Frequently asked questions about SalvaTerra

Yes, an off-grid photovoltaic configuration can be designedto power specific loads even where the electricity grid is unavailable.

This requires a battery storage system, an inverter suitable for standalone operation, and management and protection devices sized for the expected consumption.

ETWAY is developing this type of application through the SalvaTerra Survivalproject, also designed for remote locations, natural areas and outdoor services without a grid connection. Not all available SalvaTerra configurations are automatically suitable for off-grid operation.

Yes, in some situations vertical photovoltaics can support self-consumptionbecause electricity generation may be distributed differently throughout the day compared with a conventional rooftop system.

For example, a vertical installation with east- and west-facing surfaces can make use of certain morning and afternoon hours when a building may have significant consumption.

The actual benefit depends on orientation, exposure and the consumption profile. It is therefore incorrect to say that a vertical system always generates more energy or necessarily delivers greater savings.

Yes. The orientation of vertical modules can enable them to capture a useful share of energy in the first and last hours of daylightparticularly in certain east-west configurations.

This profile can be useful for businesses, hospitality facilities and users that consume electricity in the morning and afternoon.

However, generation depends on the season, orientation, shading and available solar radiation. Performance must always be assessed at the installation site.

Bifacial photovoltaic panels are modules that can convert sunlight reaching both their surfaces into electricity.

Unlike conventional panels, which mainly use the front side, bifacial modules can also use direct or reflected radiation reaching the back.

This technology is particularly interesting for vertical photovoltaics, where both sides can be exposed to light.

The actual contribution of the rear side depends on installation conditions. SalvaTerra uses bifacial modules in configurations that specify them.

Yes. SalvaTerra incorporates real photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight into electricity.

The energy can be used in the building or area served through a properly designed and connected system. In specific configurations, it can also power dedicated loads or be stored in batteries.

Installed power and annual generation vary according to the model, number of units, exposure and climate conditions.

SalvaTerra is therefore more than a decorative element with a sustainability theme: it is a solar energy generation solution.

Microinverters convert the electricity generated by photovoltaic panels into alternating current that the system can use.

In configurations that use them, they enable distributed electrical management of the modules. The MPPT system, or Maximum Power Point Trackingseeks the operating conditions that make the best use of the available power.

This feature can be useful when modules have different exposures or experience uneven shading.

For larger installations, centralised inverters or other electrical architectures may also be considered: the choice depends on the project.

Corten steel is a special steel designed to develop, in suitable environmental conditions, a surface oxidation patina that slows subsequent corrosion.

Its most recognisable feature is its warm colour, with brown and reddish tones that change naturally over time. This makes it highly valued in contemporary architecture, street furniture and garden design.

Alongside its appearance, Corten can offer high durability without the painting cycles required by many conventional steels.

The protective patina develops properly mainly through alternating wetting and drying. During the initial phase, runoff can stain pale paving: an aspect to consider in the design.

Within the SalvaTerra range, versions made from genuine Corten steel must be distinguished from any painted Corten-effect finishes.

Yes. SalvaTerra can be configured to integrate sustainable mobility servicessuch as bicycle racks and charging points for electric bicycles.

This is an interesting option for hotels, campsites, agritourism properties, businesses, cycle paths and public areas.

In this way, a photovoltaic planter can contribute both to renewable energy generation and to providing useful services for customers, staff and visitors.

Charging arrangements, available power and any storage systems must be defined during the design phase.

Yes, some configurations and customised solutions can include integrated seatingturning the planter into a furnishing element for rest and social interaction.

This solution is particularly interesting for terraces, gardens, outdoor dining areas, business entrances, hospitality facilities and public spaces.

The result is a furnishing that combines greenery, energy generation and people’s comfort.

Seating availability depends on the model and project: it is not a standard accessory on every SalvaTerra version.

Yes. SalvaTerra can be prepared to integrate LED lighting systemsto enhance outdoor spaces and make them more usable in the evening.

Lighting can serve a decorative, wayfinding or practical purpose, depending on the setting.

To operate when sunlight is unavailable, lighting points must be powered by the electricity grid or a suitably sized storage system.

Yes, in configurations designed for these uses, SalvaTerra can accommodate technological devices such as cameras, environmental sensors and monitoring systems.

These integrations can be useful for businesses, car parks, public areas and hospitality facilities looking to combine several services in one furnishing element.

Devices, power supply and connectivity are chosen according to the project’s needs. For cameras, the applicable privacy and video surveillance rules must also be followed.

Yes. SalvaTerra was created specifically to combine greenery with photovoltaic energy generation.

The planter can accommodate plant species suited to its size and the local conditions, creating ornamental arrangements for gardens, terraces, entrances and public spaces.

Plant selection must consider root space, irrigation, drainage, substrate weight and sun exposure.

It is also important to prevent growing vegetation from excessively shading the photovoltaic modules.

Yes. In glass-glass photovoltaic panels, the cells are enclosed between two sheets of glassrather than a front glass sheet and a different rear material.

This construction can offer benefits in protection and durability, depending on the specifications of the module used.

The solution is particularly interesting for certain bifacial and architecturally integrated photovoltaic applications, where appearance and surface exposure also matter.

The type of panel fitted to SalvaTerra depends on the chosen configuration.

Yes. Depending on the configuration and supply arrangement, SalvaTerra can come with the components and preparations required for assembly.

The aim is to simplify assembly and make installation as orderly and predictable as possible.

However, structural assembly must be distinguished from electrical connection: the latter requires checks, protection and qualified personnel in accordance with applicable regulations.

The included components are defined in the technical quotation.

Yes. This is one of SalvaTerra’s main advantages: the panels are integrated into the planter and do not need to be installed on the roof.

The solution is useful where the roof is hard to access, shaded, architecturally sensitive or already occupied by other systems.

However, choosing to install photovoltaics at ground level, in a garden or on a terrace does not remove the need for feasibility, safety and permit checks for the selected location.

Yes, this is one of the options developed for dedicated configurations such as SalvaTerra Deluxe.

The structure can be designed to accommodate information surfaces, company communications or advertising messages, adding a communication function to energy generation.

The application may be useful for shopping centres, businesses, hospitality facilities and spaces open to the public.

This is a design option, not a standard feature already available on every version. Any advertising revenue depends on the usage model and is not guaranteed.

Yes. ETWAY participates in the European SPHINX project, which includes demonstration and evaluation activities for SalvaTerra photovoltaic solutions.

The project involves several European partners, including the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, and enables further study of photovoltaic technology integration in innovative applications.

These activities form an important part of technological development and performance assessment.

Participation in a research project does not, on its own, constitute product certification by the partners.

SalvaTerra is a project developed by ETWAY, an Italian company based in Trentino with expertise in integrated photovoltaics.

The solution draws on experience in designing systems that combine energy generation with other functions, with particular attention to architectural integration.

The aim is to offer a product that is more than a machine for generating electricity: an element that can also improve the spaces where it is installed.

The origin of individual components and manufacturing processes must be checked for each supply: Italian design does not automatically mean every component is manufactured in Italy.

SalvaTerra can contribute to environmental sustainability projectsthrough renewable energy generation, enhancing spaces and any functions dedicated to sustainable mobility.

For businesses, hospitality facilities and public authorities, it can be considered as part of ESG initiatives, sustainable architectural projects and redevelopment schemes.

However, any contribution towards CAM criteria, protocols such as LEED, BREEAM or WELL, and access to grants or incentives must be assessed case by case.

No tax benefit, certification credit or public grant is automatically awarded simply for purchasing SalvaTerra.