Optimizing PV performance with hydroponic green roofs in hot Climates, the case of Riyadh

IF 7.1 2区工程技术 Q1 CONSTRUCTION & BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

Energy and Buildings Pub Date : 2025-10-05 DOI:10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.116527

Akram Rajeh, Abdel Rahman Elbakheit, Aasem Alabdullatief

{"title":"Optimizing PV performance with hydroponic green roofs in hot Climates, the case of Riyadh","authors":"Akram Rajeh, Abdel Rahman Elbakheit, Aasem Alabdullatief","doi":"10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.116527","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Photovoltaic (PV) power is increasingly promoted as a sustainable energy source, yet its efficiency remains hindered by high operating temperatures. To address this issue, this study explores the novel integration of hydroponic green roofs with PV systems in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Unlike conventional green roofs, hydroponic systems offer enhanced cooling potential and reduced structural and maintenance constraints. The experimental investigation, conducted between August 2024 to August 2025, assessed solar panel temperature regulation and energy production efficiency. Results indicate that the integrated hydroponic–PV roof system lowers panel surface temperatures and increases energy efficiency by up to 5.22%. Beyond technical gains, the system provides additional value by enhancing rooftop usability for recreational and social functions, aligning with sustainable urban design goals. However, the findings are limited to a single geographic and climatic context and a single annual cycle, water management, and long-term economic feasibility unaddressed. Despite these limitations, the study demonstrates the potential of hydroponic PV roof systems as a scalable and multifunctional solution for hot, arid regions, offering dual benefits of improved renewable energy generation and urban livability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11641,"journal":{"name":"Energy and Buildings","volume":"349 ","pages":"Article 116527"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Energy and Buildings","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378778825012575","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CONSTRUCTION & BUILDING TECHNOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) power is increasingly promoted as a sustainable energy source, yet its efficiency remains hindered by high operating temperatures. To address this issue, this study explores the novel integration of hydroponic green roofs with PV systems in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Unlike conventional green roofs, hydroponic systems offer enhanced cooling potential and reduced structural and maintenance constraints. The experimental investigation, conducted between August 2024 to August 2025, assessed solar panel temperature regulation and energy production efficiency. Results indicate that the integrated hydroponic–PV roof system lowers panel surface temperatures and increases energy efficiency by up to 5.22%. Beyond technical gains, the system provides additional value by enhancing rooftop usability for recreational and social functions, aligning with sustainable urban design goals. However, the findings are limited to a single geographic and climatic context and a single annual cycle, water management, and long-term economic feasibility unaddressed. Despite these limitations, the study demonstrates the potential of hydroponic PV roof systems as a scalable and multifunctional solution for hot, arid regions, offering dual benefits of improved renewable energy generation and urban livability.

查看原文本刊更多论文

以利雅得为例，利用水培绿色屋顶优化炎热气候下的光伏性能

光伏发电作为一种可持续能源日益得到推广，但其效率仍然受到高温的影响。为了解决这个问题，本研究探索了沙特阿拉伯利雅得的水培绿色屋顶与光伏系统的新型整合。与传统的绿色屋顶不同，水培系统提供了更高的冷却潜力，减少了结构和维护方面的限制。这项实验调查于2024年8月至2025年8月进行，评估了太阳能电池板的温度调节和能源生产效率。结果表明，水培-光伏一体化屋顶系统可降低面板表面温度，提高能效达5.22%。除了技术上的进步，该系统还通过提高屋顶娱乐和社交功能的可用性提供了额外的价值，与可持续的城市设计目标保持一致。然而，这些发现仅限于单一的地理和气候背景以及单一的年循环、水管理和长期经济可行性。尽管存在这些限制，该研究证明了水培光伏屋顶系统作为炎热干旱地区可扩展的多功能解决方案的潜力，提供了改善可再生能源发电和城市宜居性的双重好处。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Energy and Buildings 工程技术-工程：土木

CiteScore

12.70

自引率

11.90%

发文量

863

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： An international journal devoted to investigations of energy use and efficiency in buildings Energy and Buildings is an international journal publishing articles with explicit links to energy use in buildings. The aim is to present new research results, and new proven practice aimed at reducing the energy needs of a building and improving indoor environment quality.