PLANT SELECTION FOR SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC AND GREEN ROOF SYSTEM

Abstract

Rising population, increasing urban density and limited resources has pushed technology advancements towards sustainability. Greening is one of the key strategies that is used in an urban landscape to reduce the negative impact of rapid development – such as the Urban Heat Island. Greening of roofs and structures provides a myriad of benefits and amalgamates well with an urban setting – adding economic and aesthetic value to the building. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels on the other hand is a method to harness solar energy received from the sun and thus allowing a cleaner form of producing energy. However, with limited resources such as scarcity of land in a densely populated urban setting, multi-purposing of spaces is essential to fully maximise the potential of any building or land. Roofs today are becoming the ideal spot to place greenery and solar PV panels. Integrating roof greenery and solar PV panels will aid fully maximising the building’s potential in creating a more sustainable development. Integrating the two systems, which individually provides abundance of benefits, will invite questions of efficiency and feasibility. This study will assess the feasibility of integrating solar PV panels and rooftop greenery focusing especially on plant selection. A 16-week experimental study will be conducted on a rooftop of a Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) building in Singapore where tropical climate is experienced. Impact on the ambient air temperature and relative humidity levels between the solar PV panels and vegetation will be assessed. Factors concerning maintainability of the plants will also be paramount in this discussion.