Beyond sustainability: Unveiling the complex interactions, risks and future prospects of photovoltaic green roofs

With the growing emphasis on climate change mitigation and energy efficiency enhancements, photovoltaic (PV) green roofs have garnered significant attention as a dual-purpose solution that integrates renewable energy generation with ecological benefits. This innovative roofing system combines PV panels with green roofs, contributing to urban sustainability and offering multiple advantages. It has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing building surface temperatures while simultaneously generating solar energy. However, despite extensive scholarly discussions on the benefits of PV–green roofs, there remains a paucity of critical reviews addressing the mutual interactions between PV and green systems, their broader environmental impacts and the challenges associated with their implementation. This paper provides a comprehensive review and explores prospects for their future development. This study focused on the mutual positive and negative interactions between the PV system and the green system within PV–green roofs, as well as the overall impact of the integrated system on the surrounding environment. In addition, it provides a critical discussion of the adverse effects identified and offers future perspectives aimed at informing strategies to mitigate these negative impacts.