In 2014 the Netherlands installed the world’s first solar bike path. Let’s compute the cost of mitigation relative to electricity from coal. Of course, the sidewalk probably wasn’t intended to be a cost-effective electricity option. It's designed for qualitative rather than quantitative value, to raise awareness. However, there are real proposals to scale up this kind of technology to large numbers of sidewalks and roadways, so cost analysis is relevant.

The project cost $3.75 million for ~30kW of installed capacity (based on typical 150W/m² solar panels). Assume a CCF of 10%, and a utilization of 8% (probably generous for solar panels flat on the ground in the Netherlands). You may ignore all other costs.

Part 1. What is the levelized cost of electricity from the solar sidewalk?

=.............. $/kWh

Part 2. What is the cost of mitigation (in $/tCO₂) relative to coal electricity at $0.08/kWh and 0.9 kg CO₂/kWh. You may assume the solar sidewalk causes 0 kg CO₂ emissions/kWh.

= ..............$/tCO2

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