Energies Media
The ancient city of Pompeii shows how heritage and modern technology can come together using solar roof tiles.
Globally, nations are under pressure to decarbonize due to stringent climate goals.
To achieve these milestones, renewable energy infrastructure must significantly expand to displace fossil fuels.
However, culturally rich and heritage sites are often impossible to modernize due to their historic architecture.
Will Pompeii’s “disguising” approach be the solution these cities have been waiting for all along?
As the effects of climate change worsen, governments worldwide are urging communities to meet net-zero targets.
International climate agreements mandate that fossil fuels must be replaced with green energy sources.
While global clean power capacity reached 5.15 terawatts at the end of 2025, many regions struggle to decarbonize.
More specifically, historical cities find it the most challenging to transition.
Since most urban regions are densely packed, space is limited for the addition of new renewable infrastructure.
As a result, rooftop solar panels have been vital in cities to lower their carbon footprints.
In ancient metropolises with centuries-old buildings and monuments, these panels are less ideal. The technology features heavy mounting hardware, metallic frames, and dark reflective glass.
Installing modern panels onto these historic structures ruins the aesthetic and can damage the delicate architecture.
With countless historic cities trying to save monuments’ protected status, the need for innovation increases.
Modern cities in general have high carbon footprints, but so do historic urban centers.
In Europe, old buildings are responsible for almost 36% of the region’s energy-related carbon emissions.
This is attributed to inefficient cooling and heating, and outdated power infrastructure.
As a result, the industry has developed a solution known as Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).
BIPV innovations include solar facades, solar glass panes, and integrated windows.
These technologies allow structures to produce clean energy directly from their exteriors without significantly altering the building.
It reduces installation costs, makes deployment scalable and simpler, and helps buildings lower localized carbon footprints.
However, these standard solutions are primarily designed for modern architecture.
Sleek glass towers and high-rise skyscrapers are ideal for these BIPV technologies.
They feature clean geometric lines and flat surfaces on which these solar designs disappear.
Traditional BIPV will clash with ancient architecture. That is why Pompeii opted for Invisible Solar instead.
Photovoltaics are being disguised as roof tiles in Pompeii.
The Italian family business DyaQua created Invisible Solar to address heritage barriers.
The technology has been designed to look identical to traditional building materials, including terracotta, concrete, wood, or stone.
Standard monocrystalline silicon solar cells are inside a non-toxic, recyclable polymer mixture.
This mixture is optical-grade and light-permeable. Incoming sunlight is captured and directed to the hidden solar cells.
The tiles are tolerant of heavy static loads, chemical solvents, and harsh weather.
The modules can be molded into different historical shapes, such as classic flat shingles or Tuscan Roman tiles.
The polymer has a photocatalytic coating. It is activated by natural light to break down dirt and purify the air.
The technology’s efficiency may be slightly lower than standard black panels, but it is key to heritage site preservation.
The goal of the technology was to power Pompeii’s fresco lighting using custom terracotta-style tiles.
It was deployed across several historic structures, including the House of the Vettii and the House of Cerere.
By using Invisible Solar, clean electricity can be produced without altering ancient architecture.
Ultimately, it proves that sustainability and heritage preservation can be harmonized. Soon, other protected cities, from Évora to Split, can meet decarbonization goals.
Anke Maree is a writer with a clear and engaging editorial style. Her work focuses on making complex topics accessible, informative, and relevant for readers across different areas of interest.
Anke Maree is a writer with a clear and engaging editorial style. Her work focuses on making complex topics accessible, informative, and relevant for readers across different areas of interest.
Anke Maree is a writer with a clear and engaging editorial style. Her work focuses on making complex topics accessible, informative, and relevant for readers across different areas of interest.

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