This project involved taking an area already used by the public and essentially adding an additional or secondary use to it. The benefits of combining noise reduction with energy production are obvious.
Areas
The photovoltaic elements attached to the noise barrier walls do not require additional space. The potential in using photovoltaics on the available space along streets, railroad tracks or on the facades of industry buildings is so great that it could provide more energy than the combined household electricity of all of Switzerland! Using existing areas also means no «area costs» are involved for building constructors.
Profitability
Investment in noise barriers is in full swing. Constructing or expanding highways near residential areas is no longer conceivable without the integration of noise barriers. The noise barrier wall can be transformed into a power plant through the intelligent merging of PV modules and insulation. This type of integration – where two separate elements become one – lowered the total cost by over 50 %! The PV power plant now finances itself largely from the noise barrier budget of the client and thus represents an existing investment asset. The remaining costs of the system can be financed from the revenues gained by supplying the mains grid with energy, which, in turn, is paid for by the local electric power company.
Technology
TNC held an idea/project competition for integrated noise barrier PV systems between 1995 and 1996. TNC Schweiz and TNC Deutschland were supported by the Swiss National Energy Research Fund (NEFF), the German Ministry for Education, Science, Research and Technology and the Bayernwerke in Munich. The response to the project was encouragingly large – 19 companies participated. The results look promising: intelligent integration lead to a cost reduction of up to 50%. Thanks to many years of practical experience and direct involvement in the last innovations in this field, TNC and the companies who excelled in the competition now have the expertise necessary to implement the most efficient and sophisticated PV noise barriers in the world.
Commitment and Image
Besides the potential uses, financing and state-of-the-art technology, these kinds of power plants also mean permanent public relations work for the operator. They are a symbol of ecological progress. A sign for innovative, future-oriented energy generation. Solar power conveys an attitude: the professional desire to find new solutions for a sustainable economy.