An efficient way of noise prevention by application of photovoltaic modules was
first demonstrated in Switzerland in 1989. Later, the solution was applied also
in some other European countries. Noise prevention is also a research subject of
several projects conducted in European Union. Different photovoltaic noise
barriers can be built considering motorway features, barrier construction, the
height of the barrier, and other factor influence (environment etc.). Modules
are fixed on the main barrier (a wood or a solid barrier) in different ways,
such as vertical, tilted fixed as a zigzag construction (for details please
refer to the literature).
PHOTOVOLTAIC NOISE BARRIERS CASE STUDIES
Photovoltaic noise barrier along A13 in Switzerland
In 1989, TNC installed the world’s first photovoltaic noise barrier
alongside the highway near Chur, Switzerland, stretching just under a
kilometer. More than 20 years later, the system is still in operation and
delivers more than 100 MWh of electricity annually to the public grid.
| Name and location |
Photovoltaic noise barrier along A13, Switzerland |
| PV system type |
PV noise barrier grid-connected |
| Operates since |
1989 |
| Rated power |
100 kW |
| Annual yield |
176 MWh |
| Number of modules |
2208 Kyocera modules |
| Total PV area |
968 m2 |
| Module mounting |
Tilt angle 45°, 25° toward E |
| Utility interconnection |
Siemens central inverter |
TABLE 1: Photovoltaic noise barrier along A13, Switzerland, basic features
Photovoltaic noise barrier along A13, Switzerland (credit: pvresources)
Photovoltaic noise barrier at the A9-highway, the Netherlands
large photovoltaic (PV) energy system has been integrated into a noise barrier at
the A9-highway near Ouderkerk aan de Amstel (Amsterdam), the Netherlands.
The PV-system consists
of 2160 modules with module inverters. The monitoring activities within the
project are performed by ECN in
co-operation with Fraunhofer ISE, Germany.
| Name and location |
Photovoltaic noise barrier at the A9-highway, the Netherlands |
| PV system type |
PV noise barrier grid-connected |
| Operates since |
1996 |
| Rated power |
220 kW |
| Annual yield |
176 MWh |
| Number of modules |
2160 Shell Solar cSi modules |
| Total PV area |
2200 m2 |
| Module mounting |
Tilt angle 50° |
| Utility interconnection |
2160 module inverters |
TABLE 2: Photovoltaic noise barrier at the A9-motorway, basic features
PV noise barrier at the A9-motorway, the Netherlands (credit: pvresources)
PHOTOVOLTAIC NOISE BARRIERS WORLDWIDE
|
Power
|
Location
|
Description
|
Constructed
|
Picture
|
|
2.65 MW
|
Germany,
Aschaffenburg
|
Noise barrier A3
Picture courtesy: Ralos
|
2009
|
|
|
1 MW
|
Germany,
Töging am Inn
|
Noise barrier A94
|
2007
|
|
|
833 kW
|
Italy,
Oppeano
|
Noise barrier S.S. 434 Transpolesana
Picture courtesy: FAR Systems
|
2010
|
|
|
730 kW
|
Italy,
Marano d'Isera
|
Noise barrier A22 Brenner Motorway
Picture courtesy:
FAR Systems
|
2009
|
|
|
600 kW
|
Germany,
Freising
(Munich)
|
Noise barrier A92
Picture courtesy: Gehrlicher Solar
|
2003-2009
|
|
|
365 kW
|
Germany,
Freiburg
|
Noise barrier B31
|
2006
|
|
|
283 kW
|
Germany,
Bürstadt
|
Noise barrier B57
Picture courtesy:
SolarArt
|
2010
|
|
|
216 kW
|
The Netherlands,
Amstelveen
|
A9 noise barrier
Photo credit: pvresources
|
1998
|
|
|
180 kW
|
Germany
Vaterstetten
|
Noise barrier along railway tracks
|
2004
|
|
|
123 kW
|
Switzerland,
Melide
|
Noise barrier Gothard Motorway
|
2007
|
|
|
101 kW
|
Austria,
Gleisdorf
|
Noise barrier A2
|
2001
|
|
|
100 kW
|
Germany,
Sausenheim
|
Noise barrier A6
|
1999
|
|
|
100 kW
|
Switzerland,
Domat/Ems
|
World's first photovoltaic noise barrier A13 Motorway
photo credit: pvresources
|
1989
|
|
|
100 kW
|
Switzerland,
Giebenaach
|
Noise barrier A2
|
1995
|
|
|
90 kW
|
Germany,
Biessenhofen
|
Nestle facility, noise barrier
|
2010
|
|
|
80 kW
|
Switzerland,
Safenwil
|
Noise barrier A1
|
2001
|
|
|
63 kW
|
France,
Foquiere
|
Noise barrier A21
|
1999
|
|
|
60 kW
|
Germany,
Saarbrücken
|
Noise barrier A620
40 kW + 20 kW
|
1995
|
|
|
55 kW
|
The Netherlands,
Utrecht
|
Noise barrier A27
|
1995
|
|
|
53 kW
|
Germany,
Emden
|
Noise barrier A31
Picture courtesy: EWE AG
|
2003
|
|
|
40 kW
|
Austria,
Seewalchen
|
Noise barrier A1
|
1992
|
|
|
30 kW
|
Germany,
Ammersee
|
Noise barrier A96
|
1997
|
|
|
30 kW
|
Germany,
Rellingen
|
Noise barrier A23
|
1992
|
|
|
28 kW
|
Germany,
Großbettlingen
|
"Stoiadler III" noise barrier
|
2006
|
|
|
24 kW
|
Australia,
Melbourne
|
Tullamarine-Calder Interchange, adjacent to Essendon Airport, Melbourne
Picture courtesy:
Climate Managers
|
2007
|
|
|
12 kW
|
Switzerland,
Münsingen
|
Bifacial PV noise barrier along railway tracks.
|
2008
|
|
|
10 kW
|
Switzerland,
Zürich - Aubrugg
|
First bifacial photovoltaic noise barrier A1 Motorway.
|
1997
|
|
|
9.6 kW
|
Switzerland,
Zürich - Walliselen
|
First photovoltaic noise barrier along railway tracks.
|
1998
|
|
PHOTOVOLTAIC NOISE BARRIERS WEB SITES
FAR Systems
- PV noise barriers by FAR Systems.
Website also available in:
TNC
- we develop solutions that aren’t immediately apparent: we are innovators and
groundbreakers when it comes to finding practical solutions with regard to
renewable energies and energy efficiency.
Website also available in:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Books
Reports
|
Eiffert, P., Kiss, G.J.: Building-Integrated Photovoltaic;
Designs
for Commercial and Institutional Structures - A Sourcebook for Architects,
NREL/BK-520-25272, February 2000.
|
|
|
Borg, N.J.C.M, Jansen, M.I.:
Photovoltaic
noise barrier
at the A9-highway in The Netherlands - Results of the monitoring
programme; Nuon International, European Commission, 2001.
|
|
|
Thermie B Project: EU PVNB POT: Evaluation of the potencial of PV noise barrier technology for electricity production and market share; Project Number: SME 1479-97, Final Report Volume 1, TNC Gmbh, 1999.
|
|
|
Thermie B Project: EU PVNB POT: Evaluation of the potencial of PV noise barrier technology for electricity production and market share; Project Number: SME 1479-97, Final Report Volume 2 (Annex), TNC Gmbh, 1999.
|