Photovoltaic roof tiles

Photovoltaic roof tiles are designed to be built into a roof, either on a new build or if you’re having your house re-roofed. The aesthetics are much better, with a more integrated look than simply adding solar panels on top of an existing roof. As a result, they need not compromise a building’s design.

Photovoltaic roof tiles generate electrical energy in the same way as standard solar panels. As they convert the sun’s energy into electricity, they will obviously work better on a south facing roof on bright days, but need only daylight to work and they will generate electricity even on cloudy days.

PV roof tiles are designed around standard tile sizes and can be fitted to normal roof battens and held in place with a simple screw fixing. The end result is a watertight roof, designed to withstand the same weather conditions that you would expect from a normal roofing tile. Planning permission for the installation will not normally be required, unless yours is a listed building.

Running costs are low as PV tiles have no moving parts and, as such, are virtually maintenance free. A regular visual inspection is all that is needed.

As well as reducing your carbon emissions and electricity bill, you can use your solar PV tiles to generate cash as well as power in the UK, due to the Government’s Feed-In Tariff scheme (FITs). You can be paid for any electricity that you generate with your tiles, even if you use it yourself; you will be paid a set rate for each unit of electricity you generate, and then a further payment for each unit you export to the electricity grid. You will need to register for FITs, but your installer should be able to help you with this. Grants are often available to help you with costs of installation, but this will vary depending on where you are, so you will need to check with your council.

Tips4 Photovoltaic roof tiles

Here are some tips if you’re considering having photovoltaic roof tiles fitted:

• Ensure the tiles you are choosing come with a long warranty (at least 25 years)
• Check what grants are available in your area
• Install on a south facing roof if possible, PV tiles perform best on cold, bright days on a roof with no shadows

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