Energy Institute of Louisiana Energy Efficiency and ...... · Energy Institute of Louisiana Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy Center Solar Roadways Goal to add solar without

Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana

With Transportation Applications

College of Engineering

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY


Overview• Solar Energy Research at the University of Louisiana at

Lafayette• Renewable Energy Market Forces• Solar Energy Applications and Considerations for

Transportation Departments



SOLAR ENERGY RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE


Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana College of Engineering


Photovoltaic Applied Research and Testing LabThe 1.1 MW Photovoltaic Applied Research and Testing (PART) Lab is one of the largest university-owned outdoor test facilities in the southeast United States

Used for research, workforce development, and outreach

Power for campus



Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)The Solar Thermal Applied Research and Testing (START) Lab is one of the largest university-owned CSP test facilities in the nation and the only one in the southeast



Energy System Integration LabCurrently under development

Ties all our renewable energy generation facilities at the Crowley facility into a micro-grid

Hardware-in-the-loop simulation of micro-grid and local feeder

Test various micro-grid components (solar, storage, EV’s, Loads) under realistic conditions

Simulate any type of load profile (commercial, residential, etc.)

Simulate any type of generation profile (wind, solar, traditional)



Workforce DevelopmentTrain the renewable energy workers of the future: engineers, technologists, and technicians



OutreachInspiring the next generation of renewable engineers and technicians, to help insure the next generation will always have an abundant and reliable supply of energy from clean and sustainable sources.



RENEWABLE ENERGY MARKET FORCES






New U.S. electricity generating capacity additions, 2010-2018 (SEIA, 2019)



Solar Resource• Mexico has

abundant solar resources

• More than most locations in the U.S.



Solar Growth Strong in Mexico• 3 GW installed

capacity• 4.5 GW expected by

end of 2019• 39 large solar plants

in 11 states• 85,000 distributed

generation contracts


Source: PV Magazine: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2019/01/16/mexicos-installed-pv-capacity-tops-3-gw/


A map of Mexico’s 39 operational solar parks. Image: Asolmex


SOLAR ENERGY APPLICATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS



Energy Needs for Highway Departments• Roadway signs

and lights• Maintenance

buildings• Rest areas, and

other facilities



Noise Barrier Applicationsa. German PV

sound barrierb. German noise

barrierc. German solar on

noise-barrier tunnel

d. Zig-zag photovoltaic noise barrier installed in the Vallese di Oppeano in Italy


(Poe & Filosa, 2010) and https://www.worldhighways.com/sections/irf/features/photovoltaic-noise-barriers/


Lighting Application• Veteran’s Glass

City Skyway bridge

• Developed with University of Toledo

• 117.5 kW• Offsets load for

196 foot LED lighted structure on bridge

• (Ramesh, 2014)



Rest Area Application• 1.75 MW on 7

acres• Adjacent to

Oregon BaldockSafety Rest Area

• (Poe & Filosa, 2010)



DesignConsiderationsSolar irradianceEconomic use caseGrid-tied or Stand-aloneAvailable spaceShadingWind loadingArray orientationSite ConditionsSafetyMaintenance



Solar Irradiance• Mexico has

abundant solar resources

• Most parts of the country could be suitable for solar on the basis of irradiance



Economic Use Case

• Why do you need solar?• Reduce energy bills?• Back-up power?• Off-grid?

• What is the required load?• Do you intend to use your own power or export it to the grid?• If export, who will buy it?

• Utility?• Bi-lateral PPA?



Connectivity

• Stand-alone• Small all-in-one systems can be

simple and inexpensive• Larger off-grid solutions

(buildings or rest areas) are the most technically complicated

• Grid-tied• Simplest type of solar application• Grid serves as back-up and

storage• How close is the interconnection

point?



All-In-One SystemsTraffic Signal



All-In-One SystemsStreet lighting



All-In-One SystemsRadar Station



Stand-Alone SystemsRest Area



Grid-Tied SystemsHighway Department Buildings

Need reliable power



Solar RoadwaysGoal to add solar without using additional space

Transparent concrete with solar panels underneath

Power towns, lighting, charge EV’s while on the road

Pilot projects in France the Netherlands, and China

Results not yet encouraging with materials available

Expensive

Maintenance Problems



Available Space• Approximately 2.8

acres per MW

• Clear-Zone of 30 feet

• Need additional area for access roads for operation and maintenance



Shading• Even small

amounts of shading can significantly reduce solar production

• Locate solar site to south of obstacles such as trees and light poles



Wind Loading• Certain locations

have high wind loads

• Canyons• Open plains

• Choose site carefully

• Structural engineering is important

• Foundation as well as racking system



Array Orientation• North-South• East-West



Fixed-TiltArray oriented East-West

Simplest and inexpensive

Tilt angle approximately equal to Latitude

Arrays should face south at a tilt angle of approximately 22 degrees for San Luis Potosi



Single-Axis TrackingArray oriented north-south

Good for north-south roadways

Maximize power production



Site ConditionsSoil conditionsSlope of terrainWetlands



SafetyGuard rails

GlareLocate south of

east-west roadway

Driver distraction



MaintenanceAllow for maintenance of roadway and solar array

Access roads

Space between rows

Washing modules

Site security



SummarySolar can be a valuable addition to a transportation department portfolio

Care must be exercised to insure a site-appropriate application



Documents

Energy Institute of Louisiana Energy Efficiency and ...... · Energy Institute of Louisiana Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy Center Solar Roadways Goal to add solar without