Photovoltaic Noise Barriers

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. 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 etc.

Photovoltaic noise barrier along A13 in Switzerland

In 1989, TNC installed the world's first photovoltaic noise barrier alongside the motorway 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	PV noise barrier along A13, Switzerland
Operates since	1989
Rated power	100 kW
Annual yield	100 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, technical data

PV noise barrier A13, Switzerland, credit: pvresources

Photovoltaic noise barrier along A13, Switzerland
(Image credit: pvresources)

Photovoltaic noise barrier at the A9-motorway, the Netherlands

large photovoltaic (PV) energy system has been integrated into a noise barrier at the A9-motorway near Ouderkerk aan de Amstel (Amsterdam), the Netherlands. The PV-system consists of 2160 modules with module inverters.


Name and location	PV noise barrier along A9 motorway, the Netherlands
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, technical data

PV noise barrier A9, the Netherlands, credit: pvresources

PV noise barrier at the A9-motorway, the Netherlands
(Image credit: pvresources)

Photovoltaic Noise Barriers Worldwide


Power	Location [1]	Description [2]	On Grid	Picture
2.65 MW	Germany, Aschaffenburg	Noise barrier A3 Image courtesy: Ralos	2009
1 MW	Germany, Bollberg Thuringia	Noise barrier along motorway	2015
1 MW	Germany, Töging am Inn	Noise barrier A94	2007
833 kW	Italy, Oppeano	Noise barrier S.S. 434 Transpolesana Image courtesy: FAR Systems	2010
730 kW	Italy, Marano d'Isera	Noise barrier A22 Image courtesy: FAR Systems	2009
600 kW	Germany, Freising (Munich)	Noise barrier A92 Image 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	Noise barrier A9 Image credit: pvresources	1998
180 kW	Germany Vaterstetten	Noise barrier along railway tracks	2004
123 kW	Switzerland, Melide	Noise barrier Gothard Motorway	2007
104 kW	Switzerland, Giebenach	Noise barrier A2	1995
103 kW	Switzerland, Domat/Ems	Noise barrier A13 Image credit: pvresources	1989
103 kW	Switzerland, Gordola	Noise barrier along railway	1992
101 kW	Austria, Gleisdorf	Noise barrier A2	2001
100 kW	Germany, Sausenheim	Noise barrier A6	1999
90 kW	Germany, Biessenhofen	Noise barriere Nestle facility	2010
80 kW	Switzerland, Zumikon	Noise barrier Forchstrasse, Zumikon	2014
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 Image 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, Essendon Airport, Melbourne Image courtesy: Climate Managers	2007
12 kW	Switzerland, Münsingen	Bifacial PV noise barrier along railway	2008
10 kW	Switzerland, Zürich, Aubrugg	Noise barrier A1, first bifacial PV noise barrier	1997
9.6 kW	Switzerland, Zürich, Walliselen	First photovoltaic noise barrier along railway tracks	1998
7.544 kW	Germany, München, Pasing	Transparent noise barrier Image credit: ertex solar	2013

Notes

[1]	Power is specified in MWp if DC array power is known. If DC array power is unknown than output power is specified. In some cases it is unclear if the power plant power is output or DC array power.
[2]	Not all of mentioned PV noise barriers are still in operation. List is not complete. All entries are given "as is" without warranties of any kind.

Additional Information

TNC - Strom statt Lärm - Photovoltaik Schallschutz.

Books

Prasad, D., Snow, M.: Designing with Solar Power: A Source Book for Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV); Earthscan, London 2005, ISBN 1-844071-47-2.

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.

Papers

	Clavadetscher, L. and Nordmann, Th. (2004), PV on noise barriers, Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Volume 12, Issue 6, pages 485-496, September 2004.
	Clavadetscher, L. and Nordmann, Th. (1999) 100 kWp Grid-Connected PV-Installation along the A13 Motorway in Switzerland - Plant Monitoring and Evaluation - Operation and Maintenance, Annual Reports for the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, 1990 to 1999. Project No. 32046.
	Nordmann, Th. et al. (1998) Integrated PV Noise Barriers: Six Innovative 10 kWp Testing Facilities - A German Swiss Technological and Economical Success Story! 2^nd World Congress and Exhibition on Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion, Vienna 1998.
	Nordmann, Th. et al. (1997) Eight Years of Operation Experience with two 100 kWp PV Soundbarriers, 14^th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 1997.
	Reiche, K. et al. (1997) Integrated PV-Soundbarriers: Results from the International Competition and Realisation of Six 10 kWp Testing Facilities, 14^th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 1997.
	Hille, G., Reiche, K. (1996) Potential der Photovoltaik auf Lärmschutzwänden an deutschen Verkehrswegen. 11. Symposium Photovoltaische Solarenergie. Staffelstein, Germany, 1996.
	Nordmann, Th. and Götzberger, A. (1995) Motorway Sound Barriers: The Bifacial North/South concept and the Potential in Germany, 13^th European Photovoltaic and Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 23^rd-27^th October 1995, Nice, France, p. 707-709.
	Nordmann, Th. and Götzberger, A. (1994) Motorway Sound Barriers: Recent Results and New Concepts for Advancement of Technology, IEEE First World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Hawaii, December 1994, pp. 766-773.