Nature meets technology
Green roof
Transformer stations with green roofs: thinking sustainably about technology
The extensive greening of concrete transformer stations offers numerous ecological, technical and practical advantages. The integration of plants on the roofs and possibly also the façades of these infrastructure buildings not only creates aesthetic accents, but also achieves functional improvements. In principle, every transformer station can be fitted with a green roof - provided that the roof is structurally reinforced to take the additional load of the greenery.
Where technology meets nature: Functional infrastructure can be harmoniously combined with ecological green roofs.
Environmental benefits of a green roof
CO₂ reduction and air pollution control:
Green roofs and walls help to bind CO₂ and act as natural filters that remove fine dust and pollutants from the air.Promotion of biodiversity:
A green roof creates a habitat for various insect species, such as bees and butterflies, and thus supports biodiversity in urban areas.Improvement of the microclimate:
Through evaporative cooling, green areas contribute to cooling the ambient temperatures and reduce the occurrence of urban heat islands.
Technical advantages of a green roof
Protection of the building fabric:
Greening protects roof and wall surfaces from the effects of weather such as UV radiation, hail and extreme temperatures, which extends the service life of the building fabric.Thermal insulation:
Green roofs provide additional insulation that protects against both heat in summer and cold in winter, which reduces the energy required for air conditioning.Rainwater management:
A green roof can retain a large proportion of the rainwater and release it with a delay, which relieves the burden on the sewage system and reduces the risk of flooding. In the case of BEK stations, water is drained via downpipes, in the case of NZ stations via the edge of the roof. An all-round gravel drainage system ensures controlled drainage, and the roof is sealed root-proof with liquid plastic and root barrier fleece.
Greening systems and implementation
We prefer to use extensive green roofs for our transformer stations as they are light, low-maintenance and cost-effective. Intensive greening is not currently used as it requires a thicker layer of substrate and is associated with higher maintenance and water requirements.
Scheidt relies on the use of plant cassettes, e.g. ECOSEDUM® PACK, for modular, maintenance-free extensive greening. The green roofs are already installed by us at the factory and are ready for immediate use. The green roof is realised in accordance with or based on DIN 18531 - depending on the desired design standard.
Practical realisation
The implementation of green roofs on concrete transformer stations was successfully realised, for example, as part of a project by Dortmund's public utility company (link). Five accessible BEK-type stations with basements were installed, each with a green, accessible roof area. These roofs were equipped with a modular system for green roofs and delivered fully completed.
There is also a clear trend towards more green roofs nationwide: In 2023, around 10 million m² of roof area was newly greened in Germany, which corresponds to an increase of 16.1 % compared to the previous year. This development is supported by a wide range of funding programmes at federal, state and municipal level. For example, the KfW, cities such as Hamburg and numerous local authorities offer subsidies or fee benefits for green roofs.
*Source: Green building market report 2024 of the Bundesverband GebäudeGrün (BuGG)
Scope of services:
- Roof waterproofing using sheet materials in accordance with DIN 18531-2 or liquid applied waterproofing materials in accordance with ETAG 005, root and rhizome resistant tested in accordance with FLL
- 1 roof outlet DN70 incl. leaf guard
- 1 piece emergency overflow DN70 incl. leaf guard
- Separating and protective fleece approx. 300 g/m²
- Roof greening e.g. with ECOSEDUM® PACK
- Circumferential gravel strip at the edge of the roof and to openings in the roof surface
