There are plenty of large low-pitched and flat roofs in Sweden. These have great potential to be used for large-scale renewable photovoltaic (PV) power production where the power is in fact consumed and without land-use conflicts.

In northern Sweden, there is a large future demand for renewable power, and the expansion of PV on large roofs is still low compared to further south. In snow-rich areas, however, conventionally designed low-tilt PV plants run the risk of staying covered in snow well into the springtime, leading to substantial snow shading losses on an annual basis.

To solve this problem, we will practically test and evaluate new innovative designs of PV plants for low-pitch roofs that are expected to increase energy production by reducing snow shading losses. In a previous project, we simulated wind loads and PV production for five different concept designs. In this project, we will build on those results and develop numerical methods to calculate the strength of mounting solutions, test the solutions in the lab, and finally realize the most promising designs in pilot-scale test facilities on a roof in Luleå.

We hope to find the most suitable and efficient designs of PV plants on large flat and low-pitch roofs in snowy regions. If the new mounting solutions hold up to the expected snow and wind loads, and the designs live up to the simulation results, it will open up for greatly reduced snow shading losses and more predictable PV power production with high energy yield at a reasonable cost in northern conditions. This can further accelerate the expansion of rooftop PV in snow-rich regions and benefit users such as property owners, PV installers and developers, power grid operators and industrial establishments, as well as the electrification of society at large.

There is a reference group connected to the project. The members are David Larsson, Tyréns, Johan Nilsson, JN Solar, Malin Unger, RISE, Iver Frimannslund, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Henrik Persson, Solkompaniet and Arvid Olofsson AFRY.