NYC Debuts Vertical Solar Panels That Share Roofs With Plants

Solar panels and rooftop gardens just became best friends in New York City.

Over Easy Solar has installed the first vertical solar array in the United States, a 100 kilowatt system sitting atop a building in Queens' Willets Point neighborhood. Unlike traditional panels that tilt toward the sun and block everything beneath them, these stand upright like thin walls, allowing rain and sunlight to reach the vegetation below.

The innovation solves a problem building owners have faced for years. Traditional solar panels require heavy ballast systems and cover green roofs, blocking the plants that help manage stormwater and cool buildings. This new system weighs just 2.4 pounds per square foot and needs no roof penetration or extra weight.

The vertical panels use bifacial technology, meaning they capture sunlight on both sides. They generate power from direct sunlight on the front and reflected light bouncing off the roof's white surface on the back. The system was originally planned as a conventional tilted layout but was redesigned to meet New York City's green roof requirements.

Performance numbers tell an encouraging story. The Queens installation will produce between 100,000 and 140,000 kilowatt hours annually, matching the output of traditional flat roof systems. Founder Trygve Mongstad explains that while the orientation differs, the energy yield remains competitive at 1,000 to 1,400 kilowatt hours per kilowatt of installed capacity.

The Ripple Effect

This dual-purpose approach could transform how cities think about rooftop space. Buildings with low weight capacity that couldn't support traditional solar can now generate clean energy. Green roofs that help cities manage flooding and reduce heat islands no longer compete with renewable energy goals.

The technology is already spreading beyond New York. Over Easy Solar operates systems in Berlin, Madrid, Oslo, and Tromsø, where vertical panels proved especially valuable during snowy months by shedding snow better than tilted arrays. The company recently partnered with Australian firms to bring the system down under.

Dick Bernauer from partner company Sempergreen USA sees huge potential for older buildings. Structures with aging roofs or limited load capacity can now add solar without expensive reinforcement work.

Cities facing the dual challenge of climate adaptation and clean energy transitions finally have a solution that addresses both. The Queens project proves we don't have to choose between green infrastructure and renewable power when smart design lets us have both.