| Title | Highway renewable energy : photovoltaic noise barriers |
|---|---|
| Record ID | 62341 |
| Personal Name Creator |
Poe, Carson; Plovnick, Amy; Hodges, Tina; Hastings, Aaron; Dresley, Sue |
| Source | 38p. in various pagings |
| Corporate Creator | John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.) |
| Corporate Contributor |
United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Natural Environment |
| Publisher | United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Natural Environment |
| Publication Date | 20170700 |
| Language | English |
| Abstract | Highway photovoltaic noise barriers (PVNBs) represent the combination of noise barrier systems and photovoltaic systems in order to mitigate traffic noise while simultaneously producing renewable energy. First deployed in Switzerland in 1989, PVNBs are now found in several countries where transportation agencies have sought ways to find multiple uses of their infrastructure. The PVNB experience documented in literature and supplemented through a series of interviews provides evidence suggesting that noise barriers can be designed to produce renewable energy without compromising their abilities to reduce noise, and do so safely. The business case for a PVNB often hinges on the availability of subsidies or other incentives that promote the renewable energy market. Although the first highway PVNB is yet to be constructed domestically, at least two State Departments of Transportation are currently working with partners to pursue PVNB pilots in the United States. Given the substantial extent of noise barriers in the country, the potential for solar energy production on American noise barriers is likely at least 400 Gigawatt hours annually, roughly equivalent to the annual electricity use of 37,000 homes, and perhaps much higher. |
| Rosap ID | dot:32521 |
| Rosap URL | https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/32521 |
| TRT Terms | Renewable energy sources; Noise barriers; Solar collectors; Solar energy; Literature reviews |
| General Subjects | Photovoltaic noise barriers; Solar noise barriers; Sustainability |
| Classification | NTL - HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION - HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION; NTL - HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION - Design |
| Geographical Coverage |
Switzerland; Germany; Netherlands; Australia; Massachusetts |
| TRIS Online Accession No |
1644148 |
| Contract Number | HW9HA2/QD169; HW9HA2/QC749 |
| Report Number | DOT-VNTSC-FHWA-17-20; FHWA-HEP-17-088 |
| Availability | Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center |
| Resource type | Tech Report |
| URL | https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/62000/62300/62341/fhwahep17088.pdf |
| Format | |
| Database | NTL Digital Repository |