Initial insights on the biodiversity potential of biosolar roofs: a London Olympic Park green roof case study

Abstract

Cities dominated by impervious artificial surfaces can experience a multitude of negative environmental impacts. Restoration of green infrastructure has been identified as a mechanism for increasing urban resilience, enabling cities to transition towards sustainable futures in the face of climate-driven change. Building rooftops represent a viable space for integrating new green infrastructure into high-density urban areas. Urban rooftops also provide prime locations for photovoltaic (PV) systems. There is an increasing recognition that these two technologies can be combined to deliver reciprocal benefits in terms of energy efficiency and biodiversity targets. Scarcity of scientific evaluation of the interaction between PVs and green roofs means that the potential benefits are currently poorly understood. This study documents evidence from a biodiversity monitoring study of a substantial biosolar roof installed in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Vegetation and invertebrate communities were sampled and habitat structure measured in relation to habitat niches on the roof, including PV panels. Ninety-two plant species were recorded on the roof and variation in vegetation structure associated with proximity to PV panels was identified. Almost 50% of target invertebrate species collected were designated of conservation importance. Arthropod distribution varied in relation to habitat niches on the roof. The overall aim of the Main Press Centre building green roof design was to create a mosaic of habitats to enhance biodiversity, and the results of the study suggest that PV panels can contribute to niche diversity on a green roof. Further detailed study is required to fully characterise the effects of PV panel density on biodiversity.

Keywords:

• green roof
• biodiversity
• photovoltaic panel
• niche
• urban ecology
• resilience

Acknowledgements

The biodiversity-design-led green infrastructure research, incorporating biomimicry of regional habitat of national conservation importance into the design of urban green infrastructure, carried out by the University of East London's Sustainability Research Institute, was supported by the EU FP7 funded project TURAS (Transitioning towards Urban Resilience and Sustainability). This TURAS case study research project would not have been possible without the generous support of the London Legacy Development Corporation, one of the aims of which being to secure a biodiversity legacy for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Special thanks also go to Peter Harvey for help with species-level identification of invertebrates and to Dusty Gedge, Gary Grant and the Green Roof Consultancy whose passion for biodiversity is fed into every green roof they design and whose designs have been a huge driving force behind London's ever increasing focus on becoming a city that intertwines communities and biodiversity.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the European Commission under the TURAS FP7 research programme [grant number 282834].