PV flat roof systems in the wind tunnel test

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Before mounting systems are allowed to be installed, they must comply with corresponding standards, including EN 1991-1-4. Beside all the specifications regarding statics, materials, etc., this standard, including the national annex, contains specific information about wind loads to which PV systems and their mounting systems on roofs are exposed. In times of increasingly strong storms and even hurricanes this is indispensable for safety and must be included in the development. That is why the solar industry relies on so-called wind tunnel tests to keep the ballast of roof-penetration-free flat roof systems as low as necessary. In this blog entry, we explain how these tests are structured and what needs to be taken into account. (more…)

Blog series: PV at IBC SOLAR, part I: The components

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Since the founding of IBC SOLAR, we have of course not only equipped our customers with complete PV systems, but also invested in our own in-house system. And this has grown steadily over the years. No wonder, because with almost 250 employees at the Bad Staffelstein headquarters alone, the demand for electricity is correspondingly high. In addition, PV can do a lot, and this comes to the fore with IBC SOLAR’s home system. In a multi-part series, we now provide an insight into the complex PV system: from the components to the development to the complex topics of energy management system (EMS) and e-mobility. (more…)

IBC AeroFix G3 – The new IBC SOLAR mounting system

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Our in-house mounting system IBC AeroFix has been part of IBC SOLAR for almost a decade now. From the very beginning, a lot of work, time and heart and soul went into the development. And the effort was worth it, because our mounting system for flat roofs has proven over the years what it is made of. From its stability in the strongest storms to its fast assembly. To date, the total output of the system has reached an estimated 600 MWp, primarily in the commercial segment, of course. And the trend is rising, because we are constantly developing the system further – recently with the new IBC AeroFix G3. (more…)

Green roof meets PV

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One thing is for sure, it doesn’t get any greener than installing a photovoltaic system on a green roof. Recent reports have shown that this combination is very effective and has a positive effect on the performance of PV modules, for example, green roofs improve the PV yield. On top of that, the ecological aspect is of course also interesting, as green areas enable new species-rich habitats for flora and fauna due to the partial shading of the roof. There is no doubt that the combination of PV and green roof has its advantages, but there are also some things to consider. (more…)

Blog Series: Our IBC AeroFix in a long-term test_part 2

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Flat roofs are particularly well suited for the installation of PV systems. There is no question about that. Especially if a lot of PV power is required. But in times of recurring storms and hurricanes, these systems have to withstand a lot. In order to find out exactly how our proven and wind tunnel tested AeroFix system behaves in these extreme situations, we recently started video and sensor monitoring on a commercial roof in Hedemünden, southern Lower Saxony. In the first article we told you more about the background. Now we report in detail about the system and the test setup. (more…)