The global market for Solar Highway was estimated at US$43.0 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$93.8 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.9% from 2024 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions. The report includes the most recent global tariff developments and how they impact the Solar Highway market.
This approach to infrastructure electrification reflects a convergence of renewable energy innovation and smart city development. The use of reinforced glass-encased PV modules on the road surface, while still in experimental phases in many countries, demonstrates the ambition to turn highways into energy assets. More broadly, solar highways are seen as a strategic means of repurposing land corridors for dual-use-transportation and energy generation-especially in densely populated or geographically constrained regions. Governments in Europe, Asia, and North America are exploring this model to increase national solar capacity without encroaching on agricultural or forest land, aligning with sustainable development and climate resilience goals.
One of the most transformative applications of solar highways lies in powering electric vehicle infrastructure. With the EV market expanding globally, highway networks need to be equipped with reliable, distributed charging stations. Solar highways enable co-location of solar generation and charging points, thereby reducing dependency on fossil-fuel-based grid electricity. In the Netherlands, for instance, solar noise barriers along highways are being used to support nearby EV chargers and lighting systems, while in India and South Korea, PV-covered expressways are emerging as flagship clean transport corridors. These designs provide not only energy but also environmental co-benefits, such as reduced heat island effects and integration with stormwater capture systems.
Additionally, solar highways can support ancillary services like weather monitoring, traffic flow sensors, and even 5G network towers through autonomous power generation. Combined with battery energy storage systems (BESS) and real-time energy management software, solar highway systems can balance power distribution across peak and off-peak demand periods. The use of bifacial panels, reflective surfaces, and advanced power electronics further enhances efficiency and operational uptime, especially in off-grid or semi-urban locations where centralized infrastructure is limited.
India is advancing solar highway deployment aggressively as part of its broader push to meet renewable energy targets under the National Solar Mission. The Delhi-Meerut and Delhi-Mumbai expressways have integrated solar canopies and roadside solar farms to power lighting, CCTV, and toll systems. The Indian government has earmarked highway corridors as potential clean energy zones, combining solar and wind assets. In the U.S., states such as Oregon and Georgia have implemented solar panel installations on highway rights-of-way through public-private partnerships. These projects serve dual goals of decarbonizing transportation and improving grid resilience.
European countries are using EU Green Deal funds and Horizon Europe innovation grants to scale solar highway initiatives, often in conjunction with smart mobility projects. Regulatory frameworks that support feed-in tariffs, carbon credits, and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) models are enhancing the bankability of these projects. International organizations like the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) are also supporting knowledge-sharing platforms to standardize design guidelines, promote pilot evaluations, and accelerate global adoption.
Future opportunities lie in combining solar highways with digital twin modeling, autonomous vehicle pathways, and modular energy storage to create adaptive infrastructure capable of responding to real-time demand. Technological advancements in lightweight, heat-resistant PV materials, embedded sensors, and AI-driven predictive maintenance systems are expected to improve the commercial viability of road-integrated solar technologies. Additionally, hybrid models incorporating agrivoltaics and bioswale designs alongside solar highway projects could support biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and water management goals.
As utility-scale solar faces land acquisition challenges, and grid infrastructure modernization demands intensify, solar highways present a compelling value proposition for stakeholders across the energy, transport, and environmental sectors. With climate adaptation and digital infrastructure strategies aligning globally, solar highways are poised to become a prominent feature in the next generation of smart, sustainable infrastructure.
Segments: Material (Monocrystalline Material, Polycrystalline Material, Perovskite / Silicon Tandem Material); Application (Parking Lots Application, Patio Application, Sidewalk Application, Other Applications)
Geographic Regions/Countries: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.
Global Solar Highway Market - Key Trends & Drivers Summarized
Paving the Future with Photons: How Solar Highways Are Rewiring Infrastructure with Renewable IntelligenceWhat Defines a Solar Highway and Why Is It Attracting Global Interest in Sustainable Infrastructure?
A solar highway refers to a transportation corridor where solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are integrated into or alongside road infrastructure to harness renewable energy from sunlight. These PV systems can be installed directly on the road surface using hardened, load-bearing panels or positioned on adjacent land, noise barriers, or overhead canopies to produce electricity. The primary aim is to utilize otherwise underutilized or non-arable land alongside highways to generate clean energy for local grids, roadway lighting, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, traffic monitoring systems, and other smart mobility applications. The integration of solar highways into national and regional infrastructure is gaining traction as governments seek to decarbonize energy supply, reduce vehicular emissions, and modernize transportation networks.This approach to infrastructure electrification reflects a convergence of renewable energy innovation and smart city development. The use of reinforced glass-encased PV modules on the road surface, while still in experimental phases in many countries, demonstrates the ambition to turn highways into energy assets. More broadly, solar highways are seen as a strategic means of repurposing land corridors for dual-use-transportation and energy generation-especially in densely populated or geographically constrained regions. Governments in Europe, Asia, and North America are exploring this model to increase national solar capacity without encroaching on agricultural or forest land, aligning with sustainable development and climate resilience goals.
Which Design Approaches and Use Cases Are Shaping the Solar Highway Ecosystem?
Solar highways encompass multiple design formats, each suited to regional climates, land availability, and technological capabilities. Surface-integrated solar panels, while technologically challenging, are being piloted in countries like France and China using high-durability glass, embedded traction textures, and self-cleaning coatings. More prevalent are roadside solar arrays and canopy-mounted systems over highways or rest areas, offering ease of maintenance and higher energy yields per square meter. These installations often feed power into adjacent microgrids, supply energy for toll booths, surveillance systems, or roadway lighting, and in some cases contribute directly to national grid inputs.One of the most transformative applications of solar highways lies in powering electric vehicle infrastructure. With the EV market expanding globally, highway networks need to be equipped with reliable, distributed charging stations. Solar highways enable co-location of solar generation and charging points, thereby reducing dependency on fossil-fuel-based grid electricity. In the Netherlands, for instance, solar noise barriers along highways are being used to support nearby EV chargers and lighting systems, while in India and South Korea, PV-covered expressways are emerging as flagship clean transport corridors. These designs provide not only energy but also environmental co-benefits, such as reduced heat island effects and integration with stormwater capture systems.
Additionally, solar highways can support ancillary services like weather monitoring, traffic flow sensors, and even 5G network towers through autonomous power generation. Combined with battery energy storage systems (BESS) and real-time energy management software, solar highway systems can balance power distribution across peak and off-peak demand periods. The use of bifacial panels, reflective surfaces, and advanced power electronics further enhances efficiency and operational uptime, especially in off-grid or semi-urban locations where centralized infrastructure is limited.
Which Countries Are Leading Deployment and What Policy Levers Are Driving Market Momentum?
China, the Netherlands, and France are among the early pioneers in implementing pilot-scale solar highway projects. China-s Jinan project-considered the world-s first full solar expressway-featured over 1,000 meters of solar panels embedded into the road surface and demonstrated the technical feasibility of this concept. The Netherlands has focused more on solar bike paths and roadside PV arrays integrated with noise barriers, as seen in the SolaRoad initiative and A2 highway projects. France`s Wattway road embedded PV project remains a landmark demonstration, although it highlighted durability and cost challenges still to be resolved in surface-mounted PV formats.India is advancing solar highway deployment aggressively as part of its broader push to meet renewable energy targets under the National Solar Mission. The Delhi-Meerut and Delhi-Mumbai expressways have integrated solar canopies and roadside solar farms to power lighting, CCTV, and toll systems. The Indian government has earmarked highway corridors as potential clean energy zones, combining solar and wind assets. In the U.S., states such as Oregon and Georgia have implemented solar panel installations on highway rights-of-way through public-private partnerships. These projects serve dual goals of decarbonizing transportation and improving grid resilience.
European countries are using EU Green Deal funds and Horizon Europe innovation grants to scale solar highway initiatives, often in conjunction with smart mobility projects. Regulatory frameworks that support feed-in tariffs, carbon credits, and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) models are enhancing the bankability of these projects. International organizations like the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) are also supporting knowledge-sharing platforms to standardize design guidelines, promote pilot evaluations, and accelerate global adoption.
What Is Driving Market Growth and Where Are Future Opportunities Emerging?
The growth in the global solar highway market is driven by several factors, including increasing demand for decarbonized infrastructure, the rise of electric vehicles, and growing pressure on governments to utilize land efficiently while scaling renewable energy capacity. Solar highways represent a novel intersection of energy, transport, and urban planning policy, offering governments a highly visible and multipurpose sustainability solution. As cities and regions aim to meet net-zero targets, integrated systems like solar highways offer a practical and scalable model for embedding clean energy directly into public infrastructure.Future opportunities lie in combining solar highways with digital twin modeling, autonomous vehicle pathways, and modular energy storage to create adaptive infrastructure capable of responding to real-time demand. Technological advancements in lightweight, heat-resistant PV materials, embedded sensors, and AI-driven predictive maintenance systems are expected to improve the commercial viability of road-integrated solar technologies. Additionally, hybrid models incorporating agrivoltaics and bioswale designs alongside solar highway projects could support biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and water management goals.
As utility-scale solar faces land acquisition challenges, and grid infrastructure modernization demands intensify, solar highways present a compelling value proposition for stakeholders across the energy, transport, and environmental sectors. With climate adaptation and digital infrastructure strategies aligning globally, solar highways are poised to become a prominent feature in the next generation of smart, sustainable infrastructure.
Scope Of Study:
The report analyzes the Solar Highway market in terms of units by the following Segments, and Geographic Regions/Countries:Segments: Material (Monocrystalline Material, Polycrystalline Material, Perovskite / Silicon Tandem Material); Application (Parking Lots Application, Patio Application, Sidewalk Application, Other Applications)
Geographic Regions/Countries: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.
Key Insights:
- Market Growth: Understand the significant growth trajectory of the Monocrystalline Material segment, which is expected to reach US$50.9 Billion by 2030 with a CAGR of a 13.0%. The Polycrystalline Material segment is also set to grow at 15.6% CAGR over the analysis period.
- Regional Analysis: Gain insights into the U.S. market, estimated at $11.3 Billion in 2024, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 13.1% CAGR to reach $14.6 Billion by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific.
Why You Should Buy This Report:
- Detailed Market Analysis: Access a thorough analysis of the Global Solar Highway Market, covering all major geographic regions and market segments.
- Competitive Insights: Get an overview of the competitive landscape, including the market presence of major players across different geographies.
- Future Trends and Drivers: Understand the key trends and drivers shaping the future of the Global Solar Highway Market.
- Actionable Insights: Benefit from actionable insights that can help you identify new revenue opportunities and make strategic business decisions.
Key Questions Answered:
- How is the Global Solar Highway Market expected to evolve by 2030?
- What are the main drivers and restraints affecting the market?
- Which market segments will grow the most over the forecast period?
- How will market shares for different regions and segments change by 2030?
- Who are the leading players in the market, and what are their prospects?
Report Features:
- Comprehensive Market Data: Independent analysis of annual sales and market forecasts in US$ Million from 2024 to 2030.
- In-Depth Regional Analysis: Detailed insights into key markets, including the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.
- Company Profiles: Coverage of players such as Colas (Wattway), Envision Solar, EV Dynamics, Fabriicon, HeveaSolar and more.
- Complimentary Updates: Receive free report updates for one year to keep you informed of the latest market developments.
Some of the 34 companies featured in this Solar Highway market report include:
- Colas (Wattway)
- Envision Solar
- EV Dynamics
- Fabriicon
- HeveaSolar
- NextEnergy Solar Fund
- NextEV
- Road Energy
- Roadis
- SCRATCH Modular Roads
- SNAKE Solar Pavement
- Solapave
- Solar Roadways
- SolarTek
- Solaxess
- Telelens Solar Roads
- Wattway
- XSolar
- Zazzle Solar Pavement
This edition integrates the latest global trade and economic shifts as of June 2025 into comprehensive market analysis. Key updates include:
- Tariff and Trade Impact: Insights into global tariff negotiations across 180+ countries, with analysis of supply chain turbulence, sourcing disruptions, and geographic realignment. Special focus on 2025 as a pivotal year for trade tensions, including updated perspectives on the Trump-era tariffs.
- Adjusted Forecasts and Analytics: Revised global and regional market forecasts through 2030, incorporating tariff effects, economic uncertainty, and structural changes in globalization. Includes segmentation by product, technology, type, material, distribution channel, application, and end-use, with historical analysis since 2015.
- Strategic Market Dynamics: Evaluation of revised market prospects, regional outlooks, and key economic indicators such as population and urbanization trends.
- Innovation & Technology Trends: Latest developments in product and process innovation, emerging technologies, and key industry drivers shaping the competitive landscape.
- Competitive Intelligence: Updated global market share estimates for 2025, competitive positioning of major players (Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial), and refined focus on leading global brands and core players.
- Expert Insight & Commentary: Strategic analysis from economists, trade experts, and domain specialists to contextualize market shifts and identify emerging opportunities.
- Complimentary Update: Buyers receive a free July 2025 update with finalized tariff impacts, new trade agreement effects, revised projections, and expanded country-level coverage.
Table of Contents
I. METHODOLOGYII. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERSIII. MARKET ANALYSISIV. COMPETITION
1. MARKET OVERVIEW
3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS
4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE
UNITED STATES
CANADA
JAPAN
CHINA
EUROPE
FRANCE
GERMANY
ITALY
UNITED KINGDOM
REST OF EUROPE
ASIA-PACIFIC
REST OF WORLD
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- Colas (Wattway)
- Envision Solar
- EV Dynamics
- Fabriicon
- HeveaSolar
- NextEnergy Solar Fund
- NextEV
- Road Energy
- Roadis
- SCRATCH Modular Roads
- SNAKE Solar Pavement
- Solapave
- Solar Roadways
- SolarTek
- Solaxess
- Telelens Solar Roads
- Wattway
- XSolar
- Zazzle Solar Pavement
Table Information
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| No. of Pages | 172 |
| Published | July 2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2024 - 2030 |
| Estimated Market Value in 2024 | 43 Billion |
| Forecasted Market Value by 2030 | 93.8 Billion |
| Compound Annual Growth Rate | 13.9% |
| Regions Covered | Global |
