SEOUL, Feb. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – A 26.8km stretch of the Gangbyeon Expressway will become a “sun road”, with the Seoul government set to install solar panels on street lights, overpasses, bridges and retaining walls by the end of this year.
The government estimates that the solar panels will generate 2.72 million kWh of energy every year, enough to power 8,800 households in the city for a month.
Besides creating energy, another benefit will be a projected 1,267-ton decline in carbon dioxide in Seoul’s atmosphere per year.
Seoul will first test large 250W solar panels on 30 street lights situated within a 0.9km stretch of expressway by Mapo’s Sky Park.
During daylight hours, power generated will be stored with the Korea Electric Power Corporation and used for the street lights at night.
There are 3,400 street lights in total along the Gangbyeon Expressway, of which around 2,000 are located in areas receiving sufficient sunshine.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)