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Renewable Energy: Recessed PV panels

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    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeApr 4th 2014 edited
     
    I think her point was about aesthetics of solar panels, she hates the gloss appearance and feels Matt panels would by less intrusive and people would be less likely to complain if they blended in better. How difficult would it be to produce a Matt finish pane?
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeApr 4th 2014
     
    Sandblast one and see.
  3.  
    I guess dirt would stick more easily to etched glass.
  4.  
    A matt finish would, by definition, be more opaque, and therefore less efficient - perhaps your wife is the sort of woman who would buy a car because she liked its colour!:cry:
  5.  
    Hay , what's wrong with that ! I just brought a new van because it was red :fingersear:
  6.  
    What are the current comparative costs of Solar Tiles?

    Or am I being antedeluvian?

    Ferdinand
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeApr 4th 2014
     
    Posted By: Gotanewlife perhaps your wife is the sort of woman who would buy a car because she liked its colour!http:///forum114/extensions/Vanillacons/smilies/standard/cry.gif" alt=":cry:" title=":cry:" >
    She is. As she recently told our architect, houses tend to be designed by men, built by men and consequently tend to be ugly. There is no getting away from the fact PV panels do tend to be ugle! Maybe if they were designed with a nice slate or tile motif on them they would look nicer when installed.
  8.  
    Not sure why PV panels are any more uglier than tiles .
    It's just a case of familiarity and you know what that breeds
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeApr 4th 2014
     
    Trouble with solar slates (tiles) is that they are more expensive, less performance, unknown long term replacement/spares.

    You can get models that are different 'colours' Some are almost blue, others just about black and some have silver lines in them, some don't. Just look online and find one that you can put up with and then find one to look at properly. Of find a house you like the look of the panels and ask what make they are.
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      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeApr 16th 2014
     
    Posted By: GotanewlifeA matt finish would, by definition, be more opaque, and therefore less efficient

    I don't think that is correct. Either that or I am being conned mightily when I pay extra for an anti-reflective coating on my specs!


    Posted By: jamesingramNot sure why PV panels are any more uglier than tiles .
    It's just a case of familiarity and you know what that breeds

    I'll second that. Yooman beens do like repetitive patterns though - tiled roofs, brick walls, leaded windows etc.
    •  
      CommentAuthorjoe90
    • CommentTimeApr 17th 2014
     
    This is exactly why I am putting my PV on the workshop roof not the house, I dont want to spoil the look of my new "cottage"
  12.  
    This is a great topic, having just got a quote for zinc roofing on my build - we are seriously considering doing the south face of the roof using an integrated PV system.

    Does anyone know whether it is possible to use these to replace the entire roof surface - ie. not having a "border" of tiles/slates/zinc around the edges?
  13.  
    Yes it is, Very similar components to a conservatory roof or any glass roof .
    look at Schuco or others they'll have a solution to suit.
    might take a bit of effort as it's not common in the UK
    It's an excellent solution to roofing, good repetitive pattern keep those "yooman beens" happy :)
    It pay for itself in financial and CO2/energy terms easily in it's life span, what other roof finish does that !

    Passivhaus type structures with solar roofs. Buildings that no longer consume but create energy :whorship:

    A very simple solution to reduce 30%++ of humans current energy use :hugging:
    • CommentAuthoratomicbisf
    • CommentTimeApr 17th 2014
     
    Triassic, maybe she wants matt window panes too? ;)

    But seriously I don't think solar panels are ugly. I think the problem is people are just in general too conservative and ready to accept what is the 'norm' simply because it's common. It's noticeable compared with other countries I think, that most in the UK want something 'traditional' even if it's a very poor copy and it seems to be deep rooted (think of all the mock Tudor homes built in the 1930s). People want homes that are brick (or at least look brick, even if they're concrete blocks) with tile roofs (even if they're concrete) and are suspicious of anything else... kind of absurd to be overlapping small slabs of concrete on a wooden framework as the 'norm' to keep off the rain in the 21st century when few commercial or industrial buildings have used this for decades.

    Ed
  15.  
    Thanks James,
    I've sent an email to the company mentioned up thread, I'll look at schuco too. Any other suggestions?

    Do they work with any panel or is it only certain makes? Any problem with the FIT, or do they not care about the mounting system?
  16.  
    Looking at it, it appears to be an in roof sys used through out. Sure ive seen what idescribed elsewhere though http://www.schueco.com/web/uk/partner/solarstrom_und_waerme/products/solar_installation_systems/premium_line/in-roof_complete_roof
  17.  
    • CommentAuthorjamesingram
    • CommentTimeApr 18th 2014 edited
     
    Mcs require the mounting sys to be registered but I think its a bit vague. The schuco sys require schuco panels . They've a little chanel that works with mounting sys. Not sure about others. Wind and sun will know
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeApr 18th 2014
     
    Posted By: jamesingramMcs require the mounting sys to be registered but I think its a bit vague.

    Argh! That sounds like something that may be a gotcha for me. Do you have a link to the rule or a good summary, please?
  20.  
    Company I fit for had mcs guy asking for mcs certs for schletter kit. Think they just parmed him off to supplier. Little used kit (like panels etc.) Might well not go through costs of mcs hurdle jumping. So you might well be right. I'll have a ask around
    • CommentAuthorjamesingram
    • CommentTimeApr 18th 2014 edited
     
    http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=155
    Mcs data base not showing many manufacturers under pitch roof installation kit. The 5 different systems I've used aren't listed ?? They're all in common use though
  22.  
    After some digging around re the MCS mounting issue, I think I might have found a suitable "whole roof/in roof" system.

    Anyone have any knowledge of Viridian Solar? Apparently their Clearline system is registered - according to their twitter feed anyway! Some of the installation photos look pretty slick. They also do matching solar thermal panels, so you can stick them all in the same installation.

    http://www.viridiansolar.co.uk/Products_ClearlinePV_Solar_Photovoltaic_Panels.htm

    Given this, I'm expecting expensive, but this solar roof would be replacing a zinc covering, so could work out cost neutral.

    Any thoughts?

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