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Solar Photovoltaic (PV) roof panels
from Solarcentury
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) is often met with confusion and still appears to be shrouded with misconceptions. This clean, silent and virtually maintenance-free form of micro-generation presents housebuilders, developers and their specifiers with a means of ensuring that they meet the Government’s ‘Merton Rule’ requirement to reduce carbon emissions by at least 10% through the use of on-site renewable energy in the creation of large scale new build sites.
Installed in virtually the same way as any other roof tiles, innovations such as the CompleteSolarRoof which comprise both C21e solar electric tiles and C21t solar thermal tiles, providing both electricity and hot water, are virtually non-discernible from the ground, and therefore do not affect the overall aesthetics of a building’s design. A typical domestic PV system in the UK generates over 2,0001,000 units of electricity per annum and saves over a tonne of CO2 each year.
A standard solar PV system requires only a south-facing aspect and an unshaded site. The idea that solar only works in sunny conditions is a myth, as in fact it is the daylight, and not sunlight which is captured by the photovoltaic semiconductors within a typical solar PV roof tile. Solar PV technology works by harnessing just some of the immense power input the earth receives continuously from the sun. This is calculated at 200 x 1,015 watts, a truly phenomenal amount of power that completely undermines the capabilities of nuclear fission and fossil fuels. A system typically carries a 25-year
guarantee, while the lifetime is considerably longer than this, at around 40-60 years. Once installed, a solar system requires very little maintenance and this fit-and-forget element means it is an ideal consideration for large scale housing developments, including social housing.
Given this level of effectiveness solar PV can also be used to market homes and new buildings effectively. It has been proven that consumers are 60% more likely to pay more for an environmentally sound home (MORI/Sponge research) so the presence of a solar PV system can be used to commercial advantage. For example, Gleeson used solar PV systems on two low-carbon homes on one site and used their presence to promote ‘reduced electricity bills for life’. This was possible because the systems generate 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) or units of electricity every year, making the homes future-proof against inevitable energy price rises. As a result these homes sold at a premium of 8.6% oversimilar homes without solar installations.
Cost is one of the overriding obstacles to solar PV in new build developments. However, it is a myth that PV is expensive. The cost of a 0.75 kWp solar PV system on a new build development is approximately £4,000 per dwelling, which can be less with economies of scale. Taking into consideration the cost of the average home in England, at £205,000, this is less than 2% of the overall cost. Of course, the cost per kWp falls significantly for larger domestic installations too.
Coupling this with the fact that solar PV is not as expensive as is generally expected, it becomes a very deployable tool in the developer’s armoury for meeting statutory regulations, appealing to a growing eco-conscious consumer market and contributing to a sustainability or CSR policy. Significantly cutting the carbon footprint of a new building is becoming the holy grail of specification, so looking at solar PV and understanding the simplicity with which it can be acquired and installed presents a real solution. Currently, but only for a imited period, phase two of the DTI’s Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) enables developers of commercial properties in the public sector to acquire renewable energy sources at just 50% of the cost of the installation. Similar incentives are also available; until 31st September Solarcentury is encouraging builders to take up an offer of 36 tiles for the price of 24. This represents a saving of £3,514 and an increase of 50% more energy.
