Amsterdam is set to begin overhauling its entire public transit system this year, with the aim to make better use of renewable energy and completely cut emissions within a decade.

The plan comes in the form of an agreement between the municipality and public transit operator GVB.

Amsterdam’s public transit system already makes use of green technology: trams run on energy generated from a waste management facility, and a number of GVB cars are electric, powered by solar panels on the roofs of the company’s own buildings.

The 10-year plan will expand massively upon these existing systems, and involve some other noticeable changes.

Electric buses, cars to run on solar energy

Amsterdam's current fleet of buses and vans will be replaced, beginning in the next three years, with fully electric models, following an initial testing period in 2015.

By 2019, GVB will also operate 50 electric rental cars in the city. As for ferries, researchers will soon begin looking into how water transit can be made more efficient.

Generating enough power to support such a system will require highly efficient use of renewable resources. GVB plans to hugely increase its solar energy-making capabilities, envisioning 2.300 panels on its own buildings and metro stations.

This will allow it to generate the same amount of energy typically consumed by 250 households.

Enabling sustainable growth

The project comes with a one-million euro investment from the city of Amsterdam, to help cover the costs of new fleets and infrastructural modifications such as vehicle charging points.

According to Alderman of Sustainability Abdeluheb Choho, the project addresses the growing city’s need for a development plan that is balanced and farsighted.

Choho hopes having an ambitious, high-profile company like GVB on board will not only push the project’s horizons, but also inspire other cities to make sustainable changes.

Source: Gemeente Amsterdam