Noise protection walls alongside federal German trunk roads offer a tremendous energy potential, the amount of which has not been rigorously examined yet. Investigations into their suitability for photovoltaic energy production in an area-wide manner are still missing. The appropriate tools and data to analyze and evaluate the suitability either of single walls or in a statistical overview are not readily available. The results of this research project represent a contribution to close these gaps. The methods and processes developed in the project allow assessing the suitability for implementation of photovoltaic elements at a given location on the basis of the noise/wildlife-barrier cadaster that was also created in the project. This cadaster comprises information about the space surrounding federal trunk roads as well as on existing noise-barriers from different sources, which were systematized and converted into a common data model. In addition to the solar potential assessment, the cadaster was used to evaluate the permeability (or lack thereof) of roads for wildlife. The compiled data was consolidated in a geographical information system (GIS). The developed GIS tools enable the determination of the photovoltaic potential at every location within the federal trunk road space. It is possible to estimate the yield for existing noise barriers as well as those of prospective locations for planning purposes. Thereby a basis for strengthening investments from the private sector is established. The results were processed and supplied with a smooth import into BISStra as a goal. A comprehensive register presents an overview of the documented noise-protection barriers alongside federal trunk-roads. Federal data from the roadside facility database are mapped, as well as from noise-surveys of the individual federal German states. The results of the research project are an input to evaluate the economic relevance of multi-functional use of noise-protection facilities. The suitability for the equipment with photovoltaic elements of prospective facilities can be estimated as early as the planning phase. The implementation of results from the BfN is of high practical and scientific importance, especially in its re-application to regional investigation. (Author/publisher)
Abstract