Introduction: Solar Walkways – An Energy Revolution Underfoot

In early 2024, the solar walkway system saw multiple breakthrough innovations. From Hungary‘s Platio Solar launching walkable PV panels with a 300 kg load capacity, to Spain’s Solum unveiling its Arena solar pavement for roofs and terraces, and Turkey‘s Ankara Solar entering European and US markets with its walkable solar flooring – PV technology is moving from “rooftops” to “ground surfaces,” turning every square meter of walking space into a clean energy production unit.

At the same time, German designer Peter Kuczia won an A’ Design Award for his Sunopy solar canopy, the California Department of Transportation announced it would explore the Dutch SolaRoad solar road technology, and Port Alberni in Canada activated a solar‑lit walkway. These developments together illustrate the diverse application prospects of solar walkway systems.

Part One: Walkable Solar Panels – From Concept to Commercialisation

1.1 Platio Solar: Walkable PV Panels with 300 kg Load Capacity

In September 2024, Hungarian green technology company Platio Solar announced the launch of its new generation of walkable solar panel products. According to the company, the new panels can withstand approximately 300 kg of human weight, making them suitable for pedestrian‑dense areas.

Product Specifications:

Platio‘s solar paving bricks are made from recycled plastic, offering dual sustainability – generating green energy while valorising plastic waste. Previously, the city of Groningen in the Netherlands installed a 400‑metre (about 1,312‑foot) Platio solar path that remains stable even under bicycle traffic.

1.2 Solum Arena: Non‑Slip Solar Pavement for the European Market

In June 2024, Spanish start‑up Solum officially launched its Arena series of walkable solar panels, designed specifically for activating roof and terrace spaces.

Product Parameters:

Solum co‑founder Luis Muñoz Lombardo said that Arena panels are compatible with various floor types, easy to clean, and can compete with conventional solar panels in terms of return on investment. Target installation scenarios include hotel terraces, office buildings, sports centres and residential complexes. The company also plans to collaborate with interested cities to develop solar cycle paths.

1.3 Ankara Solar: Turkey‘s Largest Manufacturer Enters European and US Markets

In September 2024, Ankara Solar, Turkey’s largest solar manufacturer, officially launched its “walkable solar flooring” product line for European and US markets.

Product Specifications:

Technical features:

Waterproof, dustproof and non‑slip design

Can withstand heavy pedestrian traffic

Suitable for indoor and outdoor spaces

Optional smart technology for real‑time generation monitoring

“At Ankara Solar, we are shaping the future of sustainable construction solutions with cutting‑edge PV floor technology,” the company‘s official product launch states. “Our photovoltaic flooring system seamlessly integrates solar power generation into the spaces where you live and work, transforming ordinary floors into extraordinary energy producers.”

Envisaged application scenarios include shopping malls, office buildings, residential complexes and parks. Notably, unlike the failed solar road concepts of earlier years, Ankara Solar’s technology focuses on pedestrian rather than vehicle loads – a differentiated positioning that makes it significantly more commercially viable.

Part Two: Canopy Walkways – Sunopy Solar Canopy Wins International Design Award

In April 2024, German designer Peter Kuczia‘s Sunopy solar rain protection walkway won an A’ Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category.

Design Concept:

Sunopy is a “solar‑harvesting canopy” designed for hot cities, providing pedestrians with shelter from sun and rain while generating electricity using PV panels. The project aims to enable the rapid, low‑cost construction of highly aesthetic and environmentally friendly PV urban walkways anywhere, using reusable bamboo components and standard rectangular PV modules.

Technical Parameters:

Generation Potential:

According to the design study, one kilometre of Sunopy walkway can provide about 2,000 MWh of electricity per year – enough to power 750 households or to cover 11,000 km of annual driving for more than 1,000 electric vehicles.

Project Status:

The project completed its design development in 2024, and the first pilot section is planned for Putrajaya, Malaysia. The design was developed parametrically and can adapt to the shape and alignment of any common pavement. The number of panel rows, spacing and tilt angle can all be flexibly adjusted according to local conditions.

“The system achieves a perfect synergy: the PV canopy generates electricity while protecting pedestrians from sun and rain.” – Peter Kuczia

Part Three: Vehicular Roads – California DOT Explores Solar Road Technology

In July 2024, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) signed a letter of intent with the Dutch province of North Holland to jointly explore the application of the Dutch SolaRoad solar road technology in California‘s transport infrastructure.

Technology Background:

SolaRoad is a solar pavement technology developed in the Netherlands. Solar cells are encapsulated in concrete slabs and covered with a tempered glass translucent layer. When sunlight hits the road surface, the solar cells convert light energy into electricity, which can be used for street lighting, traffic signals, electric vehicle charging and other applications.

World’s First Project:

The solar cycle path in Krommenie, the Netherlands, opened in November 2014 as the world‘s first SolaRoad project and is still under testing. The 70‑metre path is made of prefabricated concrete slabs, each 2.5 metres wide, with integrated crystalline silicon solar cells and a 1‑cm thick tempered glass surface.

California Pilot:

Caltrans District 7 (covering Los Angeles and Ventura counties) will conduct technology exploration at a maintenance rest area along Interstate 5 in Lebec, Kern County. Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty said: “We are excited to explore the use of solar energy on Caltrans assets – from emergency power generation to self‑sustaining maintenance stations, to illuminated signs and streetlights.”

Both California and the Netherlands are leaders in zero‑emission transport and energy innovation, and have committed to achieving 2030 greenhouse gas reduction and sustainable energy targets through ambitious climate action programmes.

Part Four: Supporting Application – Solar‑Lit Walkways

In November 2024, the City of Port Alberni in Canada completed its “Quay to Quay” waterfront walkway project. The 4‑km (2.5‑mile) path was equipped with 56 UP2 solar lighting systems.

Project Background:

Port Alberni is a former mill town transforming its waterfront into a public recreational space. Because it gets dark as early as 4 pm in winter, walkway lighting was a necessity, but traditional grid‑connected power would have been very expensive. The city had previously tested eight UP2 solar lights at the Somass Lands site. After one Canadian winter, the lights proved durable, reliable and low‑maintenance.

Technical Solution:

The project‘s success provides a reference for municipal applications of solar walkway systems – delivering safe, reliable lighting to public spaces without requiring grid connection.

Part Five: Industry Observations – Opportunities and Challenges for Solar Walkways

Opportunities:

Space reuse: Walkways, squares, terraces – “one space, two uses” without additional land take.

Technology maturity: Bifacial modules, non‑slip surfaces and weather resistance are increasingly mature.

Improved economics: Continued module price declines mean payback periods for some products have fallen to 4‑7 years.

Policy support: Regions such as California are actively exploring PV in transport infrastructure.

Challenges:

Load constraints: Load requirements differ vastly between pedestrian and vehicular traffic; solar roads still face durability doubts.

Generation efficiency: Ground‑mounted panels are more prone to shading and soiling, so efficiency is lower than for optimally tilted roof installations.

Cost: Although continuing to fall, solar walkway systems are still more expensive than conventional paving materials.

Lack of standardisation: The industry has not yet established uniform product standards or installation norms.

Outlook

The early‑2024 solar walkway market shows a clear evolutionary path: from Platio‘s walkable panels and Solum’s non‑slip pavement, through Ankara Solar‘s flooring products and Sunopy’s design award, to the Netherlands‘ SolaRoad and California’s pilot explorations – PV technology is integrating into urban infrastructure in diverse forms.

As Solum has demonstrated, a 4‑7 year payback period makes solar walkways economically competitive with conventional solar panels. And Sunopy‘s bamboo structure and screw‑pile foundations offer new ideas for low‑cost, rapid deployment.

In a Nutshell

In early 2024 – from Platio’s 300‑kg load‑bearing walkable panels in Hungary to Solum‘s non‑slip solar pavement in Spain, from Ankara Solar’s entry into European and US markets to Peter Kuczia‘s design‑award‑winning Sunopy – solar walkway systems are turning the idea of “walking on sunshine” from poetry into reality, making every metre of pathway a green energy production line.