If Norway is to meet both the 2030 climate targets and the government's target of 8 TWh of solar power, we must significantly increase the production of solar energy from the current level.

‍To be able to increase access to power, we need land and we need to use the areas we can. The transport sector has significant potential to develop projects with solar power generation, and that only by exploiting conflict-free, “grey areas” that are already being seized.

“We need to install solar energy on both ground and buildings to avoid power deficits in a short time, and solar power on areas along roads and railways is a low-hanging fruit,” says Trine Kopstad Berentsen, CEO of Solar Energy Cluster.

Commissioned by the Solar Energy Cluster and VIA - the transport infrastructure industry cluster, Norconsult has produced a report that looks at the potential for the creation of solar power on land allocated for transport infrastructure in Norway. The report will be launched in the communication tent, on Tuesday, August 15 during Arendalsuka.

- Solar cells in transport installations will be able to be placed on grey areas along roads and railways, contributing to large electricity generation for Norway. I hope to see many great solar power installations at such locations in the next few years. Then someone has to go ahead and build the first plants, and Norconsult is happy to join the team,” says Alise J. Hjellbrekke, Senior Advisor Solar Energy and Storage, Norconsult

Today, this type of development is hampered by a number of barriers. Regulatory barriers such as the licensing process and zoning are central, but practical questions related to operation and maintenance, road safety, business models and ownership remain unanswered. These are largely related to Norwegian and Nordic conditions and regulations, which currently lack experience and test results from in order to answer.

There are both existing and upcoming projects where the conditions are conducive to achieving good cost-benefit, and mapping shows that it is quite possible to take solar power projects in the transport sector the next step towards realization.

“By working together across value chains and industries, we as a community have the best conditions for integrated solar power generation in transport, so all you have to do is get started and build facilities,” says Helen Roth, general manager of VIA - the transport infrastructure industry cluster.

Both existing infrastructure and a selection of new construction projects have been assessed.

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Some key points from the report:

· Solar power can be adapted and integrated into a large part of our transport infrastructure today. Cost-benefit varies, but when selecting the most suitable projects, a development potential in excess of 0.6 GWp is estimated by 2030.

· Primarily, the solar power potential associated with road projects has been mapped, but similar projects in connection with railways and airports may be equally relevant.

· Of the surveyed concepts, the greatest potential lies in the exploitation of major motorway junctions and construction and rest areas. It is especially for projects in Southern and Eastern Norway that there is the most to collect as of today, both in terms of available areas and high energy production.

· In addition to building and other infrastructure development, solar power can also be built as clean power plants with delivery directly to the power grid, but the potential from this comes in addition to what is presented in the aforementioned report.

· With the potential of 0.6 GWp, the transport sector can contribute to a significant increase in the installation of solar power in Norway, corresponding to a doubling compared to total installed solar power as of the end of 2022.

· Comparing the energy production potential from solar in transport with the current energy consumption in road transport (about 40 TWh per year, of which less than 2 TWh per year is electricity consumption), solar power could make a significant contribution.

· Put in context, the mapped solar power potential will annually cover approximately 30 million km of highway lighting or 3 billion km driven by electric car.

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Photo: adobe stock | Pellinni

The full report can be downloaded here.