Another amazing solar roof cycling path opens, this time in India

A solar roof cycling path is a win on so many levels: providing shade for bike commuters on a warming planet along with much-needed safe cycling infrastructure so more people will choose sustainable transportation not to mention creating a steady stream of green energy. The trifecta.

The construction of a sustainable solar roof cycling path around Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) is nearing completion, with an anticipated inauguration in the first week of September. Named Healthway, this 23-kilometer three-lane track has two stretches — 8.5 kilometers from Nanakramguda to Telangana State Police Academy (TSPA) and 14.5 kilometers from Kollur to Narsingi— converging at Narsingi Junction.

Inspired by the South Korean bike highway with solar panels, the aim is to ensure a better experience for cyclists. There will be cycle rentals, bike repair stations at access points, food trucks, and car parking where people can park their vehicles and spend time as a family.

Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is setting up a 23 km long eco-friendly solar cycle track with world-class standards near the Hyderabad Outer Ring Road (ORR).

Erik Solheim, former Norwegian minister and renowned environmentalist, commended Telangana’s IT and Industries Minister, K T Rama Rao, for his initiative in constructing a solar roof cycling track near Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road. During his official visit to Hyderabad, Solheim took a trial run on the track (pictured above) alongside Arvind Kumar, Special Chief Secretary of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department and posted about it on social media.

The 23-kilometer, three-lane cycle path will connect Nanakramguda to the Telangana State Police Academy, with an additional 14.5-kilometer stretch from Kollur to Narsingi. The track features various amenities, including parking spaces, security cameras, bike docking and rental stations, food courts, water fountains, restrooms, and basic bicycle repair shops. Notably, solar roof panels will provide separation from main traffic, enhance safety, offer protection from the elements, and generate sustainable energy.

The inspiration for the project is a remarkable 5.5-mile solar panel-lined bike path in South Korea that sits at the center of an eight-lane highway, connecting Daejeon and Sejong cities. This innovative project, initiated in 2014, was designed to combine clean energy generation with exercise opportunities.

The pathway in South Korea uses 7,502 solar panels spaced at approximately 30-inch intervals. These solar panels stretch across three out of the path’s 5.5 miles and have the capacity to generate an annual average of 2,200 MWh of eco-friendly electricity. This clean energy powers numerous streetlights and electronic displays in Sejong, equivalent to supplying approximately 600 households with electricity, as confirmed by South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

While prioritizing energy independence may have caused a detour from the transition to renewables, South Korea remains committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2045, five years ahead of the EU target. As part of the European effort, the continent recently witnessed the debut of its first solar panel roof-covered cycling path in the city of Freiburg, located approximately a two-hour drive south of Stuttgart, Germany.

This photovoltaic (PV) pilot project spans just 300 meters and comprises more than 900 translucent glass solar panels. It is expected to generate approximately 280 MWh of solar power annually.

Creating cycling infrastructure that allows riders to be shaded from the sun on a warming planet could provide very useful in addition to the opportunity to create sustainable energy. There are just so many wins with projects like this. More please.