Compass School biosolar project is finalist for National Roofing Award

The 894sqm biosolar roof features 180 PV panels over wildflower turf

• The UK-grown wildflower turf contains a mix of over 25 native perennial and annual plants formulated to foster biodiversity; thrive under and between the PV panels; and cause no interference to the PV panels.
• The wildflower turf has a cooling effect on the PV panels. When panels overheat their energy output decreases. (See: Cavadini and Cook, 2021).
• The solar roof is expected to generate 64,575 kwh per year of green energy, which far exceeds the average electricity consumption of a school of this size.
• The Photovoltaic panel base and green roof is an integrated non-penetrative system from Zinco Green Roof Systems. The panels are ballasted / held in place by depth/weight of the green roof substrate. This weight is determined by a wind uplift calculation by a structural engineer.
• P&P also installed a non-penetrative guardrail supplied by Zinco.
• The solar panels were supplied, fitted to the bases and connected by Acis Energy.

The Department for Education (DfE)’s Design Brief 2022 requires that all new school buildings:

• Are Net Zero Carbon Buildings which are 100% powered by renewable energy.
• Should include a Biosolar green roofing system.
• Have a green infrastructure strategy to achieve a Biodiversity Net Gain of at least 10% compared with the pre-development site.
• Achieve a Natural England’s Urban Greening Factor (UGF) of minimum factor 0.35.
• Have a Sustainable Urban Drainage Strategy (SuDS) to reduce surface water run-off.
• Use vegetation to keep the building cool and comfortable, particularly on the top floor.
• Are future proofed against the risks of climate change as defined by UK Adaptation Policy such as higher temperatures and prolonged rainfall.

See: The key guidelines and regulations impacting biosolar roofs

The Biosolar roof helped Reds10 achieve the goal of building a school that is Net Zero Carbon:

• The solar roof is expected to generate 64,575 kwh per year of green energy.
• The semi-deep substrate (100mm+) and the wildflower turf with over 25 native perennial and annual species, contributes to Biodiversity Net Gain.
• The roof has a Urban Greening Factor (UGF) of 0.7, twice what is required by DfE.
• Green roofs are proven to reduce surface water run-off (see: Berndtsson 2010), contributing to the SuDS strategy.
• Research shows that green roofs help insulate a building, reducing heat loss in winter by up to 15% (See Arkar 2019) and reduce heat flow into a building by 16% for a roof substrate of 100mm (See Pandey 2012).

 See: Repository of biosolar research

Biosolar-roofs is the world’s first website dedicated to roofs that combine living roofs and solar power. This is the go-to resource for knowledge sharing, best practice, guidance, research, news and insights into biosolar roofing. Highlights of Biosolar-roofs include:

• Repository of biosolar research – round up of all current research.
• The ultimate guide to plants for biosolar roofs – recommended by industry experts.
• The key guidelines and regulations impacting biosolar roofs – best practice, BNG, SuDS etc.
• Biosolar FAQ / explainer – all your questions answered by the experts.
• Benefits of biosolar roofs: facts, stats and evidence – environmental, economic and regulatory benefits.
• Types of biosolar roof – wildflower, sedum, blue, biodiverse etc. – wildflower, sedum, blue, biodiverse etc.
• How biosolar roofs work and make solar panels more efficient – technology before hype.
• Biosolar systems – biosolar systems / formations explained and assessed. – biosolar systems / formations explained and assessed.