Energy transition of road infrastructures: analysis of the photovoltaic potential on the A3 Napoli–Pompei–Salerno highway

The energy transition of the road transport sector is now a strategic priority for achieving global decarbonization targets. In particular, the highway sector offers the opportunity to integrate sustainable solutions without additional land consumption, thanks to the availability of relevant areas that are already covered by infrastructure. This study proposes a large-scale analysis of the potential photoelectric energy that can be produced within highway infrastructures, with the aim of evaluating the contribution that these assets can make to electric mobility. The analysis was conducted using geographic information systems (GISs), applied to the case study of the A3 Napoli–Pompei–Salerno highway. The processing of topographical, orographic, and solar data has made it possible to identify a total surface area of approximately 27,100 m2 that is potentially suitable for the installation of photovoltaic systems, distributed among service areas, toll stations, car parks, and side sections. This result highlights the concrete possibility of making the most of the energy potential of highway infrastructure, promoting self-production and local consumption models to power the electric vehicle charging network, thus contributing directly to the reduction of emissions and the sustainability of the transport system.