Innovations in Photovoltaic Panels

It was only five years ago that there was a huge rush to install photovoltaic (PV) panels due to incredibly generous Feed-in Tariff (FIT) incentives (now much less generous — see more on page 115). Nevertheless, these technologies still pay for themselves and it is up to us to make sure that the products suit our lifestyles and expectations as well as our homes.

Things have moved on from the days of only being able to fit industrial-looking panels to the roof that, in many cases, blight the architectural integrity of the property. Say the words PV slates or PV tiles and many aspiring self-builders will say “Tesla”. It is true that Tesla has put roof integrated PV tiles in the spotlight, and who knows what will happen to the market when we finally get them in (we are told) 2018. Tesla is, however, not the only company making roof integrated solar tiles. Solar Century has been making the C21e for over 10 years and solar slates (now produced by GB Sol) have also been around for several years. Romag has roof tile PV and many tile manufacturers have added PV cells to their tiles.

In order to improve the socalled ‘payback’ of PV systems we need to actually use at least around half of the annual generation from our systems by adapting our lifestyles and home automation to use more electricity during the daylight hours.

We are also seeing more products that replace the fabric of the building. Onyx Solar manufactures rimless glass panels that are being used as wall panelling around courtyards and swimming pool enclosures as well as on carport roofs. Clear glass panels are being fitted to commercial atria and lightwells, and tests are being carried out on PV roadways and cycle paths in France. The progression of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) is certainly gaining momentum and it is only a matter of time before we see these products in our homes on conservatories, orangeries, skylights, wall cladding, hard landscaping or even garden furniture.