A novel acoustical barrier that that doubles as a solar power source will be installed along the A16 motorway near Dordrecht, Netherlands.
Commissioned by the Directorate for Public Works and Water Management, ECN is developing a prototype for this noise barrier, which will be no less than 450 meters (1476 ft) long and 6 meters (20 ft) high. The innovative aspect is that power will be generated on both sides of the noise barrier with the help of solar cells.
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“It will not be a concrete wall,” explains Wilma Eerenstein of the Energy Center of the Netherlands (ECN). “You will be able to see through the panels, so that motorists do not feel confined. But the most important thing is, of course, that the barrier suppresses the noise and generates energy at the same time.”
What is special is that the barrier components consist of two-sided solar cells. This means that there will not be any solar panels on the barrier. Wilma Eerenstein: “If we install the components in a north/south direction, we can absorb the morning light from the east and the afternoon light from the west. This will enable us to significantly increase the energy output.”
The main challenge is the traffic. How do you limit the hinder caused by spattering dirt and exhaust fumes? And how will the shadows of cars or lorries affect the barrier? Eerenstein: “The barrier will be 6 meters high. The upper 4 meters will be fitted with PV panels with a special coating and the lower 2 meters of the barrier will be made of glass. This is both practical and cost-effective.”
In the coming year, ECN will develop the design specifications. The prototype is expected to be complete in 2015. “We are creating a design for the layout, developing a test panel and measuring the power output through a solar simulator. In this way, we can calculate the most ideal position for the barrier,” explains Wilma Eerenstein. The actual works for the development and construction of the barrier will be put out to tender in 2015 by the Directorate for Public Works and Water Management.
The construction of the noise barrier in Dordrecht is expected to start in mid-2016 and will serve as a demonstration project until 2021. Eerenstein: “The Directorate for Public Works and Water Management would in any case have installed the noise barrier at Dordrecht. However, with the European Commission subsidy, we are now able to apply and test the latest technology.” According to Wilma, solar energy along motorways holds prospects for the future. “In the future, one might consider an electrical connection with charging stations for electric vehicles. Our main aim is to use the results of this demonstration to prove the added value of two-sided panels. These can then be applied in other markets, such as in deserts or greenhouses.” Moreover, both ECN and the Directorate for Public Works and Water Management expect an increased demand for this type of noise barrier if the demonstration is a success. Such a solution can be applied anywhere in the world.