Can solar energy be used in highways?

The integration of energy and transportation is a prerequisite for ensuring a rational, practical, and sustainable evolution of energy conservation. This study proposes a planning strategy combining the maximum exploitation of solar resources and road area to utilize solar energy in highways entirely.

Could a highway solar roof be a solution to underexploited road networks?

The Austrian Institute of Technology, Fraunhofer ISE, and Forster Industrietechnik are developing a new rooftop PV system concept for motorways. They aim to harness the potential of underexploited road networks to generate electricity. The highway solar roof could look like this. Image: SONNENKRAFT/HSH From pv magazine Germany

Can PV systems be used in highways?

The design of the capacity and site of PV systems in highways is a significant issue that requires attention. Some studies have conducted the methods of designing PV systems in road areas such as roadside infrastructure , service area , and asphalt pavement .

Can PV be used for energy harvesting in road structures?

Subsequently, Dai et al. introduced one solution for PV applications for energy harvesting in road structures: to take advantage of the spare ground in road facilities without traffic loads. These practices have been applied in the medians and slopes of roads and open spaces in interchanges.

Are there solar resources within the road area?

The results indicate that there are abundant solar resources within the road area. It demonstrates that solar resources could accurately characterized and error reduced to 50 kWh/m2 by using a 500 m long road segment. Additionally, the exploitability index was proposed to evaluate the magnitude of road area.

How accurate is solar energy distribution of a road?

The solar energy distribution of the highway is accurately evaluated by 500 m long road segment, and the error is reduced by 50 kWh/m2. The effective photovoltaic-available road area for different facilities, such as central separators, guard rails, slopes, side slopes, and road borders, is quantitatively evaluated.