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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.
Solar PV Case Studies (Residential)
Project: New Build Solar PV and Thermal Installation
Location: Isle of Man
Type of Property/Building: New detached eco house
Technology Solution: Solar PV and Thermal
The requirement was for a complete solar roof that needed to be totally integrated with the new development. A complete set of bespoke engineered roof flashings were designed and integrated with the proposed roof and glass atrium. This provided a totally sealed solar PV and thermal roof for the building.
Solar PV Panel Configuration:
Number of PV Panels: 41 Panels
Output of each PV Panel: 320 Watts
Weight of each PV Panel: 49 Kg
Area of Panels: 110 Square Metres
Peak Output: 13.12kW peak
Type of roof kit: Complete roof, landscape orientation
Type of system: Grid connected
Performance/Benefits/Savings:
Energy Generated Per Annum (estimated): 10.94 MW hours
Annual Saving in CO2 Emissions (estimated): 4702 Kg
Annual Saving in CO2 Emissions (estimated): 4.7 Tonnes
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In June 2007 landlord Chris Hill had C21e solar electric roof tiles installed on his rental property in Barnes, south west London. C21e tiles replace normal roofing tiles, generating free and green electricity without altering the roof line of the house.
Chris chose to install solar roof tiles because 'reducing my carbon footprint is very important to me. I needed to re-roof the house, and it made sense to use solar roof tiles as opposed to regular tiles. The tiles from Solarcentury are well integrated, and seemed more efficient than other solar panels.' He added, 'Secondary to this was 'future proofing' the house against rising fuel prices, making it cost less to live in and hence more attractive to tenants. I would recommend it to others looking to improve the appeal of their properties as solar tiles have proved a simple, cost effective and innovative way to improve a home.'
Chris' system is 1.66 kWp in size, which means it can generate up to 1,411 kWh per year. According to the Energy Savings Trust, the average household consumes around 4,000 kWh per year, so even a small system like Chris' can cut consumption from the grid and therefore utility bills by almost 30%. By January 2009, the home had generated a total of 2,171 kWh. The tenants can sell their electricity back at between 15 and 20 pence per unit depending on their supplier. Chris can also claim over £100 a year in Renewable Obligation Certificates (known as ROCs)
Bex Cooper and her partner Ian Thurston, Chris' tenants, were already living in Chris' property when the tiles were installed. They say that they were always conscious of their energy consumption, 'using as little as possible for both planet and purse' so they were delighted when their landlord installed the solar tiles. Even taking into account the couple's already responsible lifestyle, Ian says they have seen a 'big drop' in their energy bills and are receiving cheques from their electricity supplier for the energy they generate. A big bonus when everyone else's prices are going up! (Back to top)
Solar PV Case Studies (Community)
64 C21e solar electric roof tiles installed on Herne Hill School in South London
Date commissioned: 17th October 2006
Technology: Solar PV
Installation Type: Pitched roof
System size (kWp): 3.328
Forecast electricity generation / year (kWh): 2700
Panel area (m2): 24.9
Building integrated: Yes
CO2 saving / year (kg): 1533
Herne Hill School is an independent pre prep and nursery school for 250 children based in South East London. In October 2006, the school installed photovoltaic's to both generate electricity and reduce carbon emissions from their building. Choosing to deploy the latest in integrated solar technology, Herne Hill is now the first school in the UK to have the award winning C21e solar tiles. Replacing traditional roof tiles, the 3.3kWp system is set to generate 2,700 kWh (units of electricity) each year and save approximately
1,500 kg of CO2; the 64 C21e photovoltaic tiles are now a vital part their new extension, covering 24m2 of the new roof.
The school wanted their new extension to be both economically and environmentally friendly, with sustainable construction principles applied, particularly with regard to energy efficiency. This high energy efficiency ensures the optimal use of the solar electricity.
In order to engage both pupils and visitors in the benefits of solar power, a custom display was installed in the lobby showing system output and performance
Project: New Build Solar PV System
Type of Property/Building: School
Technology Solution: Solar PV
Requirement:
The solar photovoltaic system was required to provide a contribution to the electrical consumption of the school and assist in lowering the carbon footprint of the development. As the school was a new build the installation was very straightforward as the roof was a kalzip type roof. This type of roof allows solar panels to be fixed easily and with minimum disturbance to the roof structure.
Number of PV Panels: 8 Panels
Output of each PV Panel: 320 Watts
Weight of each PV Panel: 49 Kg
Area of Panels: 21.55 Square Metres
Peak Output: 2.56 KW peak
Type of roof kit: On roof, portrait orientation
Type of system: Grid connected with wireless display
Performance/Benefits/Savings:
Energy Generated Per Annum (estimated): 1.91 MW hours
Annual Saving in CO2 Emissions (estimated): 821 Kg
Annual Saving in CO2 Emissions (estimated): 0.821 Tonnes
Solar PV Case Studies (Commercial)
Barratt Homes, Buckshaw Village, Chorley
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
London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority
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
