The solar noise barrier project 4: Modeling of full-scale luminescent solar concentrator noise barrier panels

A full-size (1 × 5 m2) luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) has been constructed and the edge electric outputs from the attached photovoltaic cells monitored for a period of slightly over one year in the solar noise barrier (SONOB) “living lab” outdoor environment. The results of the edge electric output measurements were compared to ray-tracing...

Building the world's largest bifacial solar noise barrier

In the Solar Highways project, knowledge institutes ECN and SEAC, and the executive body of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (Rijkswaterstaat) teamed up to build a bifacial fully integrated solar noise barrier. Not only is it the largest solar noise barrier in the Netherlands to date, it will also be the largest bifacial...

Performance assessment of floating PV systems in Europe

Maximizing annual yield of bifacial photovoltaic noise barriers

In this work we consider noise barriers with integrated photovoltaic modules. The novelty is that bifacial modules are considered. A full scale bifacial photovoltaic noise barrier was built and its power output was monitored. In addition we developed an advanced numerical model for predicting this power output for given weather conditions....

Building the world's largest bifacial solar noise barrier. An introduction to solar highways

Floating PV vs land based PV: A yield comparison

An overview of floating PV worldwide

Floating solar systems can represent a serious alternative to ground mounted solar systems. At present, the international market for floating PV is small compared to the total PV market, but expected to become a multi-billion market in the coming years. A main driver for the growth of the market for floating PV is the mitigation of land cost....

The solar noise barrier project: 3. The effects of seasonal spectral variation, cloud cover and heat distribution on the performance of full-scale luminescent solar concentrator panels

We report on the relative performances of two large-scale luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) noise barriers placed in an outdoor environment monitored for over a year. Comparisons are made for the performances of a number of attached photovoltaic cells with changing spectral illumination, cloud cover conditions and other seasonal variations,...

Graffiti on solar noise barriers - A case study

Infrastructure Integrated PhotoVoltaics (I2PV) is the next big step for large scale energy production. PV cells can be integrated in a wide range of infrastructure applications without requiring any additional space. In this way the infrastructure can have the additional functionality of producing electricity from sunlight. One of the promising...

The solar noise barrier project: 1 effect of incident light orientation on the performance of a large-scale luminescent solar concentrator noise barrier

In this work we describe the relative performance of the largest luminescent solar concentrator (LSC)constructed to date. Comparisons are made for performance of North/South and East/West facing panels during a sunny day. It is shown that the East/West panels display much more varied performance during the day, as the structural elements of the...

Luminescent solar noise barrier – large scale testing and modeling

Two modular noise barrier test setups containing photovoltaic modules have been installed in the Netherlands, one in a North/South orientation, and the other in East/West orientation. Both setups contain one set of mono-facial c-Si panels, one set of bi-facial c-Si panels and two luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) panels, one red and one...

Self-Shading in Bifacial Photovoltaic Noise Barriers

There is a large market potential for Bifacial Photovoltaic Noise Barriers (PVNB) due to their high energy output for any road orientation. A crucial parameter affecting their energy output is the so-called 'self-shading. In this research we evaluate the effect of self-shading on the energy production of both an east and west facing bifacial...

Evaluating the thermal and electrical performance of several uncovered PVT collectors with a field test

Evaluating the thermal and electrical performance of several uncovered PVT collectors with a field test

Evaluating the thermal and electrical performance of several uncovered PVT collectors with a field test

Recently, there has been a lot of interest in PV thermal systems, which generate both heat and power. Within the WenSDak project, several companies and research institutes work together to (further) develop several uncovered PVT collectors. The outdoor performance of prototypes of these collectors is being evaluated in an outdoor test setup. The...

Solar Highways Benchmark Study: An overview and evaluation of existing photovoltaic noise barriers

In this document we present an overview of known initiatives for PV Noise Barriers (PVNBs), to be able to learn from past failures and successes. We will not only focus on technical aspects, but also provide background information on financial and organizational issues.

“Counting the Sun” – A Dutch Public Awareness Campaign on PV Performance

As part of the Dutch Solar Days a campaign for the public was organized to raise awareness on the importance of monitoring PV systems. During one week, i.e. between May 12 and May 18, 2014, participants were asked to measure or determine the amount of generated energy by their PV systems. Participants were recruited via social media and a...