Photovoltaic panel installation on factory tile roof

Figure 1. Fully integrated photovoltaic (PV) roof “RIS.” The solutions that have been proven fall into the following categories: Interlocking panel systems, which either use panels that mimic roofing tiles with the photovoltaic (PV) element embedded in the surface or have a frame bonded to the PV panel which provides the sealing interlock.

Most types of roof have been used with a PV system at some time. The overall construction must be capable of taking the additional load of the PV (or indeed survive the additional uplift when the PV replaces a much heavier roof surface such as concrete tiles).

The over-roof mounting of PV panels has been the normal practice in many installations. It is simple in concept, and has been proven provided that the attachment through the traditional roof is performed well.

The use of tiles or slates frequently requires special tiles for edges, angled valleys, chimney joins, ridges, etc. and slates are generally cut to shape on site, and nail holes made to suit. This implies that the PV tile must link seamlessly into the standard roofing material ( Fig. 3 ). Figure 3. Photovoltaic (PV)-Slate “traditional” system. 1.2.

PV slates and shingles are a more unusual product, but a niche market has developed for aesthetic PV roofs. The advantage of using a traditionally mounted roof product is that normal building trade practice can be used, and there is little resistance to the concept from the naturally conservative building trade.

In a niche market such as Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) at present, there is a need to be able to fit PV to both new and existing houses. In many countries the building stock is old and not being replaced, so mechanisms for retrofitting PV have been developed.