Munich, Germany, April 24, 2025. The Olympic Village in the German city of Munich could soon be greener: around two-thirds of the roof surfaces on the site, which has protected status, offer either good or very good potential for photovoltaics. This was the conclusion of a solar potential analysis carried out by Drees & Sommer SE. The consulting company specializes in construction, real estate and infrastructure. Drees & Sommer has been working with the architectural firm Auer Weber on behalf of the Bavarian state capital, Munich, and the Bavarian state office for the preservation of historical monuments (BLfD) to investigate how the use of photovoltaics and the preservation of sites of historic interest can be reconciled in the Olympic Village and how such a project can be implemented. The analysis is part of an extensive photovoltaics framework plan which will lay the foundation for the Olympic Village’s energy transition. The results will be documented as maps and made available to residents from the summer of 2025 as a practical guide in the form of a handbook. 

An area of 40 hectares, about 3,500 households and more than 6,000 residents: situated in the northwest of the German city of Munich, the village was built in the early 1970s to accommodate athletes participating in the 20^th Olympic Games. Now over 50 years old, the buildings are protected both individually and as a conservation area and are included, along with the Olympic Park, in Germany’s list of recommendations for consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite its protected status, the Olympic Village has to face the task of preparing for the challenges of the present – in particular with a view to climate mitigation efforts and energy efficiency. 

The historic monuments protection and preservation authority for the city of Munich (referred to as ‘the lower monument protection authority’) is of the opinion that the historic Olympic Village needs to be made fit for the future, while at the same time a balance has to be achieved between preserving the cultural heritage and sustainably developing the site. It reports that in recent years there has been a significant rise in demand among owners for the installation of photovoltaic modules on roofs and balconies. The first step was to carry out a solar energy potential analysis to determine where in the Olympic Village the sun is at its strongest and how solar panels can best be integrated.

High PV Potential Identified on Roofs

To calculate precisely the intensity of solar irradiation in the Olympic Village, the experts teams of Auer Weber Architekten and Drees & Sommer created a 3D model of the entire village. Reporting on the results, Mathias Lanezki, who is responsible for the project at Drees & Sommer, said: “Our analysis found that around 65,000 square meters of roof area is suitable or very suitable for photovoltaics, with a further 11,000 square meters suitable to a limited extent. This means that, in accounting terms and theoretically, the pure solar irradiation potential of the roofs is sufficient to supply around half of the households with solar energy”. In addition to roof surfaces, the experts have analyzed the potential for photovoltaics on façades and balconies. The Olympic Village incorporates high-rise and stepped buildings of up to 23 stories in addition to row houses and apartment buildings of two to five stories, and single-story bungalows.

“The next step focuses on the requirements in terms of design. We will have a deeper look at the individual roof and façade structures of various building types. And we are investigating which surface areas and which solar panels are suitable and how they can best be integrated technically and aesthetically or in compliance with guidelines for the protection of historic buildings. It is crucial that the PV panels fit in harmoniously in the conservation area and do not dominate the overall impression,“ explained Adrian Gessner of Auer Weber Architekten. Moreover, it will be examined how the generated electricity can be used and stored. 

From the Inclination up to the Color: a PV Master Plan Delivers Detailed Answers

The final version of the PV Master Plan should be available to owners and residents of the Olympic Village starting from summer 2025. Ready for consultation as a handbook, it will provide the required information and assistance. Where exactly can solar PV systems be installed? Which design requirements must be fulfilled? Up to suggestions on the color of the solar panels – the PV Master Plan will provide detailed guidance to the people of the Olympic village, in order to facilitate decision-making, planning and implementation of PV systems. As the first component of a municipal plan for protected historic sites that is planned for the entire Olympic Park in the coming years, the PV Master Plan will advance the provision of renewable energy in Munich. Besides Auer Weber and Drees & Sommer, several other firms, such as stauss processform GmbH, Sailer Stepan Tragwerkteam München GmbH, and Uniola GmbH, take part in this particular project.

Munich, Germany, April 24, 2025. The Olympic Village in the German city of Munich could soon be greener: around two-thirds of the roof surfaces on the site, which has protected status, offer either good or very good potential for photovoltaics. This was the conclusion of a solar potential analysis carried out by Drees & Sommer SE. The consulting company specializes in construction, real estate and infrastructure. Drees & Sommer has been working with the architectural firm Auer Weber on behalf of the Bavarian state capital, Munich, and the Bavarian state office for the preservation of historical monuments (BLfD) to investigate how the use of photovoltaics and the preservation of sites of historic interest can be reconciled in the Olympic Village and how such a project can be implemented. The analysis is part of an extensive photovoltaics framework plan which will lay the foundation for the Olympic Village’s energy transition. The results will be documented as maps and made available to residents from the summer of 2025 as a practical guide in the form of a handbook. 

An area of 40 hectares, about 3,500 households and more than 6,000 residents: situated in the northwest of the German city of Munich, the village was built in the early 1970s to accommodate athletes participating in the 20^th Olympic Games. Now over 50 years old, the buildings are protected both individually and as a conservation area and are included, along with the Olympic Park, in Germany’s list of recommendations for consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite its protected status, the Olympic Village has to face the task of preparing for the challenges of the present – in particular with a view to climate mitigation efforts and energy efficiency. 

The historic monuments protection and preservation authority for the city of Munich (referred to as ‘the lower monument protection authority’) is of the opinion that the historic Olympic Village needs to be made fit for the future, while at the same time a balance has to be achieved between preserving the cultural heritage and sustainably developing the site. It reports that in recent years there has been a significant rise in demand among owners for the installation of photovoltaic modules on roofs and balconies. The first step was to carry out a solar energy potential analysis to determine where in the Olympic Village the sun is at its strongest and how solar panels can best be integrated.

High PV Potential Identified on Roofs

To calculate precisely the intensity of solar irradiation in the Olympic Village, the experts teams of Auer Weber Architekten and Drees & Sommer created a 3D model of the entire village. Reporting on the results, Mathias Lanezki, who is responsible for the project at Drees & Sommer, said: “Our analysis found that around 65,000 square meters of roof area is suitable or very suitable for photovoltaics, with a further 11,000 square meters suitable to a limited extent. This means that, in accounting terms and theoretically, the pure solar irradiation potential of the roofs is sufficient to supply around half of the households with solar energy”. In addition to roof surfaces, the experts have analyzed the potential for photovoltaics on façades and balconies. The Olympic Village incorporates high-rise and stepped buildings of up to 23 stories in addition to row houses and apartment buildings of two to five stories, and single-story bungalows.

“The next step focuses on the requirements in terms of design. We will have a deeper look at the individual roof and façade structures of various building types. And we are investigating which surface areas and which solar panels are suitable and how they can best be integrated technically and aesthetically or in compliance with guidelines for the protection of historic buildings. It is crucial that the PV panels fit in harmoniously in the conservation area and do not dominate the overall impression,“ explained Adrian Gessner of Auer Weber Architekten. Moreover, it will be examined how the generated electricity can be used and stored. 

From the Inclination up to the Color: a PV Master Plan Delivers Detailed Answers

The final version of the PV Master Plan should be available to owners and residents of the Olympic Village starting from summer 2025. Ready for consultation as a handbook, it will provide the required information and assistance. Where exactly can solar PV systems be installed? Which design requirements must be fulfilled? Up to suggestions on the color of the solar panels – the PV Master Plan will provide detailed guidance to the people of the Olympic village, in order to facilitate decision-making, planning and implementation of PV systems. As the first component of a municipal plan for protected historic sites that is planned for the entire Olympic Park in the coming years, the PV Master Plan will advance the provision of renewable energy in Munich. Besides Auer Weber and Drees & Sommer, several other firms, such as stauss processform GmbH, Sailer Stepan Tragwerkteam München GmbH, and Uniola GmbH, take part in this particular project.

Munich, Germany, April 24, 2025. The Olympic Village in the German city of Munich could soon be greener: around two-thirds of the roof surfaces on the site, which has protected status, offer either good or very good potential for photovoltaics. This was the conclusion of a solar potential analysis carried out by Drees & Sommer SE. The consulting company specializes in construction, real estate and infrastructure. Drees & Sommer has been working with the architectural firm Auer Weber on behalf of the Bavarian state capital, Munich, and the Bavarian state office for the preservation of historical monuments (BLfD) to investigate how the use of photovoltaics and the preservation of sites of historic interest can be reconciled in the Olympic Village and how such a project can be implemented. The analysis is part of an extensive photovoltaics framework plan which will lay the foundation for the Olympic Village’s energy transition. The results will be documented as maps and made available to residents from the summer of 2025 as a practical guide in the form of a handbook. 

An area of 40 hectares, about 3,500 households and more than 6,000 residents: situated in the northwest of the German city of Munich, the village was built in the early 1970s to accommodate athletes participating in the 20^th Olympic Games. Now over 50 years old, the buildings are protected both individually and as a conservation area and are included, along with the Olympic Park, in Germany’s list of recommendations for consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite its protected status, the Olympic Village has to face the task of preparing for the challenges of the present – in particular with a view to climate mitigation efforts and energy efficiency. 

The historic monuments protection and preservation authority for the city of Munich (referred to as ‘the lower monument protection authority’) is of the opinion that the historic Olympic Village needs to be made fit for the future, while at the same time a balance has to be achieved between preserving the cultural heritage and sustainably developing the site. It reports that in recent years there has been a significant rise in demand among owners for the installation of photovoltaic modules on roofs and balconies. The first step was to carry out a solar energy potential analysis to determine where in the Olympic Village the sun is at its strongest and how solar panels can best be integrated.

High PV Potential Identified on Roofs

To calculate precisely the intensity of solar irradiation in the Olympic Village, the experts teams of Auer Weber Architekten and Drees & Sommer created a 3D model of the entire village. Reporting on the results, Mathias Lanezki, who is responsible for the project at Drees & Sommer, said: “Our analysis found that around 65,000 square meters of roof area is suitable or very suitable for photovoltaics, with a further 11,000 square meters suitable to a limited extent. This means that, in accounting terms and theoretically, the pure solar irradiation potential of the roofs is sufficient to supply around half of the households with solar energy”. In addition to roof surfaces, the experts have analyzed the potential for photovoltaics on façades and balconies. The Olympic Village incorporates high-rise and stepped buildings of up to 23 stories in addition to row houses and apartment buildings of two to five stories, and single-story bungalows.

“The next step focuses on the requirements in terms of design. We will have a deeper look at the individual roof and façade structures of various building types. And we are investigating which surface areas and which solar panels are suitable and how they can best be integrated technically and aesthetically or in compliance with guidelines for the protection of historic buildings. It is crucial that the PV panels fit in harmoniously in the conservation area and do not dominate the overall impression,“ explained Adrian Gessner of Auer Weber Architekten. Moreover, it will be examined how the generated electricity can be used and stored. 

From the Inclination up to the Color: a PV Master Plan Delivers Detailed Answers

The final version of the PV Master Plan should be available to owners and residents of the Olympic Village starting from summer 2025. Ready for consultation as a handbook, it will provide the required information and assistance. Where exactly can solar PV systems be installed? Which design requirements must be fulfilled? Up to suggestions on the color of the solar panels – the PV Master Plan will provide detailed guidance to the people of the Olympic village, in order to facilitate decision-making, planning and implementation of PV systems. As the first component of a municipal plan for protected historic sites that is planned for the entire Olympic Park in the coming years, the PV Master Plan will advance the provision of renewable energy in Munich. Besides Auer Weber and Drees & Sommer, several other firms, such as stauss processform GmbH, Sailer Stepan Tragwerkteam München GmbH, and Uniola GmbH, take part in this particular project.