This is a first: two photovoltaic installations have been authorized to be installed on the Oberland motorway (the A15), near Wangen-Brüttisellen in the canton of Zurich, the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) told the NZZ. The newspaper indicates that “these are the first solar installations in Switzerland built by private parties” as part of a OFROU program to develop usable spaces on motorways. Thus, the noise barriers will be covered with solar panels. Tests have already been carried out on cantonal roads or at the cantonal level.
The company which will carry out the experiment is Lima Solar, based in Wil in the canton of St. Gallen, which is developing its projects with the Austrian Institute of Technology in Vienna and the specialist company Focus Energie from Freiburg in Breisgau. It won the tender for noise barriers in the cantons of Zurich and Schaffhausen.
A decisive first
This first authorization from OFROU is considered decisive because, in fact, the process is complex. Noise barriers vary greatly depending on the location; it is difficult to develop techniques and shapes that can be adapted. The question of local network connectivity is also important – this is why the first installation is taking place in Wangen-Brüttisellen, says Lima Solar; the network can be easily reached there.
Additionally, security requirements are onerous. These new signs must not cause strong reflections of light or risk blinding motorists. The boss of Lima Solar, Max Schenk, told the newspaper that he had to fill out 85 pages of expert documents in order to obtain authorization.
The installation, which should come into operation in mid-2025, will provide 500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, the equivalent of half a GWh. The company is planning around fifty other areas to be equipped in the cantons of Zurich and Schaffhausen.
350 usable walls
A year ago, FEDRO launched a public call for tenders for 350 noise barriers throughout Switzerland, made available free of charge to third parties for the production of solar electricity. Federal services estimate the potential of the walls on the roads which fall under the Confederation at more than 100 gigawatt hours per year, of which around 55 GWh concerns national roads, the rest the railways. The roofs of platforms, stations and car parks as well as rest areas constitute other potentially usable surfaces.
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