A Method to Estimate the Power Generation of PV Power Stations Along the Highway Based on Digital Maps

Solar energy, as major clean energy source, has been rapid development in recent years. Before the construction of PV power station, it is necessary to carry out reasonable planning, in order to make rational use of solar energy resources wisely. The power consumption along the highway is very stable and showing an increasing trend. Highway slopes are usually unused public area with high accessibility and few restrictions, which are regarded as potential installation sites. In order to estimate the power generation capacity of PV power stations at different locations along the highway, a method based on digital maps is proposed for calculating actual available power generation of PV power station along the highway. The method is applied to a case study of a highway in Linyi, Shandong Province, to determine the appropriate installation location of PV power stations.