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The government is currently exploring the installation of solar panels along motorways and various other spaces to harness the full potential of solar energy as part of its broader sustainability strategy to meet national renewable energy targets.
This new initiative is part of the broader sustainability strategy outlined by several Luxembourgish political parties during the last national elections and included in the current coalition agreement. The government plans to not only install photovoltaic panels along the country's motorways but also make use of other available spaces to further the green energy transition. These include the roofs of public buildings, new constructions, car parks, and even some agricultural land to explore the full potential of solar energy, wherever feasible.
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On Tuesday, the Mobility and Economy Ministries announced that the survey initiated at the start of this legislative term revealed "great potential" for developing photovoltaic systems along Luxembourg's motorway network. The initial phase of this survey focused on the A3, which is currently being widened. This was "a strategic choice", according to the two Ministries, to take advantage of the ongoing construction work and integrate solar energy solutions into the motorway's infrastructure.
If the survey concludes that the A3 provides a promising opportunity, then details regarding the exact location along the route where the solar panels will be placed have still to be determined. "The immediate surroundings of the motorway are very limited, so the survey also focuses on both state-owned and private areas within a wider corridor", according to the press release published on Tuesday afternoon.
For now, the survey assesses the "theoretical" potential of photovoltaic systems and will provide "recommendations" for the installation along Luxembourg's motorways. It will be up to the inter-ministerial task force to determine which projects should be prioritised. To make their final decision, the task force will have to consider the technical feasibility of these projects while also navigating the sensitive surroundings and securing the necessary land.
The Economy Ministry highlighted this issue on Tuesday by mentioning the "promising areas" identified in the survey in the past months. The Ministry also confirmed that efforts have been made to direct the respective landowners toward government support instruments, allowing the state to use these areas for installing solar panels. These efforts are set to intensify over the coming months, according to the Ministry's dossier.
However, the government also insists on the need to implement "other measures" to achieve Luxembourg's national renewable energy targets. The Grand Duchy recently faced criticism by the European Union for failing to meet its targets in this area.
