PV for every rooftop in Basel

10/06/2017 | Print view

Roof of a former coal storage in Basel, which has now become an office building with a PV system. - © Solvatec — © Solvatec

Roof of a former coal storage in Basel, which has now become an office building with a PV system.

In the future, all roofs in Basel will be photovoltaic. The parliament of the Swiss city has approved a corresponding law application. The government has to adopt a regulation within two years, obliging the owner to build solar plants - as far as economically reasonable and technically possible.

In the future, every homeowner in the city of Basel could be obliged to build a solar system on its roof. This applies not only to single-family houses, but also to tenement houses, commercial buildings, city administration buildings and others. At the very least, the Grand Council of the Canton of Basel-Stadt advocated a corresponding request for such a law to the Government Council by a narrow majority of 44 to 42 votes.

From proposal to application

The proposal comes from the Green parliamentary group of the city canton. The idea is not new. It was already discussed in the course of the simplification and liberalization of the roof construction regulations at the end of last year. "

Obligation applies only to unshaded roofs

Until now, the Building and Planning Act of Basel stipulates that flat roofs must be greened. Now, a mandatory use of energy is to be added, which also applies to gabled roofs. However, a photovoltaic installation is only mandatory if the technical prerequisites are met and the construction of such a plant also makes sense economically. Nobody will expect a home owner to build a solar system on a completely shaded roof. But a PV installation has be at least checked in order to utilize suitable roof areas. The government council has two years to submit a corresponding law. (HCN/SU)