Minnesota tried out a neat idea to upgrade their snow fences along highways to generated electricity through solar panels. The idea of a solar fence itself isn’t new, but the application of it in this context is. Unsurprisingly, the results were exactly what you would think of a solar project: it works and the current pay off is about decade, plus increasing the scale of the project reduces the time it takes to recoup costs. Compare that to your average snow fence that has zero ROI. When thinking of a robust power grid these small-scale projects can add up to a very powerful solution.
The solar snow fence generated 10 to 30 kWh per day—enough energy to power an average household—with a payback period of approximately 11 years.
For managing blowing and drifting snow, the solar snow fence outperformed the traditional snow fence due to its lower porosity and higher stiffness. Solar snow fences had the best economic viability if they operated under a PPA.
The length of the fence is a critical factor for economic viability, as those measuring at least one mile will benefit from economies of scale. Design improvements such as longer solar panels, fewer posts and a better connection between the solar panel and the steel post will lower costs and potentially reduce the payback period to five years.