Standing Seam PV System

[JohnParf]

I'm building a house with large east facing standing seam 15 degree rooves. 

 

My architect is keen for me to consider an integrated standing seam PV system. 

 

I also have a flat roof area above the bedrooms that is hidden from the front elevation that could house a conventional flat roof PV system. 

 

Does anyone have any experience of the standing seam PV systems and the relative costs compared to a more conventional panel system. Is it like PV slates where the aesthetics blows the payback out of the water.

[SteamyTea]

Can't really comment on cost, but it probably limits the size of panels you can incorporate into the roof.

 

Do a costing with a roof integrated system i.e. GSE.

 

Then tell your architect to stop spending your money.

 

Also look at the estimated yield from PVGIS as the angles are not optimal.

 

 

[sgt_woulds]

The only time we ever had PV panels come off was with a zinc standing seam roof.

 

To be fair, the panels didn't come off the roof, the whole roof detached from the building and landed in a field about a quarter of a mile away. 

 

[Wish I'd seen it happen - the roof was about 4 football fields in size and it landed in one, (rather twisted) piece].

 

It seems that the roofers hadn't used the correct number of fixings per metre specified by the structural engineer to counter the PV uplift.

 

In any contract, always ask for photos of the completion of any key stage to prove that instructions have been followed.  And ensure that a structural engineer confirms the roof design. 

 

Don't rely on an architect for this aspect - they know next to nothing about how a building is put together.  

 

 

[IanR]

14 hours ago, JohnParf said:

Does anyone have any experience of the standing seam PV systems and the relative costs compared to a more conventional panel system. Is it like PV slates where the aesthetics blows the payback out of the water.

 

Only "theory" not put into practice.

 

Typical PV panels could be installed for the same or slightly less, using S5 bracketry and avoiding a full frame.

 

https://www.s-5.com/products/solar-panels-on-metal-roof-pvkit-2-0/?_gl=1*e60zsa*_up*MQ..*_ga*NjE4NTUzMDA2LjE3NDExNzkwNzQ.*_ga_PCT1SK6CMV*MTc0MTE3OTA3My4xLjEuMTc0MTE3OTA4NS4wLjAuMA..

 

I agreed this wouldn't effect warranty with the roof installers before the standing seam was installed.

 

I also looked at flexible bonded PV panels. You can get them preinstalled on steel trays, or retrofitted onto other standing seam materials. I looked at retro-fitting. Costs were higher, performance less efficient, and they had no rework plan should you want to replace the 25 year life PV on your 60 year life roof.

 

https://bipvco.com/flextron/

 

This is the one job I have procrastinated most on and have now decided to go with a ground mount array.

[Kelvin]

I elected not to fit PV panels to my standing seam roof for a few reasons. It’s a nice looking thing so didn’t want to spoil the look. I didn’t want the fire risk. I didn’t want any penetrations through the roof. I didn’t want it damaged. I had read about them coming off or the roof lifting off in high winds and we are in an exposed location. Fortunately I have the space to ground mount them. 

Edited Wednesday at 13:02 by Kelvin

[SteamyTea]

2 minutes ago, IanR said:

decided to go with a ground mount array.

 

1 minute ago, Kelvin said:

Fortunately I have the space to ground mount them. 

Do you still have to get planning permission for system greater than 9 m².

I have also never known if that is the area of the panels, or the ground area, or even if a contiguous installation only.

[IanR]

1 minute ago, SteamyTea said:

 

Do you still have to get planning permission for system greater than 9 m².

I have also never known if that is the area of the panels, or the ground area, or even if a contiguous installation only.

 

I'd assumed it was PV array area. Max height 4m and 5m distance from boundaries.

Mines not going within the defined domestic curtilage, so I'm going to need planning anyhow.

[Kelvin]

32 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

 

Do you still have to get planning permission for system greater than 9 m².

I have also never known if that is the area of the panels, or the ground area, or even if a contiguous installation only.

Regardless of size I need to get planning permission anyway. It’s a condition of our original planning approval. 

[Nickfromwales]

15 hours ago, JohnParf said:

My architect is keen for me to consider an integrated standing seam PV system.

There are few people out there who would integrate an in-roof PV array with a standing seam roof covering. Only true solution is BIPV, which is OK to look at and I guess a reasonable solution. No idea how long these things last though, but I imagine if one snuffs it you'd just stick the replacement one on top of the dead one, if you couldn't get the thing to come off without causing damage / voiding roof warranty.

 

Ground mount is a good option IMHO, but you do need a fairly open plot and a lot of clear landscape around you to make that work.

 

Also, regarding PP, there is a BIG difference between ground mount (the panels laying on the ground) vs putting these on the roof of an outbuilding, so each is a different subject for a different scenario.

 

Outbuildings could be 1.5 storeys and have in/on roof solar on them, without much annoyance to the PP dept for eg, but they may poop the bed over a ground mount?!?

[Owain1602]

I'm not sure if this is new (it wasn't on the Catnic website six months ago), but Catnic has a system called SolarSeam.

 

https://catnic.com/products/urban/solarseam

 

No personal experience with it, but I'm considering it for our build.

[Nickfromwales]

1 minute ago, Owain1602 said:

I'm not sure if this is new (it wasn't on the Catnic website six months ago), but Catnic has a system called SolarSeam.

 

https://catnic.com/products/urban/solarseam

 

No personal experience with it, but I'm considering it for our build.

That’s BIPV, so please, if you get a quote, can you upload here so we can compare? 
 

Doesn’t look at all bad tbh, better than the half length panels for sure.

[TonyPenarth]

I'm also looking to install standing seam solar on a new build roof. I can share some of the quotes I have received. As @Nickfromwales pointed out the catnic system is bipvco, i have struggled to get a quote from a catnic installer to do the work, as they aren't very experienced at these type of installs. My understanding is that they send the panels to bipvco for them to stick them on the panels! 

 

I did manage to get a quote from bipvco for their solar film/panels which was coming in at £11,500 for 7kw, supply only.

 

I have also been in contact with  https://vertix.systems/# they make their own standing seam system (fabricated from catnic steal) and also use bipvco which you have to source yourself, their system is supply only and their pricing seems reasonable.  They are just in the process of releasing there own solar inserts that are stuck on during manufacture but are glass pv( they are not MCS compliant), its not on their website but you need to contact them directly,  specs are below : 

 

Size: 410mm W x 2250mm L 

158kw Per Module 

£150 per module

10 yrs installation warranty 

25yrs performance guarante

At that price 7kw will cost £6600.

 

You would also need to purchase their roofing system, materials including guttering and down pipes for a roof 230m2 is coming in at £14k.

 

My only problem is finding someone to install the roof, their recommended supplier has come in with a quote of £19k labour only installation!

 

The other option is Roofit, there are a few suppliers in the UK, supply and install is coming in at around £50k for 7kw.

 

If anyone can recommend reasonably priced installer in South Wales I would be very grateful.

 

 

 

 

[Nickfromwales]

33 minutes ago, TonyPenarth said:

I'm also looking to install standing seam solar on a new build roof. I can share some of the quotes I have received. As @Nickfromwales pointed out the catnic system is bipvco, i have struggled to get a quote from a catnic installer to do the work, as they aren't very experienced at these type of installs. My understanding is that they send the panels to bipvco for them to stick them on the panels! 

 

I did manage to get a quote from bipvco for their solar film/panels which was coming in at £11,500 for 7kw, supply only.

 

I have also been in contact with  https://vertix.systems/# they make their own standing seam system (fabricated from catnic steal) and also use bipvco which you have to source yourself, their system is supply only and their pricing seems reasonable.  They are just in the process of releasing there own solar inserts that are stuck on during manufacture but are glass pv( they are not MCS compliant), its not on their website but you need to contact them directly,  specs are below : 

 

 

Size: 410mm W x 2250mm L 

158kw Per Module 

£150 per module

10 yrs installation warranty 

25yrs performance guarante

 

At that price 7kw will cost £6600.

 

You would also need to purchase their roofing system, materials including guttering and down pipes for a roof 230m2 is coming in at £14k.

 

My only problem is finding someone to install the roof, their recommended supplier has come in with a quote of £19k labour only installation!

 

The other option is Roofit, there are a few suppliers in the UK, supply and install is coming in at around £50k for 7kw.

 

If anyone can recommend reasonably priced installer in South Wales I would be very grateful.

 

 

 

 

I may know of someone. I’ll have to check. Carm’s way iirc. I’ll PM you.