For many years, MLP Group has been developing modern logistics parks in the build & hold model. This approach means not only delivering new investments, but also taking long-term responsibility for the buildings, their operation and the safety of tenants. That is why the development of technical infrastructure must go hand in hand with risk control.
One of the key directions in MLP Group’s development is investment supporting the energy transition. Photovoltaics on the roofs of logistics facilities are now a natural step for an owner thinking about efficiency, ESG and the future of real estate. In practice, however, such a decision requires more than simply installing panels. It raises a very specific question: how can PV systems be implemented safely for the building – both new and existing?
This is where the cooperation between MLP Group and SENSE Smart Roofs began.
How to Develop Photovoltaics Without Losing Control Over Roof Safety
MLP Group is consistently expanding its portfolio of facilities equipped with photovoltaic installations. PV systems with a total capacity of more than 8.7 MWp are already operating on the roofs of its buildings, with further projects in preparation. The scale of these activities shows that this is not about individual implementations, but about a consciously pursued direction of development.
From the perspective of an investor and long-term building owner, such a transformation must take into account not only energy-related benefits. Operational aspects are equally important.
For MLP Group, it was clear that the development of photovoltaics could not come at the expense of structural safety or the predictability of operational activities. What was needed was a solution that would make it possible to look at the roof not only from the perspective of the design, but also through the lens of its everyday performance.
How Photovoltaics Change Roof Operating Conditions
In the case of roofs with PV installations, the traditional approach to assessing the situation in winter quickly becomes insufficient. Panels introduce an additional permanent load. Snow also accumulates differently than on roofs without PV systems – it can build up under the panels and melt more slowly. As a result, so-called snow pockets may form, increasing local loads on the roof.
The approach to snow removal also changes. When panels remain hidden under a layer of snow, they can easily be damaged during maintenance work. Under such conditions, manual snow cover measurements are no longer a reliable source of information about the actual safety condition of the structure.
MLP Group therefore needed a solution that would allow decisions on winter maintenance to be made based on hard, real-time data.
How to Prepare a Roof for the Implementation of Photovoltaics
In this project, the key point was that the cooperation did not begin with the installation of devices alone. First, it was necessary to determine precisely how the presence of PV installations affected the performance of specific roofs and what safety limits should be adopted for individual facilities.
That is why the first stage involved structural analyses to determine the impact of PV installations on the permissible roof deflections. Only then was it possible to proceed with the next steps: installing SENSE S-One roof structure deflection sensors, launching the SENSE Smart Roofs Platform and implementing the Weather Alerts module.
At the same time, a dedicated snow removal project was developed for each building, adapted to the new conditions for moving around the roof and carrying out winter maintenance work in the vicinity of PV installations.
The entire implementation was comprehensive – from analyses, through system delivery and installation, to snow removal projects and training for MLP Group employees.
From Pilot Project to a Standard Solution in Subsequent Logistics Parks
The cooperation began with a pilot implementation on one facility. This model allowed MLP Group to verify the solution in practice and assess its operational value in day-to-day building management.
After the results were confirmed, the system was rolled out across four additional parks. Over time, it became not only a tool supporting decisions related to winter roof maintenance, but more broadly – a solution for observing structural performance, assessing the impact of additional loads and detecting situations that deviate from the roof’s typical behaviour more quickly.
This stage best illustrates the nature of the entire cooperation. It was not about a one-off delivery of technology, but about developing an operating model that could grow together with future investments and support MLP Group’s long-term strategy.
When developing photovoltaic installations, it was important for us to combine our energy transition goals with full control over building safety. In our cooperation with SENSE Smart Roofs, we particularly value their practical approach, strong understanding of operational realities and a solution that genuinely supports our operational decisions.
Marcin Dobieszewski, Head of Property Management & ESG, MLP Group
Implementation Results: Fewer Roof Entries, Less Snow Removal, Greater Predictability
The most important change was the transition from reactive measures to data-driven management. The MLP Group team gained ongoing insight into the performance of the roof structure and can assess more quickly when intervention is necessary – and when it can be avoided. This translated into several very concrete results.
Roof load measurement was fully automated. SENSE S-One sensors replaced manual inspections, reducing the number of roof entries by 97%. This means not only savings in time and costs, but also lower risk for people carrying out work in difficult winter conditions.
The number of snow removal operations also decreased. Decisions are no longer based on the precautionary assumption that action must be taken “just in case”, but on actual data about the safety condition of the roof structure. In practice, this makes it possible to avoid costs reaching hundreds of thousands of zlotys per year for a single building.
MLP Group also gained greater predictability in roof maintenance activities. This is important from the perspective of the continuity of logistics facility operations and tenant safety.
Another significant benefit was the extension of the roof covering’s service life by 6 years. This resulted from reducing the risk of mechanical damage during winter interventions.
Safe Rooftop Photovoltaics Are About More Than Installing Panels
The story of the cooperation between MLP Group and SENSE Smart Roofs shows that the development of photovoltaics on the roofs of commercial facilities should not be limited to the installation of panels alone. For such an investment to be truly sustainable, it is also necessary to consider how the roof performs, structural safety and the future operation of the building.
For MLP Group, this meant creating an operating model that supports ESG goals while maintaining control over technical and operational risk. For SENSE Smart Roofs, in turn, it was a cooperation based not only on providing technology, but above all on understanding the client’s needs and long-term strategy.
Today, this partnership continues to grow with further investments. And roof safety is becoming one of the foundations of responsible photovoltaic implementation in modern logistics parks.
About MLP Group
MLP Group has been operating on the commercial real estate market since 1998. The company specializes in the development, delivery and management of modern logistics parks in the build & hold model. After completing each investment, the company retains the facilities in its portfolio and manages them on a long-term basis, offering tenants attractive locations and a high standard of service.
