The green revolution is upon us, and there are daily announcements of new, more efficient technologies for us to embrace. I liken it to buying a new computer, whereby your new, high powered machine will essentially be obsolete within a few short months. That sort of mentality is a bit disheartening to those of us who really want to incorporate green technologies into our everyday lives. Personally, I want to buy solar panels, but have held off because newer, higher efficiency panels are being released each and every day. Why should I pay a ridiculous amount of money for something that’s not going to be as productive as something released two weeks for now? In the search for a solar solution to power our cities, one of our biggest obstacles is the massive acreage required by conventional arrays. Photovoltaic panels are flat and expansive, and urban centres are at a serious loss for free space. Thankfully, Australian renewable energy retailer Going Solar has conceived of a clever strategy that infuses urban transit systems with energy producing potential – install solar panels in highways as sound barriers!
Going Solar’s first highway installation was completed on the Tullamarine Calder Interchange in Australia. The solar sound barrier comprises 500 meters of photovoltaic panels that are attached to a public display showing the project’s power output. As the highway is located near some residential areas, energy doesn’t have to travel far to reach its destination, and the massive solar panels provide much needed soundproofing to the houses nearby. It is expected that the installation will produce 18.7 megawatts per year, which is enough to cover its cost in about 15 years. The innovative application has netted Going Solar the ATRAA’s award for best grid-connected system. Although something will be available tomorrow that will totally eclipse this great find, it’s still nice to see progress.
