At Gaia Renewables we take our role in helping to combat the climate crisis very seriously. But more to the point there are several “planetary boundaries” that are being exceeded and climate change is only one of them. Indeed, arguably biodiversity loss is doing even worse than climate change. Green roofs can be an amazing solution to tackling several of the planetary boundaries we are exceeding.

A report by English Nature highlights some amazing benefits to green roofs from the health benefits and the attractive open spaces to the absorption of air pollutants and the provision of wildlife habitats. With a huge list of potential benefits we should ask why as a society we aren’t installing more green roofs. Could the financial benefit of the alternative, installing solar panelling, be one of the main barriers? Well now there is an option to do both.

Solar PV specialist manufacturer, Solyco, has successfully installed two vertical solar PV systems in Germany that gives the opportunity to install solar panelling above a green roof without stopping all the sunlight reaching plants on the roof below. This gives us an option to not only generate clean, quiet, renewable electricity, but to also simultaneously offer increased biodiversity in local areas.

 The combination of technologies to improve the sustainability of human civilization is undoubtedly exciting, and to see it in action within our own renewable energy industry is thrilling. Whilst we investigate ways we can deliver this technology, why don’t you give us a shout and let us know if this is something you would be interested in. Contact us and we will keep you updated with our progress.