A. Baro
E2SOL LLC,
United States
Keywords: highways, power generation, energy storage, utility virtual power
Summary:
Highways contribute significantly to carbon emissions from vehicular traffic. Installing solar modules on existing concrete barriers provides us with a dual solution: harnessing renewable energy and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Solar modules in the right-of-way have been conceptualized before. Numerous projects around the world have been carried out, each with its unique traits. Notable examples include France’s Wattway, which aimed to install modules into the roadway itself, and Switzerland, which has initiated solar cell installation on highway noise barriers. These projects encountered barriers such as considerable wear and tear and unsafe glare during specific sun lighting periods, respectively. Downregulated efficiency and unsafe conditions for drivers will not be a factor for E2SOL’s Smart Solar Highway Project due to design specifications preventing drivers’ sightline to and direct contact with all solar modules. A Smart Solar Highway project demonstrates the integration of advanced technology with existing dormant infrastructure to produce renewable energy and improve grid power resiliency. Solar modules would be mounted in series on structural brackets fixed to existing concrete barriers, much like highway lighting poles are mounted in some regions. Rhode Island’s 73.2 miles of concrete barriers (approximately 386,542 linear feet) present significant opportunities for solar highway median barrier installations. If all possible existing concrete median assets are used, a modular system comprising high-wattage solar modules (i.e., 635 watts) with integrated energy storage capability of 1 kilowatt per module projects to generate approximately 65,931 Megawatt Hours (MWh) annually (5). The ability to store 32,965 MWh surplus energy ensures power availability during off-peak hours in the evening or during adverse weather conditions due to New England’s weather variability. Modular designs further increase resilience, ensuring uninterrupted energy for critical services like Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) stations, highway lighting, and traffic systems’ electrical demands. The estimated energy generation could power approximately 9,307 Rhode Island households annually (3). The smart solar highway system’s energy generation (estimated 65,931 MWh annually) could significantly bolster Rhode Island’s renewable energy resources. For context, Rhode Island’s total direct electricity demand in 2023 was 222 MWh (4). This project alone could contribute to offsetting 30% of that power demand, significantly reducing dependence on grid-based electricity and other fuel sources (e.g., gas). If this innovative product system were to be implemented, the RI Department of Transportation could offset an estimated 65,931 MWh annually under the RI Net Metering program, helping to achieve cost savings estimated at $14.25M (based on Rhode Island’s 2023 average electric retail sales cost of $0.2162/kWh) (4). It could also generate annualized revenue by selling its renewable power to the Utility under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement Program (Tariff Incentive), or it could sell its renewable power to local community residents at a lower cost than private utilities, helping local communities save on their electric cost expenses. Integrating energy storage allows energy export during peak demand periods. It can also deliver power in times of utility power outages from extreme climate events.