Integrated/ flush solar panels on a metal standing seam roof

[WisteriaMews]

We're hoping to soon submit for planning on a new Passive House in a conservation area. We suspect we'll have an easier ride through planning if we show integrated/ flush solar panels on the roof.

 

Integrated panels on tile roofs are pretty common (we have them on our current roof) but we can only find one example (attached image) of integrated panels on a metal standing seam roof which is what we are going for.

 

Has anyone integrated panels on a standing seam roof? I'm hoping for an indication of whether it is doable/ isn't cost prohibitive before stating we can do it in planning.

[PNAmble]

We saw these guys at a show last year https://www.bradclad.com/solar/ we were considering them but changed our roof design.   

[WisteriaMews]

13 minutes ago, PNAmble said:

We saw these guys at a show last year https://www.bradclad.com/solar/ we were considering them but changed our roof design.   

Thank you. We've looked at these (effectively) stick on panels and ruled them out due to a combination of low efficiency, short warranty, price and difficulty in replacing if needed.

 

We'd like to go for standard size panels which are integrated into the roof but it doesn't seem very common!

[JohnMo]

If you look at the image you provided, the panels are not integrated, they stand on the top of the seams. You use rail less standing seam clamps.

[Kelvin]

I researched this and there isn’t anything as far as I could find. The best I came up with was some low profile clamps. After our standing seam roof was fitted I decided not to fit panels on the roof for three reasons. Firstly it’s a beautiful looking thing to my eyes and PV panels would have ruined the look of it. It requires the roof being penetrated and while there are products especially for metal roofs I didn’t want the roof penetrated. I couldn’t see how they’d be fitted without the roof being scratched dinged or damaged in some way. In the end I’ve gone for ground mounted panels. 
 

There is a fourth reason and that’s fire risk. It’s a tiny risk but friends of ours lost their 6 month old self-build to a PV fire caused by faulty cabling. 
 

The panels would have covered the whole of the roof on the left. 
 

[eandg]

We have them - doable and cheaper than on roof when you consider the savings on standing seam. 

[WisteriaMews]

20 minutes ago, eandg said:

We have them - doable and cheaper than on roof when you consider the savings on standing seam. 

Do you have any details of the integrated system you used that you could share?

[eandg]

5 hours ago, WisteriaMews said:

Do you have any details of the integrated system you used that you could share?

I'll have a look. Wasn't anything complicated - bog standard GSE integrated panels with both installers having a chat on flashing details. 

[BadgerBadger]

Have a chat with Viridian? Their roof integrated flashing kits are basically formed metal trims that slot into their panels.

[WisteriaMews]

2 hours ago, eandg said:

I'll have a look. Wasn't anything complicated - bog standard GSE integrated panels with both installers having a chat on flashing details. 

Good to know GSE integrated panels can be made to work with standing seam. None of the technical details I've found so far mention metals roofs but I'll take another look.

[WisteriaMews]

1 hour ago, BadgerBadger said:

Have a chat with Viridian? Their roof integrated flashing kits are basically formed metal trims that slot into their panels.

Thanks. Their website only mentions slate & tile roofs. As you suggest a call if probably to see if their system can work with metals roofs.

[Mr Blobby]

Just to jump in here, we are also looking to install panels into GSE frames on standing seam.

Our architect has done this before but the panels were not as recessed as I think they could be:

 

 

 

 

I reckon the end result could be better with a larger batten under the ply under the standing seam and then a smaller batten under the GSE panels to sink them lower.  Just an idea of course 🤔

 

The S-5 clamps look to be the best alternative because you can omit the rail and install the panels closer to the seams.  But then the panels must be installed in landscape mode.

 

If fitting GSE panels then savings in ply and zinc should be possible.

 

@WisteriaMews Please update here with your findings.  Any photos post them please.

 

[WisteriaMews]

[Deleted]

Edited September 17, 2023 by WisteriaMews

[WisteriaMews]

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

We're still in planning so it will be a while before I have any concrete updates, but will post back when I do 

 

On 13/09/2023 at 14:00, Mr Blobby said:

Just to jump in here, we are also looking to install panels into GSE frames on standing seam.

Our architect has done this before but the panels were not as recessed as I think they could be:

 

 

 

 

I reckon the end result could be better with a larger batten under the ply under the standing seam and then a smaller batten under the GSE panels to sink them lower.  Just an idea of course 🤔

 

The S-5 clamps look to be the best alternative because you can omit the rail and install the panels closer to the seams.  But then the panels must be installed in landscape mode.

 

If fitting GSE panels then savings in ply and zinc should be possible.

 

@WisteriaMews Please update here with your findings.  Any photos post them please.

 

 

[flanagaj]

I have just discovered the GSE panel option, but there is very little information regarding using them with standing seam roofing sheets.   Keen to hear if anyone has an update or a resource which shows how this can be achieved.  I suspect that by using conventional solar PV panels and GSE, you can save a small fortune over solar PV bonded to standing seam sheets.

[flanagaj]

If anyone is still interested, I reached out to GSE and the sent me the PDF files below.  I found them helpful.

IR-ZJD-MeO v2.pdf CAL-XXX-1x10 Ply_Zinc Po_1000.pdf

[Tony L]

Yes, I'm interested.  Thanks for posting these.  These diagrams assume a zinc roof (formed on site), so I'm not sure they answer all the questions you may have if you end up going with Pagurek click system, as you suggested you may do, in a recent post.  Please keep us all updated, as you work towards your solution.

[Kelvin]

Just keep in mind that if you have a detached garage as part of your build and the right orientation you can fit your panels East/West to avoid putting them on the roof of the house. It’s what I did after ditching the plan to ground mount them for a few reasons I listed above. My 19 x 445W array (10 on East elevation and 9 on the West)  is working quite well and on a good day can generate over 40kWh. 

Edited Wednesday at 19:52 by Kelvin

[Beelbeebub]

This may not be what you're after, but I fitted my panels onto trapizodal "32/1000" pvc coated roof sheets - think industrial roofing.

 

It's about as cheap as roofing gets and the panels fit really easily to the tops of the profile with small "mini rails". 

 

The trick was to have the panels go edge to edge and eaves to ridge of the roof, which I could do as it was a mono pitch (though it would work with a duo pitch). And, though it's not suited to every aesthetic or roof layout, it does work especially well on outbuildings (mine was a carport) 

 

 

 

[-rick-]

That looks good. On a real roof you couldn't do this exactly as you need a walkable area for regs AFAIK (the systems that do edge to edge use special panels designed to take the load).

 

If I ever get to build I've been wondering if its possible to do something similar but with added metal trim around the walkable area/spaces to make it look like an integrated roof without the added cost. GSE is an alternative but I like the idea of being able to replace the panels with next gen ones without having to redo the whole roof which GSE would require if you can't find panels of the exact same size.

[-rick-]

1 hour ago, -rick- said:

On a real roof you couldn't do this exactly as you need a walkable area for regs AFAIK (the systems that do edge to edge use special panels designed to take the load).

 

I may be wrong with this. I went to check and read plenty about keeping a border around the panels but coming up blank finding a regs requirement. Might be something to do with MCS or specific mounting systems.

[Beelbeebub]

There was a fair bit of discussion about the border, but nobody could come up with exactly why it should be there.

 

The closest explanation was wind uplift, but if it's not on a roof ie just panels on a frame there is zero margin.

We did fix the edges of the roof and the panels extra securely, plus we are in a fairly sheltered area - might not do this if we were on top of a cliff on the West Coast of Scotland! 

 

Regarding access, the central gap was left for exactly that, and access to the outer panels is safer from the sides anyway.

 

My case is fairly specific but does show what is possible. 

 

I did look at using the gse system but cost wise this was cheaper and also easier to install. The pitch is only 12deg which loses a bit of output, but was done for aesthetic reasons plus it means the roof was safely walkable for installing the panels