PUBLISHING GUIDELINES Permission is granted to publish this article electronically in free-only publications, like a website or ezine (print requires individual permission) as long as the resource box is included without any modifications. All links must be active. A courtesy copy is requested on publication.
Why not install solar tiles on your house roof? They generate electricity from the sun, just like solar photovoltaic panels, but they will also integrate neatly with your roof.
If you are proposing to renew the roof tiles on your home, or planning a new building project, you should seriously consider installing solar PV tiles. Integrated solar roof tiles are visually much more attractive than an array of standard solar photovoltaic panels. They can be installed on most homes and are easily connected to the power supply. They will produce electricity that can be used in your home and make you money on the electricity you don't use.
How Do They Work?
Solar PV tiles generate electricity from the sun using the same principles as standard solar photovoltaic panels. Solar tiles are manufactured to the same unit size as large format roof tiles; typically one tile high and several tiles wide. They fit directly onto roofing battens, replace conventional roof tiles and provide a completely weathertight finish.
Is Your Roof Suitable?
You will need to establish that your roof structure is sufficiently strong to carry the extra weight. Depending on the manufacture, solar tiles can be integrated with plain or profiled roofing tiles.
Is Your Roof Orientated Towards the Sun?
In the UK, solar roof tiles must be installed so that they are orientated in a southerly direction to face a point between South-East and South-West. The angle of roof pitch will vary, depending on the design of the house but the tilt will normally be between 20 and 60 degrees from the horizontal.
Straightforward to Install
An appropriately trained roofer can easily fit solar tiles alongside most types of large format roof tiles. Laying the roof tiles and the solar PV tiles in the same operation will avoid unnecessary delays to the contract.
Connecting the Electrics
When the roofing work and the solar PV tile installation are complete, the solar tiles can be connected to the electrical circuit in the building. The cabling from the solar tiles will be concealed in the sloping roof structure and, if the roof void is not used, the control equipment can be accommodated inside the roof space. In order to comply with UK building regulations all electrical work in a domestic property must be carried out by a fully qualified and registered electrician.
Feed in Tariffs
Clean Energy Cashback is a UK government sponsored incentive scheme designed to encourage the introduction of renewable electricity. During daylight hours, the electricity generated by the solar roof tiles will supply the home and any surplus will be sold on to the electricity supplier, through an approved import/export meter. During periods of high energy use in the home, or when the solar roof tiles are unproductive, electricity can be bought back from the supply network.
If you decide to have solar tiles fitted to your roof you should contact your local planning department and ask for advice before you commit yourself to any course of action. If you intend to join the Clean Energy Cashback scheme you must ensure that your installer and the solar PV tile products and equipment used in the installation are approved and registered to the Microgeneration Installation Standard.
You will find more useful information about solar tiles by visiting http://www.solartiles.co.uk/
What About a Timber Framed House?
PUBLISHING GUIDELINESPermission is granted to publish this article electronically in free-only publications, like a website or ezine (print requires individual permission) as long as the resource box is included without any modifications. All links must be active. A courtesy copy is requested on publication.
Is Your House Suitable for Solar PV?
PUBLISHING GUIDELINESPermission is granted to publish this article electronically in free-only publications, like a website or ezine (print requires individual permission) as long as the resource box is included without any modifications. All links must be active. A courtesy copy is requested on publication.
The Benefits of Off-Site Building
PUBLISHING GUIDELINESPermission is granted to publish this article electronically in free-only publications, like a website or ezine (print requires individual permission) as long as the resource box is included without any modifications. All links must be active. A courtesy copy is requested on publication.
