Expressways are becoming a new battleground for solar power generation systems. From Shandong to Hunan, and from Shanxi to Henan, a wave of "highway photovoltaic + energy storage" construction is sweeping the country, injecting new momentum into the transportation energy transition.
On the Jinan-Weifang Expressway in Shandong Province, a 68-megawatt solar power generation system with a total installed capacity can generate 68 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, more than four times the line's own electricity consumption. This highway, hailed as "China's first zero-carbon highway," is becoming a benchmark for green transportation transformation nationwide.
Even more exciting is that the scope of solar projects has expanded beyond service area rooftops to include slopes, medians, tunnel entrances, and other locations.
According to statistics, by the end of 2024, the installed solar capacity on national highways will reach 1.7 gigawatts, accounting for 76% of distributed renewable energy in the transportation sector. Seventeen provinces have already launched plans to build "near-zero-carbon service areas."
This deployment signifies that expressways are no longer simply transportation corridors but also new networks for energy production and supply.
According to the Ministry of Transport's Research Institute, the potential for solar power generation along China's roads reaches 943.7 GW, over 60% of which can be achieved on highways.
If fully developed, this power generation would more than triple the annual electricity consumption of the national highway system. This would not only significantly reduce transportation energy consumption but also provide distributed renewable energy support for the power grid.
Shandong Expressway Group's practice is particularly exemplary.
The group has installed 668 MW of highway photovoltaic systems and plans to exceed 1 GW by the end of 2025, raising its green power self-sufficiency rate for highways to 40%.
The company's representative stated that the company has developed an integrated photovoltaic deployment plan encompassing "slopes, service areas, and tunnels," providing a model for nationwide replication.
Of course, this industry also faces numerous challenges. Highways have complex terrain, complicated registration procedures, and some sections are classified as "traffic land" due to their land attributes, resulting in lengthy project approval cycles. At the same time, the harsh highway environment, with wind, sand, vibration, and vehicle exhaust, all impacts the lifespan of components—degradation rates of approximately 2%-3% per year, potentially dropping efficiency to 85% after five years.
To this end, local governments are accelerating policy optimization:
Shandong offers a power generation subsidy of 0.10 yuan per kilowatt-hour for zero-carbon highway projects;
Shanghai offers incentives of up to 2 million yuan for qualified solar projects;
Shanxi implements a batch filing policy, shortening the approval process by half.
These favorable policies are driving an influx of capital and technology into this emerging sector, and the trend from policy-driven to market-driven is becoming increasingly clear.
With the large-scale application of solar energy on highways, addressing issues such as fluctuating power generation, nighttime power outages, and unstable loads has become a key to the industry's development.
At this time, the value of energy storage systems has become increasingly prominent.
Solar power generation is intermittent and volatile. Energy storage devices can store excess daytime photovoltaic power and deliver it stably at night or on rainy days, enabling peak load shifting, energy scheduling, and emergency power supply.
For example, highway service areas using lithium batteries or lithium iron phosphate energy storage systems can power lighting, charging stations, and communication equipment at night. In special circumstances, they can also provide emergency power support for traffic signals and monitoring systems.
It can be said that "solar energy + energy storage" is becoming the new standard for green energy on highways.
Industry experts indicate that future highway energy systems will develop in the direction of flexible photovoltaic modules, vehicle-road energy integration, virtual power plants, and carbon trading models. Flexible modules can better conform to road slopes and tunnel curves, while virtual power plant technology can integrate and coordinate distributed photovoltaic and energy storage systems, improving energy efficiency.
Wang Zheng, a renewable energy analyst at Huaxin Capital, stated, "With technological upgrades and commercial innovations, highway solar will play an increasingly important strategic role in transportation decarbonization and energy security."
Forecasts indicate that within the next five years, China's annual installed capacity of highway solar is expected to exceed 20 GW, making it the world's largest transportation photovoltaic market.
In this green transportation revolution, energy storage technology is undoubtedly a core component determining system efficiency and safety.
Huijue Technology Group has been deeply involved in the energy storage field for many years and has launched a variety of energy storage solutions for transportation and infrastructure:
Industrial and commercial energy storage systems: Provide energy regulation and emergency backup power for large highway service areas and charging hubs;
Outdoor energy storage cabinets and power supply cabinets: Waterproof, dustproof, and high-temperature resistant, suitable for complex road environments;
Intelligent EMS energy management system: Enables coordinated scheduling of energy storage and photovoltaic power generation, improving overall energy efficiency and stability. By combining solar power generation systems with energy storage equipment, Huijue is helping highways achieve a new energy landscape characterized by self-generation, green, low-carbon, safe, and reliable energy.
Highways not only connect cities but also the future of energy.
With the integration of solar power generation systems and energy storage technology, China's transportation is heading towards a new era of cleaner and smarter transportation.
In the future, whoever seizes the initiative in energy scheduling will lead the way in green development.
Huijue Group is committed to working with more partners to build a new zero-carbon transportation ecosystem, ensuring that every kilowatt-hour of energy flowing lights up a brighter future.
Learn more about Huijue's energy storage equipment solutions and join us in the new era of green transportation!
