structural elements Introducing Biosolar
Deciding between a green roof and photovoltaics (PV) has been a question faced by many industry professionals over recent years when designing a flat roof; however these two technologies are no longer mutually exclusive options with the introduction of biosolar roofs. By Tom Raftery, BauderSOLAR product manager
What is biosolar?
A biosolar roof is the successful combination of biodiverse and extensive green roofs with photovoltaic systems, delivering a duality of technologies for environmental advantage and increased profitability for building owners.
What are the benefits?
Biosolar roofs deliver all the benefits of green roofs and solar power in a synergy of technologies that maximises PV output and the footprint for the green roof:
• Cooling effect of vegetation increases solar output by up to 5 per cent
• Green roof element can act as ballast so waterproofing is not penetrated
• Entire roof can qualify as biodiverse green roof by maximising area for vegetation
• Shade tolerant species thrive under PV creating a more diverse flora and fauna community
What are the applications?
Although designed primarily for new build applications where this synergy of solutions is often required to meet planning and BREEAM requirements; a biosolar roof system can also be retrofitted on many existing roofs without the need for any structural modification to the building. The construction industry has long been calling for rooftop solutions that include a duality of technologies for environmental advantage, and a biosolar roof delivers just that providing reciprocal benefits from the PV module and green roof components.
Biosolar systems typically use the substrate and vegetation to
provide the ballasted installation mechanism, removing the need to penetrate the waterproofing to secure the mounting units to the roof and simultaneously making the most of the available area for vegetation, enabling the entire roof to qualify as a biodiverse green roof. The front edge of the PV panels above the finished green roof level, allow light and moisture to reach beneath the panels whilst ensuring the mature vegetation does not shade the panels and can be easily maintained. The mixture of sunny, shaded and sheltered areas give a matrix of different habitats that allow a broader range of plant species to thrive, and a rich foraging environment for pollinating insects. A biosolar roof solution also delivers advantages to the
building, as the cooling effect of the vegetation and water held within the green roof system preserves the ambient temperature around the PV array, which in turn can increase the solar efficiency (studies in Germany have shown that solar panels work best with a temperature of around 24°C).
What are the challenges?
The integration of PV and green roof technologies requires skill and expert understanding and there are already many examples of where biosolar roofs have been poorly designed and installed. Continued overleaf...
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‘The construction industry has long been calling for rooftop solutions that include a duality of technologies for environmental advantage’
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