Integrated Solar

Solar cells and thin film are being homogeneously integrated with traditional roofing materials such as metal, slate, fiber-cement and ­asphalt roofing.

Integrated solar roof.
The south face of this standing-seam metal roof is overlaid with a four kilowatt array of thin film solar panels. truexcullins.com

The six green homes in this community in Hinesburg, Vermont are all positive energy buildings, producing as much energy as they use over the course of the year. Environmental features include geothermal heating, radiant concrete floors, triple pane windows, super insulated walls and roofs, building-integrated PV solar panels, and south facing glass which provides solar gain and great views down the valley. truexcullins.com

Three types of solar. Far left to right, two panels for solar water heating, then solar electric panels, and then standing-seam solar metal roofing. roofinfo.com

A 1930s-era house on the edge of an historic district in Kentucky topped with a thin-film solar system, placed on a standing-seam metal roof.

Related Post: Solar Calculator

After tax credits, the new metal roof and PV system cost about $23,000, but might pay for itself in ten years, due to energy savings and by selling power back to the utility. After the install, electric bills for the 2,800 square foot house are roughly $16 per month. solartoday-digital.org, regenensolar.com

University of Missouri-Rolla Rolla Technical Institute’s Prairie Home.
The benefits of standing-seam solar metal roofing are many. Quick installation, easy troubleshooting, lifetime leak free roof performance. In addition, in certain states, you can currently receive the 30% solar tax credit for the metal roof as well as the solar film, as the roof is considered part of the solar system. Solar panels by Uni-Solar have been tested to > 185 mph. Via: popularmechanics.com

Solar roofing systems that seamlessly integrate form and function. monmouthvinyl.com

Installation of solar metal roofing consists of cleaning the inside of the metal roof panel, applying and rolling in the solar PV laminate, installing the metal roofing panels and connecting circuitry at top of roof under ridge cap. A 213” x 14.5” x .2” thin film solar panel can be had for $190. Not including the metal roof, ridge and installation. How to apply thin film to metal roof: www.youtube.com, greensolarcafe.com

The metal ridge cap hides all the connecting terminals.
Long solar panels mean fewer connections.
www.youtube.com

The Solar Sandwich system manufactured by Englert, looks like any other standing-seam roof. Metal panels are topped with thin PV laminates but conceal a solar thermal system underneath (made by Dawn Solar Systems).

Related Post: Solar Roadways

The surface-mounted PVs generate electricity, but also absorb heat, which is directed into the solar thermal system underneath (but will also melt away snow on top of the roof). Using a closed-loop system of tubes filled with glycol-enhanced water, energy is transferred from the roof to a conventional heating system where it is used for radiant floor heating and hot water. englertinc.com

As easy as peel and stick.
(And then attach connectors.)
Efficiency is improved if film is slanted toward sun.
Final installation and layout of Uni-Solar Ovonic’s thin Film Flexible Solar PV panels. Image: Fieldsken Ken Fields. Video of a panel lying flat on a deck: youtube.com

If you have an existing metal roof, all you need to do is clean, then peel, stick and connect. Unfortunately Uni-Solar, the maker of this thin film solar panel has gone under. www.unisolar.com

Solé Power Tiles.
www.ustile.com

US Tile, a Boral Roofing Company, has partnered with SRS Energy to produce Mission profile tiles. Solé Power Tiles install like a standard piece of tile with no penetrations into the tile. The result is a solar system that maximises energy output and efficiencies while eliminating the negative visual impact of traditional solar solutions. www.ustile.com

Panotron solar system.
Small pv panels slide into clay tiles. The assembly of the solar tile is performed simultaneously with coverslipping the new clay tile. The photovoltaic panel is comprised of individual monocrystalline cells that are connected in series. 4 individual panels with a rated power of 6.25 Wp together form a photovoltaic module (PV module). The power per module is 25 Wp; per m2 roof tile surface results in a power output of 75 Wp. www.panotron.com

Solar Shingles.
Install flush with asphalt shingles. These Dow shingles only require one hole be drilled into the roof. dowpowerhouse.com

Solar Shingles

Solar Shingles.
Some shingle products must be connected to their neighboring shingles, and then the wires must enter inside the attic space. Holes must be pre-drilled and terminals are fed inside the attic where they are connected. www.nps.gov

Solar shingles do not need support structures and therefore rest directly on your roof. These are “diamond shaped” panels by Saint-Gobain. Rather than being situated one next to the other in a parallel arrangement, the modules overlap each other, with one corner pointing down and one pointing up. www.avancis.de

German Team Wins Solar Decathlon With Solar Covered House

The surface of this house is covered with solar cells: an 11.1-kW photovoltaic (PV) system made of 40 single-crystal silicon panels on the roof and about 250 thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) panels on the sides that are expected to produce an incredible 200% of the energy needed by the house. The house generated 19 kilowatts one day during test runs. solardecathlon.gov

Integrated solar panels can withstand strong winds.
www.atsenerji.com

3S Photovoltaic roof slates.
These tile-type modules are frameless and can be installed by any roofer, plus can be interspersed with tiles of the same size but different functionality, such as thermal collectors and skylights, as well as standard roof tiles. pvsystems.meyerburger.com

Freiburg Solar City, a glimpse of things to come.
The solar village Sonnenschiff, Freiburg, Germany built by solar architect Rolf Disch. All 58 units are PlusEnergy homes, which produce more energy than they consume. The Solar Settlement generates 420,000 kWh of solar energy from a total photovoltaic output of about 445 kW peak per year. The premises remain auto-free thanks to the parking garage underneath the community Sun Ship and the well organized Car-Sharing system. www.rolfdisch.de

Solar Companies: Too Many To List!

• Bankrupcies and Sales, thin film: mercurynews.com
• GE Thin Film acquired by First Solar: pv-magazine.com
  SoloPower Thin Film: solopower.com
• Power Companies have been ignoring the solar phenomenon and might be left in the dark & why Power Companies hate net metering: www.nytimes.com

Thin Film Solar Roof by Uni-Solar. Although Uni-Solar is out of business many of their products are still available through dealers as well as on Amazon and EBay.