The South African Patent Office has granted patent to Visaka Industries for its product “ATUM – Eco-Friendly Energy Generating Roofs.” This is valid for 20 years. ATUM is a highly durable roofing material making it world’s first solar panel that can be directly used as a roof.
South Africa, due to its geographic location, receives large amounts of solar energy. The patent from the South African Patent Office paves the way for the introduction of ATUM in South Africa and other African countries.
South Africa first introduced the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REI4P) in 2011. The goal of the REI4P is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while minimizing the country’s reliance on non-renewable energy sources. South Africa is also a member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), an international organization that promotes renewable energy policies.
ATUM secured the prestigious UL Certification as per International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. The product has also been certified by Campbell Corporation, to take a uniform load of 780 lbs per sqft, a snow load of 2200 lbs, and the jointing mechanism is a patented leak proof system as per American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) standards. It is a roof, which is class A fire rated and designed to take wind speeds of over 150 kmph making it hurricane proof. ATUM uses GreenPro Certified material that makes it a highly sustainable, reliable, and safe solar roof.
