Solar options for standing seam roof

[flanagaj]

After some deliberation, I think I am going to ask the architect to submit a variation of condition for solar PV in the south facing roof.  We have a 17m * 4m roof which is going to be standing seam.  I did consider Catnic Solar, but I think the cost will be way too much and I was wondering whether there are any other options to have solar integrated into the roof.  I am not a fan of the panels being fitted on top of the roof as I think it looks clunky.  Has anyone installed solar PV with standing seam and if so, what did you go with.  Pictures would be great.

[WisteriaMews]

Not installed yet, but we're planning to use GSE trays to make the panels more or less flush with the standing seam 

 

The solar company have said there is no extra cost of the GSE trays vs clamps and rails to put the panels on top of the standing seam.

 

We haven't finalised the tinsmith yet. We've spoken to one who has said they've worked with the GSE trays before so we know it's all doable. In theory a saving as there will be no standing seam under the panels. The tinsmith will have all of the flashing details to do around the GSE trays though. (I find somehow things are never cheaper!)

[flanagaj]

20 hours ago, WisteriaMews said:

Not installed yet, but we're planning to use GSE trays to make the panels more or less flush with the standing seam 

 

The solar company have said there is no extra cost of the GSE trays vs clamps and rails to put the panels on top of the standing seam.

 

We haven't finalised the tinsmith yet. We've spoken to one who has said they've worked with the GSE trays before so we know it's all doable. In theory a saving as there will be no standing seam under the panels. The tinsmith will have all of the flashing details to do around the GSE trays though. (I find somehow things are never cheaper!)

This is a potentially interesting option.  I had a quote back today for having PV bonded onto the seam sealed roofing sheets prior to installation and for 8.5Kw it is £10.5k.  I am keen to understand what you are paying for your PV and how much the materials are to mount the PV cells.  I am planning on fitting the seam sealed roof myself and that is coming in at ~ £50/m2 supply only.

Do you have a link to the PV supplier you are using?

[JohnMo]

Have you got a fence to use, or a flat area of garden to use for ground mount solar?

1 hour ago, flanagaj said:

8.5Kw it is £10.5k

£1200 of panels (or £1k less vat) and around £9.5k to install! Billy bargain - not

[WisteriaMews]

We've been quoted a very similar price.

[flanagaj]

6 hours ago, JohnMo said:

Have you got a fence to use, or a flat area of garden to use for ground mount solar?

£1200 of panels (or £1k less vat) and around £9.5k to install! Billy bargain - not

These are the bonded panels and not sure who is creaming off the 9.5k

[JohnMo]

20 minutes ago, flanagaj said:

These are the bonded panels and not sure who is creaming off the 9.5k

Just bought a couple of 500W panels and they were £67 incl of VAT each. It's pretty much irrelevant how they are fixed, the price per kW is currently £134. You are spending £9500 to have them installed.

 

If you self consume all electric produced that's the equivalent of 50 MWh of energy you need to produce to break even. If you are selling at £0.15 per kWh you need to produce 83 MWh.

 

You may as well not bother. Just buy a battery and make use of a cheap rate tariff. 

[flanagaj]

12 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

Just bought a couple of 500W panels and they were £67 incl of VAT each. It's pretty much irrelevant how they are fixed, the price per kW is currently £134. You are spending £9500 to have them installed.

 

If you self consume all electric produced that's the equivalent of 50 MWh of energy you need to produce to break even. If you are selling at £0.15 per kWh you need to produce 83 MWh.

 

You may as well not bother. Just buy a battery and make use of a cheap rate tariff. 

I take your point.  I am really interested in fitting standard PV panels using the GSE tray system.  It makes complete sense to effectively use the panels as a roof covering as opposed to fitting a roof underneath.

[-rick-]

8 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

You are spending £9500 to have them installed.

 

In practice yes, but roof integrated panels do cost more due to lower volumes. Especially, unusual styles such as those bonded to standing seam metalwork. Personally I wouldn't want to go anywhere near that style of solar as AFAIK they don't use glass bonded panels rather some plastic/flexible style which are far less battle tested (and generally have a bad reliability reputation where they have been used). Fixing any issues when the panel is bonded to your roof structure is basically impossible.

 

@flanagaj I'm sure I read something from you before suggesting you were on a very low budget, like £1500-2000/m, am I remembering correctly? If so, I can't see how you are going to get this build over the line if you are letting yourself get drawn to some of the most expensive options.

[JohnMo]

Think people get carried away stuff like solar and can spend an arm and leg on the stuff. I have GSE and normal panels, but on a slate roof. Good thing with integrated is you aren't paying for slates or standing seam in your case which can be way more expensive.

 

My cheapest install was on a pergola roof.

 

But big panels are cheaper than fence panels and make a good fence. Pretty easy to mount, easy to replace, easy to DIY. 12m of fence is around 5kWp of bifacial panels. About £2k in materials with a string inverter and isolation switches. A new build you can claim the vat back.

[flanagaj]

23 minutes ago, -rick- said:

 

@flanagaj I'm sure I read something from you before suggesting you were on a very low budget, like £1500-2000/m, am I remembering correctly? If so, I can't see how you are going to get this build over the line if you are letting yourself get drawn to some of the most expensive options.

That is correct.  The solar PV quote was just to see how much it would cost and I cannot afford it. 

[flanagaj]

10 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

Think people get carried away stuff like solar and can spend an arm and leg on the stuff. I have GSE and normal panels, but on a slate roof. Good thing with integrated is you aren't paying for slates or standing seam in your case which can be way more expensive.

 

My cheapest install was on a pergola roof.

 

But big panels are cheaper than fence panels and make a good fence. Pretty easy to mount, easy to replace, easy to DIY. 12m of fence is around 5kWp of bifacial panels. About £2k in materials with a string inverter and isolation switches. A new build you can claim the vat back.

I am keen to hear about the GSE as like you say, it negates slate or standing seam for a large area.  Haven't found any online resources that are detailed enough to understand how you install GSE with standing seam.

[JohnMo]

13 minutes ago, flanagaj said:

I am keen to hear about the GSE as like you say, it negates slate or standing seam for a large area.  Haven't found any online resources that are detailed enough to understand how you install GSE with standing seam.

We are in Scotland and have no roof battens, the slates just attach to the sarking boards. So couldn't follow the gse instructions, as it assumed battens. I just attached the trays to sarking boards (and with breather membrane between). The gse trays have flashing panels that extend under the slates. So with zinc standing seam, wouldn't you just do the gse trays and flashing the same way and overlay the zinc?

 

Or do away with zinc and cover whole roof in solar