Solar cells cooled by greenery develop 10% more power

March 1, 2010:  Research and demonstration projects in seven Australian cities will show how simple greenery can cool solar cells for an average increase of around 10% in power production in hot-dry cities.

The projects are expected to be running by the end of 2010.  Brisbane and Melbourne will be the first two cities to undertake the new R&D.  A prime objective is to have very-clear, Australian-based information, city-by-city, of the big advantages of solar power cell cooling via rooftop greenery.

Seven Australian cities had half-day lectures and talks in February on how urban greenery cooling can increase Australian solar power electricity yield anything from 1% to 25% (with an average increase of around 10% a year in Brisbane). 

According to Geoff Wilson, President of Green Infrastructure Network Australia Inc.
the new program is expected to well-boost solar power output from homes and businesses installing solar power cell units over green roofs. 

The R&D will clearly show how the greenery cooling advantage will benefit solar power units in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. Other Australian cities may be added to the R&D program as interest grows.

Representstives of the following universities have expressed interest in being part of GINA Inc’s national R&D effort. They are:

• Queensland University of Technology.
• The University of Queensland.
• University of New South Wales.
• Australian National University, Canberra.
• Murdoch University, Perth.

Mr Wilson said other universities would be asked to participate, in company with Australia’s expanding number of green roof and green wall businesses.  He also said a greenery-solar research and demonstration project is simple in concept, and relatively inexpensive to construct.  University student greenery-energy projects are expected to be most feasible.

Germany, which has 30 years experience with rooftop greenery, already cools solar power collectors for 2% to 12% greater efficiency.  It is rapidly-expanding their use.

This important point was outlined around Australia from February 3 to 21 by Professor Manfred Kohler from Germany’s University of Applied Sciences in Neubrandenburg, where he founded the Green Roof Research Centre.  He visited Australia as president of the 19-country World Green Infrastructure Network based in Toronto, Canada. 

Professor Kohler’s February talks about German solar power advances were supported by University of Queensland student, Brian Chua who, in his 2009 research and thesis, showed that scientists of Queensland Department of Public Works were correct about greenery and solar power combinations.  Maximum solar power is provided at 25 degrees C. For every one degree in temperature rise, electricity-producing efficiency drops 0.5%. Australian rooftop temperature can rise to 70 degrees C or higher.

The Queensland scientists’ figuring in 2008 had shown the increased potential in Australia for Germany’s well-proven finding that solar power units were much more efficient if cooled naturally by the evapo-transpirations effects of rooftop greenery underneath. 

Germany has about half the world’s solar power cells. They connect with its national grid electricity supply.  About a quarter of Germany’s electrical power is expected to be from solar sources in less than 10 years -- at cheaper-than-coal power costs.  Coal-based electrical power was expected to soon decline in Germany to save carbon emissions.

An objective of Mr Chua is a national program of practical demonstrations of the rooftop greenery-and-solar-power advantages. He is supported in this by Green Infrastructure Network Australia Inc.

Further information and pictures are available from the organizer:

Geoff Wilson,
Director (Australia), World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN).
President, Green Infrastructure Network Australia Inc.
32 David Road, Holland Park 4121, Queensland.
Phones: 0412 622 779 or 07 3411 4524.    Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it