Analysing the efficiency of solar roads within settlement areas in Germany

Abstract

Solar roads are solar panels to be placed on existing roads, where you can drive and walk on. The application of solar roads is very expensive at the beginning, but can pay for itself after several years and even pay-off. Nevertheless, for municipalities this might be a big financial effort. The aim of this project was analysing the potential of solar roads in the German city Bensheim. In this area for each street section different parameters like Sky View Factor, slope gradient and exposure, orientation of the street and parking space were defined. Finally, it could be shown, that some segments are more preferable – wide main streets with a north-south orientation – than others, such as north facing slopes or historical sites in the city centre for the installation of solar roads. Also advantages and disadvantages for solar roads could be summed up.