A study commissioned by Germany's transport ministry has highlighted opportunities to develop between 29.2 GWp and 54.8 GWp of photovoltaic (PV) capacity on federal highways, aligning with the nation's renewable energy goals.
Conducted by the Federal Highway Research Institute, the study identifies roadside areas as offering the most significant potential, with an estimated capacity ranging from 23.3 GWp to 48.6 GWp.
Other opportunities include noise barriers (3.2-4.2 GWp), parking lots (1-1.2 GWp), and noise protection walls (0.5-0.6 GWp). Roofs of highway buildings could contribute an additional 0.13-0.14 GWp.
These developments could play a vital role in meeting Germany's target of 430 GWp of PV capacity by 2045. The study focused primarily on existing structures and excluded road surface-based solutions, though pilot projects exploring such installations, like one in Fribourg, Switzerland, are underway.
Harnessing solar energy along highways is seen as a practical step to maximize land use efficiency and accelerate Germany's transition to renewable energy.
