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This European country is a cultural attraction to millions of tourists annually. It boasts the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, and its cuisine and opera could bring grown men to tears. Now, it will have a new feature in Europe. The country has debuted a highway paved with solar panels and will feature 26 wind turbines that are expected to produce 40,000,000 kWh annually. See how this country breathed new life into an old route by combining art and renewable technology.
Europe debuted a highway paved with renewables
If you’ve been to Europe between the 60s and the 70s, you may have been awe-stricken by the new massive and daring works constructed for the Scilla-Bagnara route within the Salerno-Reggio Calabria motorway. This scenic route featured a series of elegant viaducts that were designed by Morandi, Nervi, and Zorzi, and showcased striking views over nearly-intact terrace farms on one side and a breathtaking view of the sea of the Calabria coast, the Channel, Sicily, and the Eolie Islands on the other.
Unfortunately, the route became outdated, and demolition was planned, which would have cost nearly €50 million to demolish the old route, including the removal of waste. Instead, to maintain the unique viaducts fully integrated within the landscape, the town chose to run an international contest for proposals to repurpose the route and its unique structures in an eco-friendly manner.
Breathing new life into an old route
Francesco Colarossi, Giovanna Saracino, and Luisa Saracino realized a proposal that breathed new life into the old route. Their proposal entailed the Solar Wind project for the International competition “Parco Solare Sud,” or Solar Park South, held by the Calabria Region. Their concept, Solar Wind, is a hybrid system of solar and wind power that would allow uninterrupted clean power production.
The design team’s proposal entailed 26 wind turbines integrated into the viaduct piers as a ring structure, partly hanging by a frame. According to the designers, the turbines could produce a whopping 36 million kWh of power annually. Their concept also included a solar-paneled road, which could produce an additional 11.2 million kWh annually.
The road’s asphalt was replaced with a high-tech system composed of a dense grid of solar cells coated with a transparent and highly resistant form of plastic. This concept is not new, as you can also convert every step into power with this futuristic flooring. Altogether, the Solar Wind system would produce 40 million kWh annually, which is enough power for nearly 15,000 families.
Establishing so much more than power en route
This contest was about more than just maintaining the old route. By repurposing it, connections between local communities in the region and access to several valuable crops were also preserved. It also promoted innovative approaches to creating environmental and land art, which inspires more responsible tourism. The new, reimagined route ensures contained land-use and a decreased impact on the landscape and the environment.
Additional benefits of repurposing the old route
- The entire viaduct was turned into a park with parking spaces to enjoy the scenic Italian coast views
- The “green promenade” offers panoramic views while producing green power in self-sufficient greenhouses
- Visitors can stop and purchase local products grown in the greenhouses
- Decreased carbon footprint
- Overall construction cost fell within the original demolition budget
The Solar Wind project not only maintained the original unique designs from the past, but it also helped to incorporate the past with the present, sustaining Europe’s future in an eco-friendly way. This project not only ensures the conservation of historical sites, but also the conservation of the environment while promoting green tourism. America is also known for its incorporation of art with renewable energy, as can be seen by the kinetic sculpture that dances without energy.