These photovoltaic panels are installed vertically along a Swiss road. Photo: AFP
In Switzerland, the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden is currently home to a particularly innovative project, since photovoltaic panels have now been installed on a roadside retaining wall.
At present, the project comprises just over 750 glass panels installed near the municipality of Teufen. Together, they have a production capacity of 325kW and an annual energy output of around 230,000kWh, which would correspond to the average consumption of 52 four-person households.
In reality, no households are directly connected to this power source, and all the energy produced is fed directly into the electricity grid managed by St Gallisch-Appenzellische Kraftwerke (SAK).
The particularity of this installation lies in the vertical arrangement of the solar panels. On paper, this solution offers a number of advantages. Firstly, they are less likely to accumulate dirt and grime than if installed on a roof or in a solar farm, as this tends to slide off much more easily.
Secondly, their orientation is more effective in the winter months, when the sun is relatively low in the sky. As a result, modules positioned in this way should provide very good performance all year round.
The idea is also to make intelligent use of space that would otherwise go unused. In any case, this initiative forms part of the canton’s broader energy strategy, since it aims to generate 40% of its total electricity consumption from renewable energy sources by 2035. – AFP Relaxnews
