachamm 4 місяці тому

      @@SianaGearz This.

  • @mikemaxwell3005
    @mikemaxwell3005 4 місяці тому +4

    I use studded bike tires in winter these will scratch the heck out them. No winter shots for the path too.

    • @dalyxia
      @dalyxia 4 місяці тому +2

      I dont think those tires are allowed in the netherlands on public roads

  • @2meters2
    @2meters2 4 місяці тому +2

    8:40 : That picture with the airplane in the background is geolocated to the "Schipholweg", N232, 52.369202° 4.701825°.

  • @Mango0fDoom
    @Mango0fDoom 4 місяці тому +1

    Bet you never predicted all these years ago this would be the gift that keeps on giving.

    • @torstenscholz6243
      @torstenscholz6243 Місяць тому +1

      It's really unbelievable that we now have 2024 and still there are people left on earth that believe that solar roads are a good idea that can work in any way, when everything that has actually been done since the idea first started (Btw. Solar Roadways was founded in 2006!) has shown that it cannot.

  • @derekfoulk4692
    @derekfoulk4692 4 місяці тому +3

    When Steve Jobs produced the Macintosh in1984, sometime around 1984 and 1985 he was often found looking for examples of how people were using them in shops, offices, etc which demonstrated they weren't really sure if people could benefited from them or needed them. Contrast that with solar road ways/bike ways, which nobody is asking for, they've had 10 years to provide some kind of benefit and so ultimately nobody needs or wants them.

    • @SianaGearz
      @SianaGearz 4 місяці тому +1

      Macintosh at first was only a niche success, which isn't surprising, the available hardware at first didn't quite rise up to the level of ambition the system had. But it was also only a question of time that processors and memory would catch up, with available semiconductor capacity doubling every 1½ years. People were asking for what was to become the Apple IIGS at the time instead.

  • @smalltime0
    @smalltime0 4 місяці тому +3

    Freiburg seems the way to go, having a bit of shelter for a cycleway/walkway would encourage people to use it, and it generating power? win-win

  • @guyh3403
    @guyh3403 4 місяці тому +1

    The first path is actually 1 kilometer from my home.
    When I noticed they were working on it last september I already was snickering and thinking of you lol

  • @isegrim1978
    @isegrim1978 4 місяці тому +5

    It would be more practical to mount Solar Panels on the noise barriers along the highways.

    • @dutchbeef8920
      @dutchbeef8920 3 місяці тому +1

      Nah thats too easy, Solar Crash Barriers

  • @volodymyrzakolodyazhny7740
    @volodymyrzakolodyazhny7740 4 місяці тому +5

    Actually, it's quite easy to make reliable freaking solar roadways. You just have to use something more hardy than sand and stones as a protective layer. Something like a good layer of artificial diamonds should do the job I guess.

    • @Kirillissimus
      @Kirillissimus 4 місяці тому +2

      Just some small artificial diamonds will not quite cut it though as you will still have gaps between them to fill and that is where the problem will emerge. But if you make entire panels out of a single huge thick diamond crystal then it will become possible!

    • @SianaGearz
      @SianaGearz 4 місяці тому +1

      Fundamentally, we can do something similar, we can grow large single crystals of clear sapphire. Unfortunately they are spectacularly slippery, so you can't drive on them. Walking is a difficulty as well. I heard one of Saudi palaces had synthetic sapphire floors somewhere, got them made by Soviet (Ukrainian, Kharkiv) scientists, cost unspeakable money, had to rip them out.

  • @mr.bianchirider8126
    @mr.bianchirider8126 4 місяці тому

    I saw this a few days ago and was anxiously awaiting for this video.

  • @martinmckee5333
    @martinmckee5333 4 місяці тому +2

    My mother's house is off-grid, 100% solar and the panels are 20 ywes old without significant losd of efficiency. In that time the battery storage has been replaced once, the tracking mount has died, and the gas standby hemerator is waiting for me to repair it. Nut the traditional rooftop panels have been totally reliable.

    • @i.k.8868
      @i.k.8868 4 місяці тому +1

      Yes, my mothers PV was installed in 1999 and they still work fine. And they are easy to recycle anyways.

  • @okaro6595
    @okaro6595 4 місяці тому +3

    I have never understood the fundamental reason: why? Who on earth even got the idea?

    • @phillyphakename1255
      @phillyphakename1255 4 місяці тому +1

      It feels like simpleton futurism grift. The marketeers came up with an idea they could sell to capitalize on the green future, but never asked the engineers.

  • @swordofkings128
    @swordofkings128 4 місяці тому +3

    Why not just put solar panels literally anywhere but ground that's supposed to have people/vehicles on it. Like on a roof maybe?

  • @mc1993
    @mc1993 4 місяці тому +14

    One thing you can say about the Dutch is they keep trying. Bless their little hearts.

    • @AWriterWandering
      @AWriterWandering 4 місяці тому +6

      For all the money they’re wasting on this nonsense, they could just pay property owners to put solar panels on their buildings.

    • @ReinouddeLange
      @ReinouddeLange 4 місяці тому +1

      Why do we have little hearts?

    • @mc1993
      @mc1993 4 місяці тому +6

      @@ReinouddeLange summed up by @AWriterWandering. 'Bless their little hearts' a condescending yet sympathetic saying in the USA when someone continues to attempt something that is a known failure. Think, the complete opposite of flood control expertise.

    • @teslatrooper
      @teslatrooper 4 місяці тому +2

      Yeah we have some provincial government folks who are really enthousiastic about this stuff. Problem is those of us who know it won't work are too busy having a life to check all the planning and proposals and file objections etc.

    • @Brannigan777
      @Brannigan777 4 місяці тому +1

      @@ReinouddeLange It's an expression / idiom, somewhat condescending, when someone is trying, but failing.

  • @TerrorofDeathDGX
    @TerrorofDeathDGX 4 місяці тому +3

    I found your channel from Solar freakin' Roadways lol

  • @CarlRhoades
    @CarlRhoades 4 місяці тому +1

    Look at that lovely canal with water in it off to the side. Wouldn't it be logical to put a little roof over that for solar panels, after all the parking lots and rooftops are covered, with the added benefit of less evaporation?

  • @Psi105
    @Psi105 4 місяці тому +2

    2024 is the year of Solar FREAKIN rooftops.

  • @TheTallGirl
    @TheTallGirl 4 місяці тому +2

    Crazy, even more crazier this far north. At this latitudes panels in vertical orientation are better than laying flat.

    • @torstenscholz6243
      @torstenscholz6243 Місяць тому

      So true. That's what many people also don't get although it's not hard to understand: Solar panels laying flat are only useful in equator regions, where the sun often stands in zenith. In other regions of the world solar panels only provide sufficient energy if they are leaning towards the sun, that's why they are built that way in Europe and North America.

  • @petermeier7149
    @petermeier7149 4 місяці тому +7

    Even the UA-cam Bots love Solar freaking Cycleways😂

  • @no_more_free_nicks
    @no_more_free_nicks 4 місяці тому +5

    6:40 - im devoted cyclist (fastest way to move around city) and I love what I see here. Maybe shade is more important in Australia, but in our area it protects against majority of rain and snow.

    • @EndOfLineTech
      @EndOfLineTech 4 місяці тому

      @@Okurka.what’s a city? Sounds like gay little city people problems

  • @Holycurative9610
    @Holycurative9610 4 місяці тому +1

    The UK government says "get solar" but they don't like you getting it because it cuts down on the electricity company profits. I'm in the process of putting in 6 panels and an inverter to run things in my house and you need certificates to get any kind of feed in tariff and as I'm self installing I won't get a certificate unless I pay a company to give me one. Hopefully 6 panels will supply about 2/3rds of my electricity and with bills hitting £150-200/month in the UK we need all the help we can get, bloody crazy prices hitting 50p/kwh and many people are facing a choice between heating or food. Then you have 5% VAT (a tax) and you pay over 50p/day just to have a meter, bloody ripoff.......

  • @sinewave3323
    @sinewave3323 4 місяці тому

    Happy new year! i'm sooo excited for you to hit 1million subs! 🥳🎊😎🤙🏼

  • @kevincozens6837
    @kevincozens6837 4 місяці тому +1

    Dave has also pointed out in the past that a shadow across a panel can tank the output from a panel. I wonder how many square meters of roof top solar panel could have been installed for the cost of one of these ground based road/cycle ways.

    • @valkaielod
      @valkaielod 4 місяці тому

      2x efficiency from the panels, another 2x from the cost, then count in longevity and availability of infrastructure (the electric grid is available at almost each building, with other consumers in the home or nearby). I'd say easily 10x more efficient to do rooftop.

  • @PlayerSalt
    @PlayerSalt 4 місяці тому +1

    its worth keeping in the argument that car emissions and im mostly talking about break pad dust would be a top cause for covering these even if its designed for bikes, like where are bike path's ? normally a few meters from a road, so even if this was a walking only path a few meters from a road it would still get filthy , raising them off street level probably helps a fair bit because its a metallic dust but even then being far from a highway would be the best bet ; obviously heavily subsidising them for home use is what most countries have enough sense to do

  • @perpetual4958
    @perpetual4958 4 місяці тому +2

    And the company Solaroad went bankrupt last week. One can only get subsidy for cracking and failing roads so many times. They included roads for motor vehicles.

  • @JeroenBezemer
    @JeroenBezemer 4 місяці тому

    Today on "Cobouw", a paywalled e-journal on building and construction came the message that SolaRoad has been dissolved per 31-12-2023:
    The province of North Holland now reports that the BV SolaRoad was dissolved just before New Year's Eve. According to deputy Rosan Kocken, it turned out not to be possible to set up a solid business model around the technology. Moreover, the three shareholders had little interest in a new capital injection. "But we remain actively involved in pilot projects that help with the application of solar energy in road surfaces," the deputy assures.
    This is(was) the firm who constructed the first cycleway at Krommenie

  • @humbleguy9908
    @humbleguy9908 4 місяці тому +1

    Don't forget that the Netherlands are at 50° North. The loss of efficiency will be 70% on a sunny christmas noon time even if the road is free of snow and salt.

    • @foobar8894
      @foobar8894 4 місяці тому

      What happens to these in winter when those cycle paths are salted is going to be interesting, at best that will reduce the efficiency quite a bit.

  • @sithus1966
    @sithus1966 4 місяці тому

    I saw this like a week ago and wondered when you would get to this.

  • @tommiller1315
    @tommiller1315 4 місяці тому

    I like the overhead panels, providing some cover from rain, and UV and lights could be provided for nighttime riding. This concept could be required build, for cycle lanes on new roads, new towns, and installation when roads are resurfaced. London UK, has expensive barriers to stop cars using the cycle lanes - meaning the cost for solar is already available!

  • @erichpoly4434
    @erichpoly4434 4 місяці тому +1

    In Germany it is not possible to add an economical solar system to an apartment building.

  • @vylbird8014
    @vylbird8014 4 місяці тому +4

    Well, it's not /as/ bad as solar roadways. It's still pretty bad. I suppose solar paving could be useful in large parks and such, where you may want power for something like a kiosk or security camera and need to achieve it with close to zero visual impact. Solar paving on an existing pathway. But that's a very small niche application.
    The solar covering /over/ the cyclepath, that's... actually not a bad idea. You can provide rain shelter, angle the roof appropriately, and it makes use of existing land. Still not the most efficient use of panels, but you can imagine how it might not be an entirely stupid plan.

  • @theagentsmith
    @theagentsmith 4 місяці тому

    My startup produces solar powered charging stations for e-bikes. They provide a bike rack, a bench, some shade, public Wi-Fi, CCTV.
    The panels are at 45 degrees which will deflect hail, are protected from dirt and no snow stick to them. Nothing revolutionary, but a tried and true approach that cost 100 times less.
    These solar roads a total waste of money, thank you for shaming them!

  • @aldimore
    @aldimore 4 місяці тому +1

    Holy cow. It would be cheaper to build the same length of covered bike path and have the solar panels above where they could actually work and survive way longer.

  • @jeanmichel2642
    @jeanmichel2642 4 місяці тому

    Hello in the wattway page where there are photos of their installations, go to the Perpignan, France page and look at the last photo. Normally there is a street lamp shadow on the panel but they faked it by erasing it. If you download the photo and zoom in it you will see the bad copy paste of textures made by photoshop.

  • @johanlaurasia
    @johanlaurasia 4 місяці тому +1

    They'd love to put up a sign showing the output, but it'll half the output.

  • @jonathanreedpike
    @jonathanreedpike 4 місяці тому

    Looks like they are hoping for a "swamp castle" style, successful, final try.

  • @peerappel2012
    @peerappel2012 4 місяці тому

    Actually, I read this week that the investors of solar roadways in the Netherlands pulled out, so I think the concept is finally coming to an end

  • @JoeStuffzAlt
    @JoeStuffzAlt 4 місяці тому

    How much would it cost instead of having it as a covering to a bike trail in comparison?
    Update: just hit that part of the video

  • @Bigrignohio
    @Bigrignohio 4 місяці тому

    Why do they keep putting them UNDER the traffic? A solar CANOPY over bike paths (especially the semi-transparent solar panels) would be excellent use of the space. Plus ALL the parking lots. Just the municipal parking lots by themselves would provide more power than if all the roads were "solar roadways".

  • @naanabsoj
    @naanabsoj 4 місяці тому

    Dave, you're being mentioned in a Dutch newspaper (Het Parool) article:
    'Zonnepad dat energie opwekt flopt keer op keer, toch blijft iedereen er geld in steken'.

  • @ErazerPT
    @ErazerPT 4 місяці тому

    Wonder if there's any issue with having them by the side of the path at some angle, as that does seem to be the "path of least resistance" to the whole debacle...

    • @chrisnoname2725
      @chrisnoname2725 4 місяці тому

      Then you're taking up land. I think the point is to not take any extra space. You then have to mow or poison the grass around them. More chance of shadows. Possibly easier for people to steal copper wires from them.
      Most paths seem to have some space around them so i suppose it would be like a long skinny solar farm. But i think people also need to have nice place to go without everything being industrialised. At least the roof over tge path has advantages for riders and makes riding a more attractive option

  • @Boehoehuahoei
    @Boehoehuahoei 4 місяці тому

    it's not just bike tires..
    Bike paths in the netherlands need to accomudate emergency sercices like police cars and ambulances. They need to be able to drive and break on these roads.

  • @mururoa7024
    @mururoa7024 4 місяці тому

    BAM is one of those large infrastructure companies. When they're involved you can be sure it's at least partially subsidized.

  • @MeitsMSX
    @MeitsMSX 4 місяці тому +1

    Dutch politicians are more about how good they are for the climate. Rationale has never bothered them. The companies that install them are laughing hard. They know they'll have a constant cash flow with these adventures.

  • @Kosmonooit
    @Kosmonooit 4 місяці тому

    One factor about the overhead shaded version is security - they willget nicked in no time in my part of the world, for scrap metal value!

  • @backgammonbacon
    @backgammonbacon 4 місяці тому +2

    If these things worked the company that made them will have already installed them all over their manufacturing sites, they make money right?

  • @drooplug
    @drooplug 4 місяці тому

    They could be capturing the heat of the pavement and storing it for district heating in the winter months. This has already been done successfully.

  • @wtmayhew
    @wtmayhew 4 місяці тому +1

    That’s the problem with web sites such as Electrek - they apparently have staff with decent journalistic skill, but not necessarily a technical background. They seem to take entities they write about at their word without questioning. Imagine!, a solar company lying.

  • @sonixthatsme
    @sonixthatsme 4 місяці тому

    The other day my Dutch newspaper reported that the company Solaroad went bankrupt.

  • @typxxilps
    @typxxilps 4 місяці тому +2

    maybe they will add signs later which will say riding a bike forbidden, please use the street for riding

    • @elvinhaak
      @elvinhaak 4 місяці тому +1

      Probably soon a sighn will be there stating 'slecht wegdek', 'fietsers afstappen'.

  • @stusue9733
    @stusue9733 4 місяці тому +1

    I'd be interested in what the panel temp is when you mount them in the ground...

    • @stusue9733
      @stusue9733 4 місяці тому

      @@Okurka. You're sure about that or did you just guess?

  • @rubluc73
    @rubluc73 4 місяці тому

    Just try it greetings from Holland

  • @IDraganM
    @IDraganM 4 місяці тому

    Fans are great! I have several…low power usage, work, easy to replace and can be pointed in any direction.

  • @carlospenalver8721
    @carlospenalver8721 4 місяці тому

    You can see the grass on the edge looking at the panels thinking ŴTF is that?. You do know if you tap into the photosynthesis of the lawns next to these paths you can get more energy then from the panels .

  • @keithking1985
    @keithking1985 4 місяці тому

    Politicians getting bribed by company's to put these forward 😠😠

  • @harrysmbdgs
    @harrysmbdgs 4 місяці тому +1

    When will companies learn the actual meaning of "sustainable"?

    • @Valenorious
      @Valenorious 4 місяці тому

      'Sustainable' means when cashflow is constant and always points to you. Right?

  • @phillyphakename1255
    @phillyphakename1255 4 місяці тому +2

    Solar freaking cyclepaths solves the catastrophic problem with solar roadways, excessive wear due to 40 ton vehicles!
    But fails to address any of the other dozen problems which are fatal to the idea.

    • @elvinhaak
      @elvinhaak 4 місяці тому +1

      Well, how much does the tracktor weight that mows the grass near the path and the ditches ? They drive over the cyclepaths at least a couple of years to do this kind of work.
      And.... quite close to the edges throwing stuff around and sometimes they might just hit part of the path when they need to mow close to the paths...
      If you don't mow... well, early spring the grass and stuff here is an easy half meter high and give nice shades on the path too.
      Just to add that to the problems back ;-)

    • @phillyphakename1255
      @phillyphakename1255 4 місяці тому

      @@elvinhaak tractors weigh more than a bike, sure, but they are far less than a fully loaded semi truck. And a few times per year is far better than a few times per minute that the trucks drive on highways.
      Even if it isn't great, it is still far FAR less stupid than constant motor vehicle solar roads.

  • @hatterfoil
    @hatterfoil 4 місяці тому

    Nooooot again... Will this ever end? Someone should start kickstarter for solar strapon.

  • @abpccpba
    @abpccpba 4 місяці тому

    Seems that snow climate not mentioned and all those cloudy days.

  • @Name-ot3xw
    @Name-ot3xw 4 місяці тому +1

    The funny bit is, you could make the solar panels the roof instead of the floor and solve like 70% of the problems.

    • @michaeloxlong
      @michaeloxlong 4 місяці тому +1

      You could even market it as a shaded bike path with protection from rain and snow. 😂

    • @Name-ot3xw
      @Name-ot3xw 4 місяці тому +1

      @@Okurka. I literally did not watch this video about solar roadways. I only paid attention for the first 3 seasons.

  • @FusionDeveloper
    @FusionDeveloper 4 місяці тому

    Solar panels on the ground have the huge benefit of making it collect solar energy without taking up more room.
    The downside is everything.

  • @miker99
    @miker99 4 місяці тому

    why couldn't they put a solar roof over a bike pathway instead of on he pathway? Could block rain, and could be shade on hot days, and may provide light at night. This seems more practical than on the path.

  • @Herby-1620
    @Herby-1620 4 місяці тому

    It seems to me that it might be more cost effective to erect an overhead canopy style solar collector and provide some shade at the same time. Of course it might actually work. 🙂

  • @TheJazzNL
    @TheJazzNL 4 місяці тому

    The company behind the failed solar path mentioned in the beginning of the video went bankrupt at the beginning of the year, as for the new paths the onen in Noord-Holland seems to be at the "Schipholweg (N232)" at "Vijfhuizen" in the municipality "Haarlemmermeer" and the one in Noord-Braband at the N285 close to "Zevenbergschenhoek" in the municepality "Drimmelen". Innitialy there was to be a third roadway in the province of "Zuid-Holland" but this one got canceled

  • @BenjaminGoose
    @BenjaminGoose 4 місяці тому

    Why are they putting solar panels on the ground when they are more effective and far better protected on roofs?