Complete Solar Roof

Introduction

 It is entirely possible to cover the full available roof area with solar panels, and for new builds or properties undergoing a full re-roof, it is worth serious consideration. A complete solar roof uses the entire roof surface for generation, using specially designed integrated mounting systems rather than panels attached on top of existing tiles. 

Which other roof gives you a 10% return on investment for 20 years?

Roof integrated system designed and installed for Millgate Winchester December 2016.

A typical four-bedroom integrated solar roof will generate up to 6,000kWh a year of electricity, with the potential to deliver significant savings over the 25–30 year life of the panels.

Panels can either fill part of a roof, in which case the rest of the roof is tiled conventionally, or cover the whole roof as a full integrated system. This page focuses on the full roof approach.

GB-SOL

GB-Sol is an independent UK company, established in 1994, manufacturing solar panels and mounting systems at their factory on the Treforest Industrial Estate near Cardiff. A spin-out from Cardiff University's solar test centre, GB-Sol has been at the forefront of integrated solar roof systems for several decades.

Their system is unique in using solar panel laminates where the mounting framework itself forms the panels' structure. Full-sized, high-efficiency panels are fitted directly to the roof battens using a hidden rail system, with the surrounding roofing material brought up to meet them. The result is a clean, low-profile finish that is far less visually obtrusive than conventional on-roof mounting.

The GB-Sol roof-integrated system comes with a comprehensive 25-year warranty covering both solar performance and waterproofing. The system is well-ventilated, so it does not experience the efficiency losses that can affect other in-roof integration systems.

Benefits

• Suitable for full or partial roof coverage
• Compatible with any type of conventional roofing material
• Panels available in portrait or landscape orientation
• Custom panel sizes can be manufactured to suit complex roof shapes
• Double or triple glazed units can replace individual panels, and roof windows can be incorporated
• Manufactured in the UK and tested by the Building Research Establishment (BRE)
• Products manufactured using toughened glass, marine-grade aluminium, and stainless steel
• Achieved EXT.S.AA — the highest fire resistance rating — in independent fire tests

… and no cutting – just assemble!

Easy Roof Evolution

The Easy Roof Evolution is a French-made integrated in-roof mounting system, originally developed by IRFTS Solar Solutions and now part of the Edilians group, one of Europe's largest roofing manufacturers.

It is an MCS012-accredited, ventilated in-roof mounting system. Designed for simplicity, each panel mount works like a tile, with a patented interlocking process between the mounts. Panels can be mounted in portrait or landscape orientation on any type of tiled or shingle roof. Flashings are used to achieve a watertight seal between the array and the adjoining tiles. The mounts carry a 10-year warranty and are made from 100% recyclable material.

Easy Roof Evolution is suitable for residential, commercial, public, agricultural, and industrial roofs, and is compatible with the majority of solar panels currently available on the market.

Easy Roof + Velux® Windows

One of the system's key advantages is its compatibility with Velux® roof windows. IRFTS has teamed up with Velux® to produce a dedicated mount that allows a Velux® window to be positioned within the solar panel array. The mount is compatible with either a standard Velux® MK06 (780 × 1180mm) or the larger MK08 (780 × 1400mm), and carries a 10-year warranty. This makes it particularly useful for habitable loft spaces where natural light is required alongside solar generation.