Powering Change
Installing since 2010 · 0118 951 4490 · info@spiritenergy.co.uk
There are as many forms of solar panel mount as there are places to put them. Each option comes down to the same purpose, to fix the panels in a position to best receive the sun's energy, while being safe and resistant to adverse weather including high winds and snow.
Roofs make an ideal location for solar arrays they are out of the way, make use of otherwise dead space, and are more likely to be free from shading. As the most popular option, many different methods of rooftop mounting have been developed, from standard fixings on top of the roof surface through to fully integrated finishes and specialist solar tiles.
While less common in residential environments, ground-mounted installations are well suited to high-volume commercial or utility solar generation. Panels are typically installed on metal frames secured into the ground with a concrete base or pile-driven poles. The freedom of open space means the arrangement and tilt of panels can be chosen to maximise output.
When developed with an ecological mindset, ground mounts can also provide space for undisturbed wildlife or agricultural grazing, an approach sometimes known as agrivoltaics.
Roof-mounted systems work well because the space cannot be used for any other purpose, and planning permission is either unnecessary or relatively straightforward to obtain, unless the building is listed or in a conservation area.
Roofs can, however, be problematic from a structural perspective. The loads imposed by a solar system can be significant, both in terms of dead weight and wind uplift, and many roofs are not engineered to take additional loads that were never anticipated at the design stage. The roof structure or covering may also present challenges, warm roofs can be problematic, as can roofs containing asbestos.
Ground-mounted systems are ideal where space is not limited and there is a straightforward cable route back to the incoming electricity supply. They can be oriented for maximum output and are often viewed more favourably by planning departments in cases where a roof-mounted system might be refused, for example on a listed building.
Beyond the roof, solar can also be integrated directly into the fabric of a building. Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) are specialist construction materials that replace common elements of the building structure while generating power from the sun. Examples include solar cladding, solar glass, and solar roof tiles.
While generally less efficient than traditionally mounted panels, BIPV is well suited to buildings with limited roof or ground space, and offers savings on the conventional materials they replace. It is also increasingly used in new-build and retrofit projects where aesthetics are a priority.
When installing solar on a pitched roof, you generally have limited control over the direction the panels face. In the UK, south-facing is the optimum orientation, panels face the sun at its highest point at noon, maximising energy generation throughout the day.
In some cases an east-west split is preferred, either to spread output across the morning and evening rather than concentrating it at midday, or to make better use of available space on a flat roof. When all panels point in the same direction on a flat roof, gaps must be left between rows to avoid self-shading. With an east-west arrangement, rows can be placed in a concertina formation, fitting significantly more panels into the same footprint.
Whichever way you mount your PV system, it’s vital to keep it protected. Birds in particular can be a problem for rooftop installations, as they see the space under panels as an ideal nesting spot. Unfortunately this can cause damage to the system and the roof. You can combat this with specialist PV bird protection - spikes or mesh that deter the animals without harming them.
We always use high-quality, accredited products. Rather than buying pre-assembled kits, we source components individually, this allows us to specify the right system for each installation and ensures we are not tied to a single supplier's pricing or availability.
Whichever mounting system your project requires, we can most likely source and install it. Please get in touch for advice or a free quote.
It is important that your mounting system lasts as long as your solar system — a minimum of 20 to 30 years. To achieve this it must be weatherproof, durable, and use secure fixings appropriate for the roof type. It must also comply with Building Regulations: the installation must not compromise the structural integrity or fire safety of the building.
In 2016, MCS introduced a specific mounting system certification standard, MCS012, to set out requirements for Building Regulations compliance, covering durability, weather tightness, and fire resistance. Compliance with MCS is now required for installations to be eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), the current export tariff scheme. The Feed-in Tariff, which preceded the SEG, closed to new applicants in 2019, but MCS compliance has remained a requirement throughout.
As part of our product selection process, we verify that all mounting systems we use meet the necessary compliance standards.
