Luxembourg's highways will be turned into solar power plants
Luxembourg has launched a study to assess the potential of photovoltaic power plants along Luxembourg's motorways. The results of this study will serve as a basis for refining and finalizing the development strategy for the entire Luxembourg motorway network in the coming months.
Promising potential
The Luxembourg government has commissioned a study to assess the potential for photovoltaic power plants along Luxembourg’s motorways. The initial results of this study are optimistic and could create opportunities for companies in the solar panel, photovoltaic and renewable energy sectors in general.
The study was carried out on the A3 motorway, which is currently undergoing an expansion phase. With appropriate measures, it would demonstrate the feasibility of projects with an installed capacity of around 150 MWp at peak times, which is the production capacity under optimal solar and temperature conditions.
Given that Luxembourg aims to achieve an overall share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption of 37% by 2030, up from 14% in 2022, this potential is more than attractive.
Pilot projects
In practice, this would involve installing noise barriers or solar fences along the motorway extension or installing ground-based photovoltaic power plants in the area between the motorway and the new Luxembourg-Bettembourg railway line, scheduled to be operational in 2028.
Another option is to use public or private land outside the motorway, up to 200 metres away, to support the installation of traditional or agro-photovoltaic solar power plants. The next phase will be followed by a study that would examine the entire 165 km of Luxembourg's motorway network in the same way.