Integration of Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant Along National Highway Corridors

Abstract

AbstractIn recent years, the use of photovoltaic systems in traffic has become more frequent. The field of application within the field of transport refers to signaling such as high poles, navigation, railway signals, traffic signs, information boards, as well as in terms of public lighting and safety lighting. The paper will provide a detailed review of the literature regarding the applied renewable solar energy and all applicable technologies for highway corridors. Also in this paper, the installation of a solar photovoltaic power plant for meeting the energy demand of highway corridors and tunnels is analysed. The production of electricity from these PV power plants is used to power highway corridors own consumption, such as tunnels and lighting today, and tomorrow for mass use to charge electric vehicles. In this paper, a techno-economic analysis of a solar photovoltaic power plant with an installed capacity of 1 MW in the village Tarčin, next to the A1 highway, is performed. From the obtained results, it can be concluded that the investment in solar power plant represents a cost-effective techno-economic solution for reducing electricity costs. The other benefits of using solar photovoltaic power plant along national highway corridors are in emission reduction and better transport planning. Integrating PV system into national grids can reduce transmission and distribution line losses, increase grid resilience, lower generation costs, and reduce requirements to invest in new utility generation capacity.KeywordsSolar photovoltaic powerTechno-economic analysisSolar highwaysRenewable energyPayback period