Introduction Of Coloured PV Panels Opens Up New Markets For Solar Installations
Traditional solar panels can present an aesthetic challenge for planning permission leaving the local authorities caught between a requirement to reduce CO2 and visual impact assessment. The BISOL Spectrum range of coloured modules gives a greater opportunity for installations to go ahead in planning-sensitive areas whether it is green modules in a field or red modules on a roof.
While helpful legislative leaps forward have been made, through the widening of permitted development rights for domestic and commercial installations over recent years, there continues to be underutilised roof space due to planning constraints or sensitivities over aesthetics, often in areas that could really be benefiting from on-site generation.
The former climate change secretary, Greg Barker recently questioned the aesthetics of "bright blue [solar] panels with aluminium standing proud on a tile roof" telling members of the solar industry at the Solar Trade Association's Does the new government mean business for solar, that he was "amazed that so many of those ugly solar panels were installed on residential houses without more of an outcry".
Barker believes that aesthetics will be "really important for the solar industry going forward". Barker continued: "Actually installing solar panels should look nice, or enhance the visual amenity of that building. And I'm glad to see that a lot of responsible developers and installers are now thinking about that and are using products that mean that solar looks attractive. Not standing out like an eyesore "“ those bright blue panels with aluminium standing proud on a tile roof."
In their drive for technological innovation BISOL Solar have developed the Spectrum coloured modules range to improve the visual impact of Solar PV and allow customers to make a bold statement. Planning officers, installers and end customers have reacted enthusiastically to the introduction in particular of the Rustic Red module which blends in well with tile roofs.
The BISOL Spectrum PV module range is available in 245Wp & 250Wp power classes and has all the advantages of a standard polycrystalline module, with comparable module efficiency, positive power tolerance, a superior linear performance warranty to 85% power output over 25 years and a comprehensive product warranty of 10 years, while all along providing a really fantastic looking PV array. Installers are able to achieve a beautiful finish without compromising on efficiency or value. On-roof arrays are seamlessly tied into the roof with coloured clamps and the Spectrum range is also produced as a BIPV solution.
"BISOL have a range of products designed with aesthetics in mind to provide a sensitive solution to visual impact and appease planning application boards. The Rustic Red is just one of these amongst a portfolio of 9 colour options in our Spectrum Range. These modules can be adapted to work with our BIPV system, or supplied as laminates for a multitude of applications." - Simon Griffiths, Country Manager BISOL UK
Case Study: Converted oast house in East Sussex
Set in a very traditional, English setting amongst the grounds of a renovated oast house in rural, East Sussex, this 3.43kWp Rustic Red installation by JPS Renewable Energy, ties in beautifully with the buildings and surrounding landscape. The property was formerly used by beer producers to dry hops before being converted into a residence.
"The client wasn't prepared to have Blue and Silver on the roof next to their beautiful oast house. When I showed them the BISOL Spectrum range coupled with the 20-year warranty and better energy harvest from the micro inverters, the customer was very interested." - Richard Cromarty, Director JPS Renewable Energy
This particular investor had been considering Solar PV for their property for some time, but felt they could not proceed with typical blue or black modules because of their marked visual impact. The proposed installation space, while a permitted development, overlooked the main drive up to the property and they were concerned about the aesthetics. However, during consultation with JPS, Director Richard Cromarty recommended the BISOL Spectrum Rustic Red module and, upon being shown illustrations & references of the panel, the client felt this was the perfect choice for them. To perfectly complement the appearance of the property and to blend in nicely with the Kent peg tiles, matching colour clamps had to be used to fix the Rustic Red PV panels onto the roof.
Installed in April of 2015, early indications show the system to be outperforming yield expectations by around 20 percent. This data is harvested by the micro inverters that were utilized during installation. As well as panel specific monitoring and 20-year warranties offered by the EnPhase Microinverters, their low voltage and small leakage factors mean the array could be easily integrated into the garage distribution board without adversely affecting the RCD protection. This keeps the whole system safe, cost optimised and easy to monitor. By choosing reliable system components that are easy to maintain the system is on track for the expected 7-8 year payback through a combination of on-site savings to utility bills as well as the ongoing FIT payments for which it qualifies as an MCS approved install.
Expected output from the array is 3,756 kWh per annum, the bulk of which is expected to be used on-site by the client, saving him approximately 35 percent of his electricity usage. This is equivalent to around 1.6 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year that will not enter the environment.
