Solar roof on the A81 motorway is not yet in operation

The pilot project for a motorway covered with photovoltaics on the A81 federal motorway is not yet in operation. The Federal Ministry of Transport pointed this out at the request of heise online. Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) only visited the construction site at the Hegau-Ost service area in Baden-Württemberg in June this year, but did not inaugurate the project. That’s how it was reported.

Advertisement

The solar roof stands over a side lane of the motorway. X (formerly Twitter) pointed this out in a post these daysthat it is currently closed. As is usual on social networks, this sparked speculation, especially since the ministry announced in June that the plant would be completed in July.

System still has to be connected

“The system is not yet fully completed, among other things, electrical work and line work for the connection to the local power grid is taking place,” said the Ministry of Transport. This was followed by the usual acceptance tests and handover to the Autobahn GmbH des Bundes, Southwest branch as the future operator.

“Only then can the blocked lane be opened to traffic again,” the ministry continues. The solar roof is registered in the market master data register no later than one month after commissioning. Electricity suppliers, among others, have to enter their electricity generation units in the register maintained by the Federal Network Agency. The ministry has not yet provided any information on when the plant is expected to go into operation.

The demonstrator consists of a 12×14 meter roof area made of photovoltaic modules, which is elevated about 5.50 m above the road with a steel structure. It is expected to generate 40,000 kWh of electricity annually. The structure is located in the area of ​​the thoroughfare and heavy-duty lane of the “Im Hegau – Ost” service station and service area, which runs parallel to the A81 motorway, near Singen in Baden-Württemberg.

Advertisement

Update 08/09/2023 4:55 p.m

When asked, the Federal Ministry of Transport added that the system was basically finished, now the structural analysis had to be accepted and approved. It is not foreseeable how long this process will take, as the system is the first of its kind in Germany. The pilot project not only includes testing the technology as such and its profitability, but also the administrative procedures and making them routine for later use.

(anw)

To home page

#Solar #roof #A81 #motorway #operation