A special pilot project will start this year in Baden-Württemberg: a photovoltaic system will be installed over a side lane of the A81 near Singen. It should provide insights for the future.
Singen – The expansion of alternative energy sources should be further promoted. Since the energy crisis at the latest, there has been a rethink in politics and business. Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) already announced at the presentation of the “Cleverländ” energy-saving campaign that the state would “expand photovoltaic and wind power plants like the world champions”.
Words should now be followed by deeds. The ground-breaking ceremony for an exciting pilot project will take place this year: on a side lane of the A81 near Singen in Baden-Württemberg, part of the lane will be built over by Autobahn GmbH with a photovoltaic system.
Solar modules above the road: pilot project starts in Baden-Württemberg
For the pilot project of the federal Autobahn GmbH, a system with solar modules measuring 10 by 17 meters is being built on a small section of thoroughfare next to the A81, as heise reports. The project will be accompanied for a year by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems. Their metrological and scientific results could provide insights for the continuous operation of such systems.
From mid-2023, the photovoltaic system should then be near Singen. However, the probability is not very high that German autobahns would be built across the board with solar modules, as t3n.de reports. In complete contrast to Switzerland: Germany’s neighboring country is currently examining which motorway sections are suitable for solar roofing and there are tenders for the development of the areas.
Photovoltaic systems on noise barriers are gaining in importance
If Swiss companies are interested in installing noise protection walls or rest areas with photovoltaic systems, they can contact the Federal Roads Office (Astra). And for Germany, too, the variant of solar modules on noise protection walls is becoming increasingly important. Since these have to be built under certain conditions, they have an additional benefit through the expansion with photovoltaic panels, which also makes a contribution to climate protection.
