The photovoltaic potential for electric vehicle charging along highways: A Dutch case study

The large-scale deployment of photovoltaics (PVs) along highways has the potential for the generation of clean electricity without competing for land use or burdening the power grid since energy for electric vehicles (EVs) can be generated locally on wastelands along highways near service stations. An analysis was carried out to evaluate the feasibility of integrating vertical bifacial solar modules into noise barriers. The approach involved integrating geospatial data with PV potential data using geographic information systems (GIS) technology. The results show a potential of around 200 GWh/year if all current noise barriers along highways in the Netherlands are considered suitable for PV module integration. Three case studies have been analysed regarding specific service stations for specific road orientations. It is shown that solar energy can charge more than 300 vehicles per day by combining bifacial PV noise barriers and standard mono-facial PV modules on publicly available land along the highway in all three case studies, which is sufficient to meet 80% of the expected EV charging demand along highways in 2030. This study explores the potential of integrating PV into highways noise barriers in the Netherlands. With a geospatial approach, it identifies a capacity of 200 GWh/year if all suitable barriers are utilized. Three case studies demonstrate that this could charge 10% of the current Dutch car fleet if all vehicles were converted to electric, meeting 80% of the expected EV charging demand on highways by 2030, while offering clean energy generation without competing for land or overloading the power grid. Illustration of highway with PV systems: courtesy of Studio Marco Vermeulen.image The PV potential of noise barriers in Dutch highways is 200 GWh/year.Three case studies including bifacial vertical PV noise barriers and standard tilted PV systems.PV-powered service stations can charge about 300 EVs per day.Solar fraction of EV charging is higher than 80% for all case studies.