This lightweight flat-roof system developed by Centrosolar AG achieves a distributed load of less than 10 kg per square metre

Hamburg (Germany), May 9, 2012 – CentroPlan, a sister company of Centrosolar AG, has completed the installation of three photovoltaic roof systems on logistics centres in North Germany and on the Lower Rhine on behalf of an international logistics group, incorporating a total of 12,170 modules for a combined capacity of just under 3 MWp. Like all CentroPlan projects, at the outset the sites were analysed, a forecast of the performance ratio was made and structural engineering calculations were carried out. Following its examination of the structures, CentroPlan decided to use mostly the new CENIQ mounting system. This lightweight flat-roof system developed by Centrosolar AG achieves a distributed load of less than 10 kg per square metre. It is thus ideal for all roofs that are structurally only able to support a low additional weight. It can moreover be fitted without the need to pierce the roof membrane. That brings another big advantage: the absence of rail systems allows rainwater to flow straight off. Thanks to the flexible module arrangement that does away with connectors between the module rows, the roof's surface can be optimally used. The specific performance ratio calculated by the independent institute Fraunhofer ISE, including a markdown to allow a margin for error, was approximately 84 % for each of the three systems and exceeded the typical average of 81 %. Performance ratio means the ratio between the actual and the target yield of a PV system. It indicates what proportion of the power generated by the system (solar modules) is effectively available for use. The turnkey systems were handed over to the European logistics company after an installation process lasting around 10 weeks.