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Solar road technology provides an opportunity to harvest the vast, albeit dispersed, photovoltaic (PV) energy, while maximizing the land utilization. Deriving experience from the pioneering 70-m solar bike path installed in the Netherlands, this paper highlights the operational challenges and performance parameters using the first-year measured data. The theoretically predicted energy yield is compared with the measured energy yield. Based on the best performing module, the benchmark annual energy yield is set to 85-90 kWh/m 2 specific to the installation site. It is shown that this value can be bettered by about 1.5 times if different cell technology such as monocrystalline is used. With different installation sites around the world, thermal behavior as well as annual energy yield changes. Theoretical proof is offered that it is not unreasonable to expect an annual energy yield in the upwards of 150 kWh/m 2 with solar road energy harvesting technology. For example, the annual yield is found to be 213 kWh/m 2 if the same model is simulated for a solar road PV installation in India, which increased further with the use of monocrystalline to almost 300 kWh/m 2 .

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Arie Romeijn, born 1958. PhD on Stress and Strain Concentration Factors of Welded Multiplanar Tubular Joints. Specialist in the field of bridges, offshore structures and fatigue. SummaryThe most uncomfortable vibrations for train passengers occur at vertical track irregularities like bridges and transitions. The Eurocode limits the vibration level by prescribing minimum bridge stiffness. However, the theoretical background of these limits is not clear. The scope of this study is to give a review on these stiffness limits based on a probabilistic approach. This approach uses a renewed comfort model for the relation between comfort and vertical vibrations, and a state of the art dynamic model for the relation between vibrations and bridge stiffness. Based on this probabilistic approach, a case has been studied in which the minimum stiffness for a bridge like the Moerdijk Bridge has been calculated. The results differ significantly from the Eurocode: according to the probabilistic approach a bridge may be a factor 1.8 less stiff than prescribed. Should the Eurocode be reviewed?