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Bordeaux’s ring road could generate enough electricity for 420,000 homes if ambitious plans to cover it with solar panels receive the green light. The city’s ecologist mayor supports the project, which would cover 45km.

It would see two million solar panels overhang the road, placed 17m above traffic lanes (see mock image below).

The panels would capture solar energy and also cool the ring road by shading it, collect rainwater, and capture greenhouse gases. 

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The government is proposing to develop seven hectares of land next to the road for more panels. Successful bidders would rent the land for 33 years.

Bordeaux already has one of the largest photovoltaic power stations in France, with 140,000 panels covering a former landfill site.