Soccer fans attending the 2022 World Cup in Qatar may notice something a little different when walking between big games. Organisers have backed the Glasgow University PVTopia project to create a prototype, which will incorporate solar panels into footpaths around the venues. Dr Azmy Gowaid from the PVTopia project team hopes the panels will feed into nearby buildings, street lighting and traffic systems. Made from recycled, recyclable material each tile is expected to last 20 years and even incorporates an innovative cooling system to withstand the Gulf heat.

A pilot will be undertaken in Scotland early next year, and Dr Gowaid hopes after the World Cup the tiles will be installed into public spaces including schools and university campuses. “What the team at PVTopia is doing is incredible and we can’t wait to see everything in action at the World Cup.”

The original full story can be found at BBC News.