Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral could be fitted with a new roof that harnesses solar energy to provide enough energy to power nearby buildings, if the design is accepted.

Made up of of diamond-shaped glass panels propped up with laminated wooden beams, Vincent Callebaut Architectures claim it would turn the iconic landmark into an energy-positive building.

The panels would store solar power in hydrogen fuel cells, the Paris based firm said. As more than enough energy would be stored to power the Cathedral, the excess could be channelled to nearby buildings.

The roof would also house a garden which would provide fruit and vegetables for the city's poor and homeless.

Glass sections in the ceiling that separates the roof from the interior would allow natural light to flood the nave of the cathedral from above. Some may welcome the brighter nave but it would counteract the light coming in through the adored stained glass windows.

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