By Adity Malhotra

The Swedish Steel Prize aims to recognize the good engineering, cooperation, and steel innovations that lead to a better and more sustainable world. Roofit.solar, from Estonia, was one of the four finalists for this year’s prize. Roofit.solar was nominated for its Roofit 2-in-1 solution, an innovative roofing product that combines a highly effective solar panel with an architecturally attractive and environmentally friendly steel roof.

“Roofit.solar is a company that is only three years old and was founded by Andri Jagomägi, who has 15 years of experience researching photovoltaic technology,” explains Helen Anijalg, marketing and export manager at Roofit.solar. “When planning his own house, he wanted to use a metal roof but also solar panels. He realized there was no, single, combined solution, so he started to experiment and figured out how to combine the materials.”

For the manufacturing of the 2-in-1 solution Roofit.solar decided to use sustainable GreenCoat color-coated steel. During the process, GreenCoat Pural BT is combined with highly efficient photovoltaic modules in a way that prevents delamination. Using a color coating based on Swedish rapeseed oil, it has been possible to push production technology limits, and the result shows excellent robust adhesion between the layers of the solar roof panel. The solution looks like a normal steel roof and allows both new and old buildings to produce their own electricity to be used, stored in a battery, or contributed back to the electrical grid.

“At every stage, we try to find the most environmentally friendly solution,” says Anijalg. “This means all the materials have to support our vision. This is why steel is the one and only material we are using.“ In use, the Roofit 2-in-1 steel solution produces 150 Watts of energy for every square meter.

Installing Roofit’s 2-in-1 panels follows the same procedures as standard standing seam metal roofs. Furthermore, the 2-in-1 steel panels are more durable than traditional solar panels, and Roofit.solar believes the product will boost the sales of steel roofs in general since the technology shows that you can have an environmentally beneficial roof that is durable and long lasting, even in harsh climates, and still looks good.