China’s ‘solar highway’ was victim of heavy traffic and bad design, not thieves, report says
‘Stolen’ panel was actually hiding in plain sight, in thousands of tiny pieces, investigation concludes
A “solar highway” in eastern China that was reported to have been vandalised by thieves just days after opening was actually a victim of poor design, according to a local newspaper.
Following an investigation, police and industry experts concluded that the road in Jinan, Shandong province, was probably damaged by items falling or tossed from passing vehicles, Qilu Evening News reported on Monday.
An article published earlier this month by the same newspaper said that inspectors discovered a 1.8-metre-long solar panel missing from the road and several others broken. The damage was blamed on thieves, although the report did not carry a statement from the police.
The 1km-long photovoltaic highway opened for testing on December 28 and the problem was spotted several days later.
After the claims of foul play, police investigators and specialist inspectors visited the site and conducted an inquiry.
