FEASIBILITY STUDY-APPLICATION OF SOLAR ENERGY TO STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION FACILITIES

Traditional construction techniques, as utilized in current designs for Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) facilities, evolved through the years when fossil fuels were plentiful, fuel conversion equipment efficiencies were nominal, and costs for both were low. The contemporary and future challenges to energy utilization must recognize and cope with freshly perceived, finite limits to the available supply of fuels. These limits to supply result in a steady pattern of unit cost increases. Coping takes many forms, including more efficient conversion, loss reduction, waste energy recovery, and increased use of alternate energy sources. One of these alternate sources is solar energy. The utilization of solar energy is governed by a completely different body of rules and characteristics. The high cost of collection and utilization systems makes it mandatory to limit demand. This is balanced by a source of energy which, although irregularly available, has a low intensity, has no cost and no finite limit on supply. This report will analyze the feasibility of utilizing solar energy in certain SHA facilities. (FHWA)

• Corporate Authors:

  Maryland Department of Transportation

  State Highway Administration, 707 N Calvert Street
  Baltimore, MD  United States  21202

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Miller, J H
• Publication Date: 1983-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 108 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Energy conservation; Feasibility analysis; Solar energy
• Uncontrolled Terms: Conversion
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00381329
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-MD-83-04 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: AW082-266-046
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 30 1988 12:00AM