The role of transporting photovoltaic panels on hillsides

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.

This study conducts a comprehensive literature review on physical models and performance evaluations of PV pavement. The basic three-layer structure of the pavement module is presented, and the pros and cons of different physical model designs are compared in each layer separately.

Covering highways with solar panel roofs could offer significant benefits in terms of safety and carbon emission reductions, a new analysis suggests.

This study aims to develop a method to estimate the PV power generation potential of slopes in road transport systems. Considering the geometric characteristics and structure composition of highway infrastructure, the technical approach of the potential assessment is proposed and illustrated in Figure 1.

Installing photovoltaic (PV) modules on highways is considered a promising way to support carbon neutrality in China. However, collecting the area of the highway, and precisely assessing the shadow area of the highway under complex terrain remain challenges. That severely hinders the assessment of highway PV potential.

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6 FAQs about [The role of transporting photovoltaic panels on hillsides]

How do shaded areas affect solar energy potentials of PV highways?

The solar energy potentials of PV highways are influenced by shadow areas on the highway surface created by the surrounding terrain. In this study, a total of 615 paired blocks of DEM and highway data were used to calculate the hourly shaded areas of highways throughout China, as described in Section 3.2.

How much power does a photovoltaic Highway generate in China?

By 2020, the mileage of Chinese highway was 143,684 km and the area was 3,957 km 2. The installed capacity and power generation of PV highways in China are 700.85 GW and 629.06 TWh, respectively. Installing photovoltaic (PV) modules on highways is considered a promising way to support carbon neutrality in China.

How to determine PV power generation potential of highway slopes?

The PV power generation potential of highway slopes can be determined after entering the highway geometric and radiation data and adopting the desirable placement scheme of the PV array. Figure 1. The technical approach of the highway slope PV power generation potential assessment. 2.1. Highway Segmentation and Slope Area Calculation

Can PV PGP be assessed on Highway slopes?

Therefore, this study proposes an assessment method for the PV PGP on highway slopes using the design or calculated highway and slope geometric parameters and the solar radiation received by PV panels under the desirable placement scheme.

Can photovoltaic panels be placed on a slope of a road?

Layout of photovoltaic panels on the south-facing slope of the road. Similarly, the optimal tilt angles of PV arrays on the slopes of roads in typical directions could be simulated and derived using PVsyst7.2, and they are shown in Table 2. However, the desirable PV array placement may not always be in the same orientation as the target slope.

Can highway tunnel segments receive solar energy?

Furthermore, highway tunnel segments cannot receive solar radiation. When calculating the total solar energy potential of highways, the solar energy received by tunnel segments should be subtracted to achieve a more precise solar energy potential estimate.

The role of transporting photovoltaic panels on hillsides