From pv magazine USA
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is launching a highway solar noise barrier project, which it says is the first of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.
In 2015, Ko-Solar and its partners approached MassDOT to discuss the concept of photovoltaic noise barriers (PVNBs). MassDOT agreed to the pilot PVNB project along Interstate 95 in Lexington, Massachusetts. The existing noise barrier will be retrofitted into a PVNB, which will be built and financed in partnership with Solect Energy, a Massachusetts-based solar energy provider.
For procurement and contracting of the project, MassDOT will make use of its membership in PowerOptions, an energy-buying consortium in New England. Solect Energy will finance, install, monitor and maintain the project.
MassDOT plans to use the results of the pilot, including information about noise impacts, maintenance, cost, and community perceptions, to determine the feasibility of PVNB applications elsewhere in the Commonwealth.
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The PVNB will be on the north side of the highway, and will extend for 3,000 feet. It will be 20-feet tall, and will be made of reinforced concrete. The retrofit PV system capacity is expected to be 637.5kW(DC), with an estimated 802,000kWh to be generated annually, or the equivalent of supplying 120 homes per year with electricity.
In partnership with Ko-Solar and its partners, MassDOT solicited input on the project from abutters and other Lexington residents through letters to those living near the project site, a public meeting, and meetings with other stakeholders, as 100% support was required to move forward. All votes were in support of the pilot project.
One outcome of the public input process was to require that noise level monitoring would be part of the pilot program. Desktop noise modeling suggests there may be a slight improvement or even a reduction in noise levels for the abutters.
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Hopefully they have allocated for Panel/Module replacements as it is with absolute certainty that they will be damaged, vandalized and even stolen where possible. Never underestimate the Anti-Solar, Anti-EV, Anti-Renewable TARDS that are lurking on every american street.
Likely looking at 20% replacement every year at least.