Could this new sidewalk be paving the way for greener energy sourcing throughout different localities in Malta and Gozo? 

Solar panels are now replacing the very ground we walk on. The Għeriexem road in Rabat has just gotten quite the electric upgrade with new electric car charging stations and Malta’s first solar panel footpaths. 

The energy generated from these newly installed panels will be used to power 40 per cent of the lighting on the whole promenade. 

The 36 photovoltaic panels now cover the 40 m2 promenade. The footpaths generate a whopping 4,600kWh of electricity annually, reducing an estimated 21 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

The best part? They’re not all for show. 

The digital display next to the walkway will give pedestrians live updates on the amount of energy generated by the panels and the carbon dioxide emission savings. 

This could be just the beginning - Rabat is a mere test to determine whether this system can be implemented in smaller public spaces around the islands. 

Do you think more pavements should be given the solar panel upgrade?