Comment box Scope: summary, information Tone: neutral, excited Opinion: not really Sarcasm/humor: none Modern solar panels are becoming increasingly cheap, lightweight, and easy to deploy. They...
Comment box
Scope: summary, information
Tone: neutral, excited
Opinion: not really
Sarcasm/humor: none
Modern solar panels are becoming increasingly cheap, lightweight, and easy to deploy. They are more efficient than ever, they use fewer physical materials than ever, and they can even be deployed in a variety of geometries: horizontal, vertical, double-sided vertical, curved, etc. Much of this is thanks to perovskite materials in solar cells.
This article describes a new application of solar panels in linear and otherwise mostly non-productive environments, in this case railway sound barriers. This could allow for a meaningful amount of solar generation, although it requires that the panels be able to withstand the vibrations and wind associated with ultra-fast trains whizzing by.
Central Japan Railway, which operates in Japan's Chubu region, has announced plans to test flexible perovskite solar panels on noise barriers.
The first pilot projects will be deployed along the Tokaido Shinkansen line, an area with high solar radiation.
The company said it is using thin, lightweight, flexible film-type perovskite solar cells, which are reportedly more resistant to wind pressure and vibrations from passing trains. This design avoids turning the soundproof wall into a heavy, load-bearing structure.
In late December 2024, Sekisui Chemical said it would invest JPY 90 billion ($570.64 million) in a perovskite solar production line with an initial capacity of 100 MW, set to begin operations in 2027. It also plans to commercialize its flexible perovskite solar panel technology, produced at its existing facilities, in 2025.
This is one of the fastest train in world, which means lots of vibrations. I hope the test succeeds! Either way, I imagine this technology could be applied to all sorts of linear infrastructure, including sound barriers on car highways.
Comment box
Modern solar panels are becoming increasingly cheap, lightweight, and easy to deploy. They are more efficient than ever, they use fewer physical materials than ever, and they can even be deployed in a variety of geometries: horizontal, vertical, double-sided vertical, curved, etc. Much of this is thanks to perovskite materials in solar cells.
This article describes a new application of solar panels in linear and otherwise mostly non-productive environments, in this case railway sound barriers. This could allow for a meaningful amount of solar generation, although it requires that the panels be able to withstand the vibrations and wind associated with ultra-fast trains whizzing by.
This is one of the fastest train in world, which means lots of vibrations. I hope the test succeeds! Either way, I imagine this technology could be applied to all sorts of linear infrastructure, including sound barriers on car highways.