Whether you’re new to solar energy or looking to upgrade and optimise your solar energy consumption, you might want to look into integrated solar panels. Unlike regular solar panels, integrated solar panels make a more cohesive option for your home design. We’re constantly working to encourage the shift to renewable energy that’ll protect our environment against climate change. As such, we’ll provide a complete guide to in roof solar panels to help you make greener choices.
What Are Integrated Solar Panels?
Integrated solar panel, also known in roof solar panels, are photovoltaic solar panels embedded into the roof. In contrast, regular on roof solar panels are installed and attached with rails above the roof on top of your roof tiles.
Structurally, roof-integrated solar panels are the same as traditional on roof panels. However, they only differ in their installation.
In addition, sometimes integrated panels are confused with solar roof tiles. For one thing, both types of solar cells are integrated solar cells. However, solar panels integrated into the roof are still whole panels that replace all roof tiles, while solar roof tiles are tiles designed to replace each roof tile. In both cases, the integration of solar panels requires removing roof tiles.
Integrated solar panels work with the purpose of generating electric energy. They’re waterproof and made to withstand rough weather and snow like an ordinary roof would.
What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Integrated Solar Panels?
In roof solar systems provide a viable alternative to those who may be hesitant to make the shift to renewable energy due to the mass and weight of traditional PV solar panels.
Advantages of Integrated Solar Panels
Here are some of the advantages that set roof-integrated solar panels apart from regular solar panels.
Design
Design is the first defining quality of integrated solar panels. They’re sleek and more aesthetically pleasing than their regular counterparts.
Traditionally, PV solar panels are attached to roofs through rails and secured with screws and bolts. This method makes the solar panels bulge above the roof, disrupting the roof’s design, which may throw off the neighbourhood’s overall standardised appearance.
For this reason, integrated solar panels excel in fitting and appearing as if they belong on the roof because they sit directly on top of the structure without hovering above it. Additionally, you can find integrated panels in colours and designs that perfectly fit your home aesthetic.
Low Maintenance
As we mentioned, traditional solar panels usually sit above the roof, leaving a big gap between the roof and the panels. This gap can lead to all kinds of problems, like animals or birds nesting under your panels, or water and snow getting in between the panel and the roof. All of this makes regular solar panels harder to maintain and use efficiently.
On the other hand, integrated solar panels sit directly on the roof without any gaps between the two. They’re also waterproof and more resistant to environmental elements like wind, rain, and snow. With that in mind, they’re as low maintenance as solar panels, and they act as a layer over the roof to protect your home against weather changes.
Lightness
Unlike traditional solar panels that need rails to support their massive weight, integrated solar panels are lightweight and don’t add any extra pressure to your roof. They’re easily handled and installed on top of the roof, and they replace the roof tiles so they don’t add more weight that may affect roof stability.
Roof Tiles Cost
Integrated solar panels cost less than regular solar panels, especially if you use integrated solar panels instead of the roof panels in your design.They’re cheaper to handle and install because they’re lightweight, too.
Planning Permission
Sometimes it’s hard to get planning permission to install regular solar panel systems because they aren’t aesthetically pleasing and not cohesive for an entire community. However, it’s easier to get planning permission for integrated solar panels due to them being discrete and fitting any particular design or colour scheme without calling attention.
Integrating Panels In New Building Design
Integrated solar panels can also be part of the primary design of new buildings. These buildings can work to integrate solar panels into their design instead of roofs, making buildings look cohesive in their design while also generating enough green energy for themselves.
Disadvantages Of Roof Integrated Solar Panels
Integrated solar panels aren’t without their disadvantages.
Ruining The Roof To Fit Solar Panels
Getting rid of the tiles to install integrated solar panels can be quite costly, the best way to do it is by integrating the panels in the building’s primary design or whenever remodeling the roof. For this reason, retrofitting for the sole purpose of installing integrated panels can be tiring and more expensive than installing traditional panels above the roof.
Energy Converting Efficiency
Integrated solar panels are slightly less efficient in converting solar energy to electric energy when compared to traditional PV solar panels.
Our Environment-Friendly Solutions
We offer a full assessment of your home to assess the suitable solar system for the design of your property and energy consumption. Fill in this form for a free quote within 48 hours.
Upon inspection, we’ll give you the best options for your needs, whether integrated PV panels, thin film panels or regular solar panels. After this process, we’ll optimise the power in your house to save money and lower your carbon footprint. Additionally, we offer a maintenance package that ensures that your solar panels are performing to the best of their ability.
What Are The Options For In-roof Solar Panels?
Here are some roof-integrated solar panels options available in the UK.
- GSE In-Roof System – The GSE in-roof system is compatible with most houses in the market. Their designs are waterproof, fire resistant, and optimised for ventilation. Additionally, they’re easy to install and maintain.
- Viridian Solar – Clearline Fusion from Viridian Solar is cost-efficient because its prices are compatible with traditional solar panels.In addition, they don’t need much retrofitting to install on your roof. They’re also sleek and aesthetically cohesive with home designs. Finally, they’re wind resistant and robust against environmental elements.
- SolFit -SolFit offers an in-roof solar panel system that works for both homes and businesses. Additionally, they’re designed to be aesthetically pleasing with a black look that suits most homes and neighbourhoods. Furthermore, they’re durable and weather resistant.
- GB Sol – GB Sol’s in roof solar panels are waterproof and blend in on top of the roof.
- BMI Redland – BMI Redland offers an adaptable PV panels system. This system is compatible with portrait and landscape formats. In addition, they also offer PV roofing tiles.
Integrated Solar Panel FAQs
Can Integrated Solar Panels Cause a Leak?
When installed professionally, integrated solar panels will not cause any issues with your roof covering and will not be responsible for leaks of any kind.
What Are Solar Tiles?
Solar tiles are tiles made of PV solar material to replace regular or normal tiles on a roof. Like integrated solar panels, they sit directly on the roof. However, instead of a panel, they replace each tile with a solar tile.
Integrated Solar Panels Summary
Integrated solar panels are the best option for people who don’t want to compromise their roof design for renewable energy. These types of in roof solar panels offer a complete solar roof system that has a sleek, aesthetically pleasing design while their efficiency levels are close to traditional solar PV panels.
Additionally, they’re lighter and require less maintenance than regular panels. They’re also waterproof and robust enough to handle rough weather. Overall, they’re a great choice to integrate into new building designs.
