CASE: Impressive solar project completed in Bulgaria

A unique solar project was completed in Bulgaria, combining energy production with carefully designed architecture. A carport was built with solar panels forming the roof, an integrated solar roof was installed on the main building, and a RAULI FENCE was built in the yard.

Technical performance is always important in solar projects, but sometimes the appearance of the system is just as important. Some customers have a very clear vision of the final result, while other projects have special requirements that cannot easily be met with standard mass-market products.

Bulgarian solar company Energy2U has completed several projects with special technical and visual requirements. During these projects, the company's owner, Simeon Bozhilov, has gained experience with different European premium solar products and solutions.

“I have been working with RAULI since 2024. Last year, we also completed our first facade installation using the RAULI WALL system. Our experience from that project was very good – the system was easy to install, technically excellent and beautiful.

What I especially like about RAULI products is how easy they are to install, the communication with the manufacturer, and the design and customizability,” says Bozhilov.

Three different solar solutions in one project

The total capacity of the solar system in this project is 14.39 kWp. The system consists of three different parts: a solar carport, an integrated solar roof and a RAULI FENCE solar solution.

All three solutions needed to work together both technically and visually. The solar panels are not simply added to the buildings and property to produce electricity. They are also a visible part of the overall architecture.

“The customer wanted innovative solutions that would be fully integrated into the architecture and match the design of both the house and the yard. Because of this, we chose the SOLARSTONE SOLAR FULL ROOF system for the carport and the integrated roof, and the RAULI FENCE for the yard, so the solar panels would integrate as naturally as possible into the buildings and the surrounding property,” Bozhilov explains.

Solar panels form the roof of the carport

One of the most visible parts of the project is the carport. Instead of a traditional roof, the solar panels form the roof surface and also protect the cars below.

The carport was built using the SOLARSTONE SOLAR FULL ROOF system, with a total capacity of 6.45 kWp. The roof consists of 15 BIPV panels, each with a power rating of 430 W. The panels were mounted onto a structure specifically developed for BIPV panels, so no additional solar mounting system was needed on top of it.

“With this solution, we achieve complete watertightness, a fully integrated design and strong resistance to outside conditions,” Bozhilov says.

Integrated solar roof

The solar panels on the main building were also designed to fit naturally into the architecture. Instead of installing a traditional solar system on top of the existing roof, an integrated solar roof was built.

The integrated roof also uses the SOLARSTONE SOLAR FULL ROOF system, forming a fully closed solar roof with a capacity of 3.44 kWp from 8 BIPV panels, each rated at 430 W. The panels are mounted directly onto a double batten structure, in a stepped, tiered layout designed to capture maximum power from the available roof area.

“With the SOLAR FULL ROOF system, the panels become part of the roof itself rather than an addition on top of it. The stepped layout let us make full use of the roof area while keeping a clean, integrated look,” Bozhilov explains.

RAULI FENCE combines fencing and solar energy production

The third part of the project was built using the RAULI FENCE solution, with a capacity of 4.5 kWp from 10 panels of 450 W each. In this system, solar panels form part of the property fence while also producing electricity.

The solution makes it possible to use areas for solar energy production where a traditional rooftop or ground-mounted system may not be suitable. At the same time, the solar system has another practical function. In this project, the panels also form part of the property fence.

“We selected the RAULI FENCE solution for this project because of its good design and because it allows mounting on vertical posts, which is exactly how the fence around this property is built.

During the installation, the system was very easy to mount, and we didn't run into any problems. Our overall experience with installing it was excellent,” Bozhilov says.

Solar energy as part of the architecture

This project in Bulgaria is a good example of how different solar solutions can be combined on one property. Solar electricity is produced on the carport, on the main building and in the property fence.

When solar is considered early in the design process and the right products are selected for the project, solar panels do not have to look like something added to the building afterwards. They can become a natural part of the building and its surroundings while producing renewable energy for many years.