Solar PV Case Studies

Barratt Homes, Buckshaw Village, Chorley (Solar Century Installation)

• Date commissioned: 27th April 2006
• Technology: Solar PV
• Installation Type: Pitched roof
• System size (kWp): 3.12 (3 systems)
• Forecast electricity generation / year (kWh): 2490
• Panel area (m2): 24.3
• Building integrated: Yes

Barratt Homes, one of the UK's biggest house builders, is the latest large developer to adopt Solarcentury's unique solar C21e tiles. Just over one third of the 390 acre Buckshaw Village in Lancashire will be developed for housing, many with small-scale renewable technologies. The former Ministry of Defence property is Barratt's largest site in the North West. It will be used to assess consumer attitude towards eco-building

s, and the University of Manchester will monitor performance of the technologies.

The development incorporates a number of energy saving systems including 3 installations of Solarcentury's unique and award winning C21e solar electric (photovoltaic) tiles. Barratt homes are one of many developers choosing to install these innovative energy generating roof tiles into domestic residences in the UK, and the successful model can be readily applied to any home built by Barratt homes. Other eco features include solar thermal collectors, geothermal technology, wind turbines, micro combined heat and power, rainwater harvesting and double-glazed timber-framed windows.

A sales executive from Barratt homes said: C21e has attracted a huge amount of interest at our Eco home in Buckshaw Village. New home buyers are pleased with the aesthetics and particularly impressed that solar tiles can save them money. Chief Executive David Pretty says: 'We're doing this not just because it makes commercial sense, but because we believe it makes sense for the future. It will help to shape the homes we'll build for the future.'

The solar tiles will enable residents to make significant savings on their energy bills, whilst at the same time creating a sustainable home by reducing carbon emissions. The 20 solar electric tiles protect homebuyers against rises in energy prices by generating 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) or units of electricity every year. The tiles will save 454 kg of CO2 each year, the equivalent of over one person's annual contribution to reaching the UK's Kyoto CO2 reduction target of 12.5% by 2010. Each installation comes with a wireless personal display to enable performance monitoring.

Unlike conventional photovoltaic technology, C21e solar tiles integrate into the building's fabric by replacing standard concrete tiles, sitting flush with the rest of the roof. Using a dark SunPower PV laminate, the solar tiles cover almost eight square metres of roof space without compromising the building design; blending superbly with the grey concrete tiles. The innovative roof was chosen as a silent, durable solution with no moving parts.

As it becomes mandatory for home owners to publicise their homes energy consumption as part of the Governments new 'Home Information Packs', the demand for houses with lower energy bills is sure to rise.

Yvette Cooper, the Minister for planning, said in June 2006: 'Our long term ambition should be zero carbon development. The Development Industry should start planning for new investment and innovation to meet our goals.'

Whilst London Mayor, Ken Livingstone recently announced plans to make it a statutory obligation for all big housing developments to incorporate enough onsite renewables to provide 20 per cent of resident's energy needs. 17 local boroughs already enforce a 10 per cent reduction of CO2 emissions through the use of onsite renewables on larger scale developments, and a further 70 are set to follow.

Barratt Homes are among an increasing number of developers now installing this innovative technology into domestic residences in the UK. St James, Gleesons, Fairview and other prestige developers also installing Solarcentury solar tiles.

London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority (Solarcentury Installation)

Richmond Fire Station is one of LFEPA's sites that is benefiting from a solar PV installation. The solar PV on the fire station is spread over three distinct areas: the roof windows, a flat roof and a pitched roof.

In total the entire installation is capable of producing a total peak DC power of 17.12 kilowatts under Standard Test Conditions. The total estimated annual energy yield for the array is 11,490 kilowatt hours, and it is projected that the system will save 6,526 tonnes of carbon per year for the station.

The pitched roof installation consists of 48 Sanyo 190W PV modules, which covers a total area of 57m2, capable of producing a total peak DC power of 9.12 kilowatts. The flat roof installation contains 32 Sanyo 190W PV modules.

These modules are installed on a framework to hold them at the optimal angle for capturing daylight. The total surface of the array is 38m2, and it is capable of producing a total of 6.08 kilowatts.

The roof windows have been installed with 24 80W PV glass laminates (GGL). The peak power of the GGL in the skylights is 1.92kWp, with a surface area of approximately 38m2.

Ratcliffe Power Station (Schuco Installation)

Schuco were asked to offer a Solar Photovoltaic solution to the Administration block at Ratcliffe Power Station in Nottingham. Because of the environment and the type of construction, the only feasible solution was a facade mounted installation. Schuco can offer all types of installation for both Solar Hot water and Solar Photovoltaic and in this case were able to offer an 'off the shelf' solution to the problem of fixing.

The installation comprised Schuco Premiumline PV modules. These are 320 watt peak units and are unique in the industry for their size and appearance.

The total installation was for 22kwp on Photovoltaic, and was installed using a Schuco approved PV installers.