PHOTON International The Photovoltaic Magazine

PV systems for space frame roofs

Panholz GmbH & Co. KG, a German steel construction company specializing in wide-span lightweight roofing, wants to combine its patented PAN space frame with PV systems.

	© Panholz GmbH & Co.KG
Big business: An application for the PAN-Solar-Sky-Roof could be the roofing of the bicycle racetrack in Öschelbronn, Germany (artist's rendition).

Panholz' light and also very stable constructions are used particularly on large roof areas where it is not desirable to have a great number of support beams. Examples of this would be storage areas and parking facilities, as well as halls and courtyards. The idea of combining this type of roofing with solar modules was an obvious next step, as it can bear the necessary load, says company founder Otto Panholz. The company has already puzzled out a few project ideas – the most spectacular is a complete covering of a bicycle racetrack in Öschelbronn, Germany. None of these plans are definite yet, but Panholz and his team are sure this will change soon: those who need to have a roof constructed can greatly simplify financing it with a PV system in Germany, he says. According to the German Renewable Energy Law (EEG), if the roof is not solely constructed for carrying solar modules but rather is needed primarily for another purpose, the owner is eligible for the feed-in tariff level for rooftop installations, which is higher than that for ground-mounted systems. At the moment the company is searching for partners or sales agents.

The »PAN-Solar-Sky-Roof« is not designed for glass-glass modules – this would be possible in theory, but at least in Germany it would be more difficult to get a license for such a system, consequently making it a more expensive option. Panholz recommends trapezoidal sheet metal for that purpose; the solar modules can be attached by using conventional mounting systems. Panholz says the complete galvanized supporting structure can easily compete with other PV systems in terms of lifespan and lasts around 40 years without the need to be repainted or undergo other maintenance work. Panholz has been offering this product primarily in Germany, but it plans to offer the PAN-Solar-Sky-Roof in other European countries as well.

Panholz GmbH & Co. KG
Kurt-Fischer-Strasse 21-23
75056 Sulzfeld, Germany
phone +49/7269/9144-44, fax -40
info@PAN-R.com
www.panholz.de