How the industrial park in Frankenthal uses an innovative concept combining green roofs and photovoltaics for sustainable solar energy generation.
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Creating innovative commercial space for small and medium-sized businesses – that’s the aim of the project developer VarioPark GmbH, based in Bensheim in the Rhine-Main area. With sites in prime city locations and with convenient transport links, VarioPark offers the ideal space for entrepreneurship, enhances the attractiveness of local communities as a business location and at the same time places a high value on sustainability. The business park project in Frankenthal demonstrates what this commitment looks like in practice.
The business park near Mannheim consists of two multifunctional buildings and covers a total area of about 10,000 sqm. Its innovative sustainability concept includes various components: in addition to a high level of energy and material efficiency, VarioPark focuses on measures to conserve resources and to promote tenant retention, as well as on offering alternative mobility concepts. A central component of the concept is also the use of green electricity from a high-performance photovoltaic system.
VarioPark chose ENVIRIA, Germany's leading solar company for commerce and industry, to implement the solar project. ENVIRIA has equipped both roofs of the industrial park with photovoltaic systems.
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1,402 solar modules with a total output of 565 kWp were installed on a roof area of more than 6,000 sqm. The system thus generates an annual yield of 545,000 kWh hours – enough to supply around 220 two-person households for a year. Overall, approximately 50 % of the solar power produced is used directly on site, while the remaining 50 % is fed into the grid.
Based on the current electricity mix in Germany, the system will save over 376 tons of CO2 equivalent annually. This roughly corresponds to the amount of CO2 produced in the production of over 30 tons of beef (1).
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A special feature of the project is the green roof system, which is made possible by a special, elevated mounting system for the photovoltaic system. Planting mosses and other low-growing species on the roof offers several advantages. For one thing, the natural insulation layer of substrate and vegetation provides additional sound insulation for the tenants. At the same time, the green roof binds CO2 and creates valuable habitat for insects.
What's more, the green roof has a cooling effect – both on the temperature inside the building and on the solar modules mounted above it. Solar systems perform best at temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius. On a hot summer day, however, the modules can quickly reach temperatures of up to 70 degrees (2). The cooling effect of the green roof thus has a positive impact on the performance of the PV system.
The green roof also has a positive effect on the lifespan of the roof and the PV system. The protective layer of substrate and plants protects the roof from UV radiation and weather influences such as hail. The service life of the roof sealing is thus doubled, and typical renovation work is significantly delayed (3). This enables the solar system to operate smoothly for a long time.
In addition, the lower thermal load reduces material aging of the modules and cabling. At the same time, the greening effectively protects also the system from environmental and weather influences.
Depending on the customer's requirements, ENVIRIA offers various solar concepts ranging from buying or renting a solar system to roof leasing. For the project in Frankenthal, VarioPark decided to buy the plant. ENVIRIA took over the planning and installation of the plant and handed it over to VarioPark ready for use. This model offers numerous advantages for the real estate developer:
The building's own energy needs are covered directly by the PV system. This provides the tenants of the business park with affordable, green electricity, which not only reduces their operating costs but also increases the attractiveness of the location and strengthens tenant retention.
By feeding the residual electricity into the public grid, VarioPark receives a fixed fee per kilowatt hour generated. This makes it possible to plan the investment in the photovoltaic system and offers stable long-term yields.
VarioPark is committed to the ecologically sustainable development of commercial real estate. The use of solar power is a central pillar of the sustainability concept and contributes significantly to achieving ESG goals and to the future-proof orientation of the company.
Installing a PV system on the roof has a positive effect on the value of the property, which VarioPark can claim if the property is sold.
The innovative combination of green roof and photovoltaics in Frankenthal is an impressive example of how VarioPark is putting its commitment to society and the environment into practice. At the same time, the project sends a strong signal that commerce and industry can make a decisive contribution to the energy transition.
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