Engineers at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands are working to design highway sound barriers that incorporate solar energy systems. The barriers use a luminescent solAn impression of a future solar noise barrier. Image credit: Eindhoven University of Technologyar concentrator technology, or LSC. The LSCs receive light and direct it to the edges of colored panels, where traditional solar cells are located to create electricity.

Michael Debije of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry says the panels are low cost, can be produced in any desired color, are robust and will work even when the sky is cloudy. “That means it offers tremendous potential,” he says.

The research group conducted a year-long test project on two sections of noise barriers, each 5 meters wide and 4.5 meters high. The panels were partially covered in the LSCs and partially covered in semi-transparent panels holding conventional solar cells. The researchers now will compare the performances of the two technologies.

The test will determine how much electricity the LSC panels can generate under a variety of conditions, as well as how well they stand up to possible vandalism.

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