Economical and Environmental Optimization of Timber-Cable Photovoltaic Structures

Dardenne, Benjamin;Latteur, Pierre
(2026) IASS2026 — Location: Turin, Italy (14.September.2026)

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The widespread deployment of photovoltaic power plants (PV) is essential to achieving carbon neutrality targets in Europe by 2050. New types of large-scale PV structures are emerging, such as canopies over parking lots, roads, channels, agricultural fields… requiring all structures capable of freeing up large spaces while minimizing economic and environmental impacts. Although steel is currently the predominant material, this study explores the potential of timber logs-an abundant, environmentally friendly, and economical material-as a sustainable alternative for load-bearing structures. The study presents a parametric optimization method based on the concept of morphological indicators (MI). MI allow simplifying complex design problems by grouping strength, geometry, and load variables into dimensionless ratios, which facilitates the identification of optimal configurations regardless of project scale. The study compares several structural configurations, with a particular focus on the use of cable trusses for long-span elements. The article shows that the use of logs for columns and support beams, combined with cable trusses, reduces construction costs and global warming potential (GWP) compared to conventional steel structures, which have a very unfavorable economic and ecological balance. In conclusion, the combination of timber logs and cables appears to be a viable solution for reconciling the ecological and economic objectives of photovoltaic developers, while offering a natural aesthetic that promotes landscape integration and social acceptability of these infrastructures.
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Dardenne, B., & Latteur, P. (2026, September 14). Economical and Environmental Optimization of Timber-Cable Photovoltaic Structures. IASS2026, Turin, Italy. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/280558