The PLANETE - Plants, Energy & Temperature project combines vegetated roofs and solar panels and compares the functioning of photovoltaic panels (of variable type and orientation) and the evolution of microclimate under these conditions.
This project is conducted in partnership with SIG, with the support of the Fonds Vitale Environnement and Innovation.
Context
At present, the share of solar energy in the Swiss electricity grid remains very low. In 2018, it represented 3.38% of the electricity demand (SFOE, 2019). To enable the deployment of solar photovoltaics, we need to increase the efficiency of production. To achieve this, we intend to combine the use of solar modules with roof greening. Indeed, the "overheating" of the solar modules reduces the electricity production; the vegetalization of the surface under the panels will limit this effect and lower temperatures due to shading and evapotranspiration.
The installation of photovoltaic modules, like the diversity of the substrates used, makes it possible to create varied environmental conditions (from full sun to mid-shade) that are favorable to native biodiversity, while contributing to energy production, and thus meeting energy, microclimatic and biodiversity challenges.
Objectives of the project
In view of the context previously presented, this research project aims to quantify:
Method
To meet these objectives, this project is conducting experiments quantifying the energy, biodiversity and microclimatic benefit by installing solar modules of different types and in different orientations on a substrate of local origin of varying thickness, sown with a mixture of native xerophilic seeds known for its specificity.
Overview - result
Below are the germinations of the seedlings in November 2020, one month after sowing on the experimentation space of the vegetated roofs of the CFPne of Lullier.
Project partner(s)
Project leader - team
Patrice Prunier
(HEPIA),
Ewa Renaud
(HEPIA),
Eric Amos
(HEPIA),
Pierre-André Frossard
(HEPIA)
