IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i6p2358-d1355821.html

Integrating Renewable Energy in Transportation: Challenges, Solutions, and Future Prospects on Photovoltaic Noise Barriers

Author

Listed:
  • Qiong Wu

    (China Academy of Transportation Sciences, No. 240 Huixinli, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
    CATS Environmental Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., No. 240 Huixinli, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors.)

  • Xiaofeng Zhang

    (China Academy of Transportation Sciences, No. 240 Huixinli, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors.)

  • Qi Wang

    (CATS Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd., No. 8 Xitucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100088, China)

Abstract

The photovoltaic noise barrier (PVNB), a solar noise barrier, is an innovative integration of transportation and renewable energy. It is primarily installed alongside roads near acoustic environmental protection targets in proximity to traffic lanes. PVNBs serve the dual purpose of reducing noise pollution and harnessing solar energy. The electricity generated is used for traffic lights, surveillance, and even feeding into the power grid. This helps to reduce pollution and carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the current research and practical applications of PVNBs, focusing on their unique features. It systematically addresses challenges and proposes solutions concerning optimal site selection, safety standards, noise attenuation effectiveness, power generation efficiency, durability, operational maintenance, and collaborative efforts across various departments. Additionally, this paper highlights the importance of conducting advanced research into glare mechanisms, improving site selection processes, optimizing design strategies, enhancing management and maintenance systems, and conducting comprehensive life-cycle cost–benefit analyses. This research aims to offer scientific insights for designing and deploying PVNBs, thereby fostering the progressive adoption and application of distributed photovoltaics in transportation infrastructures.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiong Wu & Xiaofeng Zhang & Qi Wang, 2024. "Integrating Renewable Energy in Transportation: Challenges, Solutions, and Future Prospects on Photovoltaic Noise Barriers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2358-:d:1355821
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/6/2358/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/6/2358/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pillai, Gobind G. & Putrus, Ghanim A. & Georgitsioti, Tatiani & Pearsall, Nicola M., 2014. "Near-term economic benefits from grid-connected residential PV (photovoltaic) systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 832-843.
    2. Kanellis, Michalis & de Jong, Minne M. & Slooff, Lenneke & Debije, Michael G., 2017. "The solar noise barrier project: 1. Effect of incident light orientation on the performance of a large-scale luminescent solar concentrator noise barrier," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 647-652.
    3. Bognár, Ádám & Kusnadi, Suryadi & Slooff, Lenneke H. & Tzikas, Chris & Loonen, Roel C.G.M. & de Jong, Minne M. & Hensen, Jan L.M. & Debije, Michael G., 2020. "The solar noise barrier project 4: Modeling of full-scale luminescent solar concentrator noise barrier panels," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 1141-1149.
    4. Zimmerman, Ryan & Panda, Anurag & Bulović, Vladimir, 2020. "Techno-economic assessment and deployment strategies for vertically-mounted photovoltaic panels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    5. De Schepper, Ellen & Van Passel, Steven & Manca, Jean & Thewys, Theo, 2012. "Combining photovoltaics and sound barriers – A feasibility study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 297-303.
    6. Myong, Seung Yeop & Jeon, Sang Won, 2016. "Efficient outdoor performance of esthetic bifacial a-Si:H semi-transparent PV modules," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 312-320.
    7. Mohd.Ali, Jagabar Sathik & Krishnaswamy, Vijayakumar, 2018. "An assessment of recent multilevel inverter topologies with reduced power electronics components for renewable applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3379-3399.
    8. González, Arnau & Riba, Jordi-Roger & Rius, Antoni & Puig, Rita, 2015. "Optimal sizing of a hybrid grid-connected photovoltaic and wind power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 752-762.
    9. Trzmiel, G. & Głuchy, D. & Kurz, D., 2020. "The impact of shading on the exploitation of photovoltaic installations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 480-498.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Allahdadi, Hamidreza & Allahdadi, Mohammad & Amlashi, Amir Tavana & Walubita, Lubinda F. & Dessouky, Samer, 2025. "Eco-friendly pathways: Exploring the potential of remote-controlled photovoltaic pavement in pedestrian sidewalks," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhang, Kai & Wang, Dajiang & Chen, Min & Zhu, Rui & Zhang, Fan & Zhong, Teng & Qian, Zhen & Wang, Yazhou & Li, Hengyue & Wang, Yijie & Lü, Guonian & Yan, Jinyue, 2024. "Power generation assessment of photovoltaic noise barriers across 52 major Chinese cities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 361(C).
    2. Hasan Huseyin Coban & Wojciech Lewicki & Radosław Miśkiewicz & Wojciech Drożdż, 2022. "The Economic Dimension of Using the Integration of Highway Sound Screens with Solar Panels in the Process of Generating Green Energy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Every, Jeremy & Li, Li & Dorrell, David G., 2017. "Leveraging smart meter data for economic optimization of residential photovoltaics under existing tariff structures and incentive schemes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C), pages 158-173.
    4. Jouttijärvi, Sami & Lobaccaro, Gabriele & Kamppinen, Aleksi & Miettunen, Kati, 2022. "Benefits of bifacial solar cells combined with low voltage power grids at high latitudes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    5. Tomar, Vivek & Tiwari, G.N., 2017. "Techno-economic evaluation of grid connected PV system for households with feed in tariff and time of day tariff regulation in New Delhi – A sustainable approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 822-835.
    6. Zhong, Teng & Zhang, Kai & Chen, Min & Wang, Yijie & Zhu, Rui & Zhang, Zhixin & Zhou, Zixuan & Qian, Zhen & Lv, Guonian & Yan, Jinyue, 2021. "Assessment of solar photovoltaic potentials on urban noise barriers using street-view imagery," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 181-194.
    7. Bhatt, Ankit & Sharma, M.P. & Saini, R.P., 2016. "Feasibility and sensitivity analysis of an off-grid micro hydro–photovoltaic–biomass and biogas–diesel–battery hybrid energy system for a remote area in Uttarakhand state, India," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 53-69.
    8. Rajbongshi, Rumi & Borgohain, Devashree & Mahapatra, Sadhan, 2017. "Optimization of PV-biomass-diesel and grid base hybrid energy systems for rural electrification by using HOMER," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 461-474.
    9. Zimmerman, Ryan & Panda, Anurag & Bulović, Vladimir, 2020. "Techno-economic assessment and deployment strategies for vertically-mounted photovoltaic panels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    10. Sun, Wei & Harrison, Gareth P., 2019. "Wind-solar complementarity and effective use of distribution network capacity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 89-101.
    11. Jaszczur, Marek & Hassan, Qusay & Palej, Patryk & Abdulateef, Jasim, 2020. "Multi-Objective optimisation of a micro-grid hybrid power system for household application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    12. Wen, Shuli & Lan, Hai & Hong, Ying-Yi & Yu, David C. & Zhang, Lijun & Cheng, Peng, 2016. "Allocation of ESS by interval optimization method considering impact of ship swinging on hybrid PV/diesel ship power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 158-167.
    13. Mohseni, Soheil & Brent, Alan C. & Burmester, Daniel, 2020. "A comparison of metaheuristics for the optimal capacity planning of an isolated, battery-less, hydrogen-based micro-grid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    14. Minjeong Sim & Dongjun Suh & Marc-Oliver Otto, 2021. "Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Decision Support Model for Integrating Renewable Energy Systems in a Korean Campus Building," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-18, August.
    15. Alexander N. Kozlov & Nikita V. Tomin & Denis N. Sidorov & Electo E. S. Lora & Victor G. Kurbatsky, 2020. "Optimal Operation Control of PV-Biomass Gasifier-Diesel-Hybrid Systems Using Reinforcement Learning Techniques," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-20, May.
    16. Cai, Baoping & Liu, Yonghong & Ma, Yunpeng & Huang, Lei & Liu, Zengkai, 2015. "A framework for the reliability evaluation of grid-connected photovoltaic systems in the presence of intermittent faults," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(P2), pages 1308-1320.
    17. Bertsiou, M. & Feloni, E. & Karpouzos, D. & Baltas, E., 2018. "Water management and electricity output of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) in Fournoi Island in Aegean Sea," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 790-798.
    18. Nie, Qi & Li, Kuilin & Li, Wenqing & Liu, Fucai & Luo, Xiao, 2026. "Multifunctional luminescent solar concentrators: Metrics, advanced materials and smart energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    19. Luo, Yongqiang & Zhang, Ling & Wang, Xiliang & Xie, Lei & Liu, Zhongbing & Wu, Jing & Zhang, Yelin & He, Xihua, 2017. "A comparative study on thermal performance evaluation of a new double skin façade system integrated with photovoltaic blinds," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 281-293.
    20. Ogunjuyigbe, A.S.O. & Ayodele, T.R. & Akinola, O.A., 2016. "Optimal allocation and sizing of PV/Wind/Split-diesel/Battery hybrid energy system for minimizing life cycle cost, carbon emission and dump energy of remote residential building," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 153-171.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2358-:d:1355821. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.