Photovoltaic panels installed on Ecuadorian tile roofs

Solar panels installed over traditional roofs can suffer from weather-related problems and compromise the roof construction. The EU-funded TilePlus project designed new roof tiles with embedded tough photovoltaic cells. This would allow millions of homes across Europe to produce their own energy.

The tiles provide all the protective properties of normal roof tiles, while offering a way for residents to gather their energy directly from the sun. As the solar panels create energy where it will be used, this also reduces losses incurred during energy transport and transmission.

Installing a green roof on a conventional solar array can potentially increase the energy output of the system by 23.88 kWh and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 0.019 t e-CO 2 . Fig. 1 illustrates the working principle of a BIPV-green roof system. Fig. 1. Working principle of a BIPV-green roof (source: by author).

That meant the TilePlus team had to improve the way the panels could produce electricity within that area. Normal photovoltaic cells are covered in horizontal metal thread, which conducts electricity around the panel and out through the cable in the rear.

Numerous research studies have demonstrated the efficacy of BIPV green roofs in enhancing the performance of PV modules, though the extent of improvement exhibits considerable variability.

Emerging designs have introduced the integration of greenery into BIPV facades using opaque crystalline silicon solar panels. Existing literature has mostly concentrated on exploring the energy potential of these designs, providing us with a conceptual understanding.