Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai), the operator of the Tokaido Shinkansen Line, plans to install next-generation, thin solar cells on noise barriers along its tracks. The company expects to use the electricity generated by these solar cells to power lighting at stations and other rail-related facilities.
The noise barriers cover about 650 kilometers of track. Demonstration experiments will start this month at a research center in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture, and elsewhere. These experiments will use perovskite solar cells jointly developed with Sekisui Chemical Co.
Perovskite solar cells are lighter and more flexible than conventional silicon solar cells. They can be installed on walls, windows, and even curved surfaces. For the experiments, prototype solar cells will be subjected to levels of vibration and wind pressure expected from a bullet train passing at high speed. Photovoltaic performances will also be tested in other outdoor environments.
The Tokaido Shinkansen Line generally runs in an east-west direction between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations. Plans call for solar cells to be installed on guide rails attached to the outer side of the south-facing noise barrier walls. JR Tokai will consider how to put them into practical use based on how its experiments proceed.