N470 Highway

Lighting - Outdoor, Road & Highway

N470 Highway

Current/OS Partners Involved:

Eaton, DC Systems, Dynniq / Heijmans, SmartGrid

Location

Zuid-Holland Province, Netherlands

Setup

2021

Context

A road renovated entirely in a CO2-negative manner. It generates its own energy for lighting and traffic signals with a DC grid operating over 4.7 km / 3 miles.

Implementation

  • 300 lamp posts and 200 traffic lights
  • 100kW solar PV embedded on the road noise glass plates barriers-called “The Energy Wall”, generating 75MWh of electricity per year, equivalent as providing electricity to 26 households for a year.
  • 1MWh/70kW battery storage system
  • Only 2 subfields cabinets along the 4.7km
  • Autonomous microgrid management of the power flow, without data transfer nor internet connection, islanded mode possible if needed
  • DC cables made it possible to cross the water channel beneath the road

    • Benefits

    A carbon-negative highway

  • Self sufficient in energy: All electricity generated during the day can be used at night as it is stored in green battery
  • Short electricity distribution lines prevent transmission losses, further reducing CO2 emissions

    •  

    Results in figures*

  • 10% energy needed less than with similar AC grids
  • 40-60% fewer converters
  • 35% less copper usage
  • 50% reduction in cables
  • 10% smaller PV and battery installations

    • *Measured by Heijmans

     

    Islanded mode capability

  • The DC grid continues to operate even when the AC grid fails

    • Quote

    “The goal of the Province of South Holland is to reduce the CO2 emissions, and in this project we achieve that goal. With the sunlight we collect in the PV panels, we collect power in the battery. With that energy we power the light poles and the traffic lights. The system is now several years in operations, and we can say with certainty that it is fully functional, safe and reliable. We are proud as a province to have a lower environmental impact.”

    Jeroen de Jong, Advisor Traffic Systems, Province of South Holland

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