In the wave of global green development, China has once again written an innovative chapter with actions. On December 20, 2024, the Jihe Expressway, China's first reconstruction and expansion of zero-carbon expressway, was officially opened to traffic. This is not only a milestone in the history of China's transportation development, but also a model of deep integration of green energy and modern transportation, providing a practical sample for the construction of green transportation in the future.
Project Overview & Technological Innovation
Located in Shandong Province, Jihe Expressway runs through the two cities of Jinan and Heze, with a total length of 152.7 kilometers, built in accordance with the standard of two-way eight-lane expressway, with a design speed of 120 km/h. The starting point of the project is the Yinjialin Hub Interchange in Jinan and the end point is the Wangguantun Hub Interchange in Heze, with 3 service areas, 2 parking areas and 10 ramp toll stations along the line.
Since the start of construction in 2021, the renovation and expansion project, which lasted for more than three years, has not only significantly improved the regional transportation carrying capacity, but also integrated low-carbon and environmental protection technologies into every link. The construction of the project adopts the concept of sustainable development, realizes the coordinated development of infrastructure and ecological environment, and represents the latest direction of green transportation construction.
Photovoltaic power generation: a double breakthrough in technology and efficiency
One of the highlights of the Jihe Expressway is its full-line photovoltaic power generation system. The total installed capacity of the project will reach 30 megawatts, and the annual power generation capacity is expected to reach 33 million kWh. This energy output is enough to support the daily operation of the entire road section and achieve a truly zero-carbon operation.
From an economic point of view, the implementation of photovoltaic systems creates sustainable economic value for the highway. According to estimates, the average annual carbon emission reduction of the project during the operation period is about 22,500 tons, while the average annual carbon emission generated by the actual operation is only about 13,600 tons, which means that its net carbon emissions are negative. In addition, the use of electricity obtained through photovoltaic power generation can also effectively reduce the consumption of traditional energy and inject new momentum into the green economy.
Figure: Documentary of China's first zero-carbon high-speed opening to traffic: Jihe high-speed photovoltaic paving, with an annual power generation of 33 million kWh
Comprehensive practice of green and low-carbon technologies
In order to achieve the goal of "zero-carbon expressway", Jihe Expressway has fully introduced three core systems in the design and construction of the project:
1. Renewable energy utilization system: including photovoltaic power generation, ground source heat pump heating and cooling, new energy storage equipment, etc., to ensure energy self-sufficiency throughout the process.
2. Energy-saving and carbon-reduction system: Through intelligent lighting, low-carbon pavement materials, energy-saving building design and other means, the energy consumption and carbon emissions in the construction and operation process are greatly reduced.
3. Zero-carbon integrated management and control system: With the help of big data analysis, intelligent scheduling and real-time monitoring platform, the level of refinement of carbon emission management has been improved.
In addition, the project also combines off-grid low-light lighting technology and forestry carbon sequestration projects to maximize the use of natural resources and reduce the ecological footprint of highways.
A win-win effect for society and the economy
The completion of Jihe Expressway is not only the achievement of technological innovation, but also brings significant social and economic benefits:
1. Promoting regional economic development: The project connects the Luzhong Mountains with the Heze Plain, which will help promote the rapid economic growth of the regions along the route and promote the development of agriculture, logistics and tourism in the region.
2. Improving the quality of the transportation network: As an important part of the expressway network in Shandong Province, the opening of the Jihe Expressway has greatly improved the level of interconnection between the provincial capital economic circle and the Jiaodong economic circle, and further improved the regional transportation layout.
3. Demonstration effect: The project provides replicable and scalable experience for green highway construction across the country and even around the world.
According to official forecasts, the Jihe Expressway can contribute about 0.3 percentage points to the GDP growth of Shandong Province every year and attract more than 10 billion yuan of industrial investment.
Environmental benefits and technology prospects
The environmental benefits of Jihe Expressway are not only reflected in photovoltaic power generation, but also in the energy-saving practice of the whole process of construction. In the construction process, waste material recycling technology and low-carbon building materials are widely used. The ecological restoration of vegetation on both sides of the road has further improved the carbon sequestration capacity of the region.
In the future, Jihe Expressway will be linked with other green transportation projects in Shandong Province to jointly build a "green transportation corridor" and explore a more intelligent and environmentally friendly transportation system. For example, the next phase may introduce charging and dispatching services for autonomous vehicles in the service area to further enhance the level of intelligence.
Conclusion
The opening of the Jihe Expressway marks a new stage in China's green transportation construction. From technological innovation to the full embodiment of economic and social benefits, this expressway is undoubtedly another solid step towards China's "dual carbon" goal. As the country's first zero-carbon expressway, it not only verifies the feasibility of green technology, but also sets a new benchmark for global green transportation construction.
In the future, we look forward to the implementation of more green transportation projects like the Jihe Expressway, so that green travel will become the norm of people's lives, and more Chinese wisdom and strength will be contributed to the realization of the global sustainable development goals.
