The Complete Guide to Integrated Solar Panels

• Integrated solar panels are embedded into a tileless section of the roof
• Prices for integrated solar panels range from about £100&#;£245 per panel
• While more aesthetically pleasing, they&#;re 3% less efficient than on-roof panels

Solar panels of all kinds have become much less bulky &#; they&#;re now designed with aesthetics in mind. Integrated solar panels, in particular, can give users the best of both worlds: high efficiency with a sleek, modern look.

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Want to learn more about these discreet panels? We&#;ve got everything you need to know waiting in our helpful guide below.

If you want to utilise solar energy but would rather stick to regular panels, we&#;re here to help. You can find the perfect set of solar panels for your home by simply filling out this short form. Once we&#;ve got some basic information about your property, we&#;ll connect you with our professional installers, who&#;ll get in touch with their best prices.

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What are integrated solar panels?

Integrated solar panels &#; also referred to as in-roof panels &#; are essentially the same as traditional solar panels, but are embedded into a tileless section of roof.

Unlike regular solar panels (also called &#;on-roof panels&#;), integrated panels need minimal mounting equipment, and the support that is there is hidden out of sight underneath the panels.

In-roof panels are also designed to behave like roof tiles &#; they&#;re weatherproof, waterproof, and can be as strong as normal roof tiles.

Installation is also pretty straightforward. In most instances, you won&#;t need to alter the underlying roof structure &#; the roof tiles just need to be removed, and plastic trays are then fitted to the existing structure.

Conventional framed solar panels are then mounted into these trays, and slates are used to fill in any gaps around the trays.

Some roof-integrated solar panels don&#;t need trays, as they incorporate weatherproof flashing into the frames.

How much do integrated solar panels cost?

You can expect most integrated solar panel systems to cost a similar amount to that of traditional on-roof solar panel systems.

Want to get a better idea of how much this will cost you? Check out the table below to compare solar panel prices for different-sized properties.

0

out of

0

Property size

Annual electricity usage

Number of solar panels

Average installation cost*

Annual electricity bill savings**

Time it takes to break even

Solar panel profit after 25 years

1-2 bedroom house

3 bedroom house

4 bedroom house

1,800 kWh

2,700 kWh

4,100 kWh

6

10

14

£4,216

£7,026

£9,837

£272.67

£454.45

£636.23

15.46 years

15.46 years

15.46 years

£3,026

£4,335.11

£6,069.16

* Please note these prices are based on Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) cost data (March ), the average price of electricity (October-December ), and Ofgem&#;s latest typical domestic consumption values (). Total costs may increase with more complex installations. The above estimates do not include the cost of a solar battery.

When it comes to installing an integrated solar panel system, there are two ways you can go about it:

• Use standard panels

  &#; This involves mounting regular panels on an in-roof frame, such as the GSE system or EasyRoof Evolution. This will cost a similar amount to the prices in the table above

• Use a bespoke system &#;

  This involves having the panels made specifically for the property, and will therefore cost more than having standard panels installed. This service is currently provided by Viridian, SolFit, or GB-Sol

Unlike regular solar panel installation, you&#;ll also need to take the roof retrofitting into account, which involves removing and installing the slates/tiles. The price tag on roof retrofitting will vary widely, depending on the size of the roof and the material it&#;s made of.  

Other factors that can alter the price of integrated solar panels include:

• The number of panels you have

• Whether you&#;re adding them to a new build or retrofit

• How much energy you need the panels to generate

• Which manufacturer you choose

The pros and cons of integrated solar panels

Before you invest in a set of integrated solar panels, you should outweigh the advantages and disadvantages &#; they might not be for everyone.

To give you a head start, we&#;ve listed some of the pros and cons below.

Pros

• Aesthetically pleasing
• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Good for homes with restricted planning permission
• Low maintenance
• No interference from pigeons

Cons

• Lower efficiency
• Retrofitting can be difficult

Advantages of integrated solar panels

Anyone keen on getting themselves an integrated solar panel system will be pleased to know that the pros significantly outweigh the cons. Check out some of the advantages of integrated solar below.

Aesthetically pleasing

In , we carried out a survey on the appearance of solar panels. Overall, we found that half of respondents aged 13-40 think solar panels are attractive, which drops to just 11% amongst 57-72 year olds. As for 73-88 year olds? Zero respondents in this bracket find solar panels attractive.

If you agree with the older generations in our study that traditional solar panels are unattractive, integrated panels might be for you. Since they&#;re installed as part of a roof&#;s structure, integrated solar panels sit snugly with the roof tiles and blend in more seamlessly.

It&#;s a great look for any style of house.

Affordable

Although they were once much more expensive than on-roof panels, integrated solar panels are now pretty affordable &#; great news, since 69% of people ranked cost as the most important factor when evaluating which low-carbon product to purchase. And, according to our survey, 43% of them said high energy bills prevent them from buying green tech.

As the technology has become popular, more manufacturers have started offering integrated solutions, and the panels have become more affordable to meet demand. In fact, you can now expect in-roof panels to cost a similar amount to regular panels.

Lightweight

Standard solar panels can be too heavy for some roofs, which can cause maintenance issues with both the building and the panels.

However, since roof-integrated systems aren&#;t placed on top of tiles, but replace them, they&#;ll add little additional weight &#; if any &#; to your roof.

Good for homes with restricted planning permission

Since integrated panels are designed to sit flat with the roof &#; and can often be altered to match a certain colour scheme &#; they&#;re more likely to qualify for planning permission in listed buildings or protected areas.

Plus, in-roof solar panels won&#;t add extra weight to the roof, which is another bonus for older, more delicate buildings.

Low maintenance

Solar panels are already pretty low-maintenance pieces of kit, but in-roof panels go one step further.

Since integrated solar panels are embedded into the roof, they don&#;t have a mounting frame, which means there&#;s no room for birds to nest underneath.

That&#;s right, you probably won&#;t have to worry about having to pigeon-proof your panels! The lack of visible framing also means there&#;s nowhere for debris to build up.

No interference from pigeons

Unlike regular on-roof panels, integrated solar panels don&#;t have a gap between the unit and the roof.

Pigeons tend to utilise this space as shelter, making themselves pretty at home. But what&#;s the harm in having a few pigeons huddled under your solar panels? Well, they can cause damage to the panels, which will result in reduced output and lower savings on your bills.

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Thankfully, integrated-solar-panel owners won&#;t have to deal with this problem.

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Disadvantages of integrated solar panels

Like pretty much any bit of tech, there are some downsides to integrated solar panels. Check them out below.

Lower efficiency

Clearly, integrated solar panels have a lot of benefits, but one key disadvantage is that they&#;re usually 3% less efficient than on-roof solar panels.

This is because, unlike on-roof solar panels, integrated panels sit snugly in the roof rather than mounted on brackets. This means that there&#;s less air ventilation around the panel to help keep it cool.

On very hot days, this lack of ventilation can lead your panels to overheat and generate less energy.

What does this mean for homeowners? Lower solar panel efficiency ultimately means less solar-generated electricity, so the payback period will be a bit longer than regular solar panels.  

Retrofitting can be difficult

You can add integrated solar panels to a pre-existing roof &#; but it comes with some difficulties you won&#;t encounter when installing them on a new build.

It&#;ll usually cost more and take longer because the installer will need to remove the roof&#;s tiles or slates, and generally because of the greater complexity level.

Can you get integrated solar panels in the UK?

Yes, you can! More manufacturers have been selling integrated panels widely across the country &#; and there are plenty of UK-based companies to choose from, including:

• GB Sol &#; This Wales-based solar manufacturer has 20 years of expertise and an award-winning roof-integrated system. Although it&#;s one of the most popular suppliers, GB Sol offers bespoke options, which can be more expensive
• GSE Integration &#; Although GSE supplies panels in the UK, its in-roof system also dominates over 60% of the market share of residential solar installations in France. Plus, the materials used are 100% recyclable! As if you needed another reason to like this product, it&#;s also on the cheaper end of the price spectrum
• Viridian &#; This Cambridge-based company&#;s system, named Clearline Fusion, has five different panel &#;kits&#; which are suitable for different roof styles. These panels don&#;t rely on a plastic tray, and instead have an innovative frame that locks between panels to achieve a weathertight finish

ManufacturerProductPerformance warrantyManufacturer warranty

GB Sol

Roof-Integrated System

25 years

10 years

GSE Integration

In-roof Integration

10 years

10 years

Viridian

Clearline Fusion

25 years

10 years

Should you get integrated solar panels?

Although more than two thirds of Brits would now buy a property with solar panels on the roof, some people still aren&#;t a fan of the way they look. 

If you come under this bracket, but you&#;d like to benefit from the cheap, green electricity they produce, then integrated solar panels might be the right option for you. 

Their sleek aesthetics are the main selling people for homeowners, but you&#;ll also benefit from a much smaller carbon footprint. 

But are integrated solar panels worth it financially? That depends on the state of your roof. 

If you&#;re replacing your roof before installing a set of integrated solar panels, then it&#;s the perfect time to invest. However, if you&#;ll need to remove a section of tiles just to install the panels, it probably isn&#;t worth it &#; the added cost of removing the tiles/slates will outweigh the cost savings from the panels themselves.

Integrated solar panels vs solar roof tiles

Although they have the same goal &#; to generate solar power whilst looking aesthetically pleasing &#; integrated panels and solar roof tiles are very different.

Integrated solar panels sit in the roof covering, but are often the same size as conventional framed solar panels &#; meaning they&#;re still visible &#; while solar tiles are usually the same shape and colour as the tiles they are replacing.

Solar roof tiles are also much more discreet than integrated panels &#; sometimes it can even be hard to tell if they&#;re solar tiles or normal tiles if you&#;re standing from a distance.

Although solar tiles can be much better for some homeowners, it&#;s also important to note that they&#;re less efficient than panels &#; which means they won&#;t be able to generate as much energy as integrated panels.

Integrated solar panel maintenance

Good news &#; integrated solar panels are even more low maintenance than their on-roof counterparts.

Solar panels have no moving parts, which makes them relatively low maintenance, but integrated systems have even fewer parts to keep in good condition. As we mentioned earlier, you probably won&#;t have to worry about pigeon-proofing your panels, or checking debris as often, thanks to the lack of brackets.

Aside from this, integrated panel maintenance is pretty much the same as regular on-roof panel maintenance. Want to keep your panels in tip-top shape? Here are six key things you should do to look after them:

1. Get your panels serviced every 5-10 years
2. Clean your solar panels once every five years
3. Remove potential dangers regularly
4. Keep solar panels out of the shade
5. Make sure the inverters are flashing green
6. Check day-to-day performance

Want to learn more about how to look after your solar panels &#; whether integrated or on-roof? Check out our helpful guide on solar panel repair and maintenance.

Next steps

The solar panel industry is always evolving, with its ongoing efforts to increase domestic panels&#; efficiency, make panels look more aesthetically pleasing, and find new ways to generate more electricity.

Despite this, traditional solar panels are typically the most popular option to go with, which usually comes down to their price and efficiency.

If you think your home could benefit from a set of panels, you&#;ve come to the right place. We can help you find the best deal with our easy-to-use quote tool.

All you have to do is pop your details in this short form, and our suppliers will get in touch with their best solar panel prices.

Solar panel installation is becoming an increasingly popular choice for homeowners and businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint and save on energy costs. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore all aspects of solar panel installation, from understanding solar energy to the different types of solar panels available and the pre-installation considerations you need to keep in mind. We will also walk you through the solar panel installation process, helping you make informed decisions every step of the way.

Before delving into the specifics of solar panel installation, it's important to have a clear understanding of solar energy and how it works. Solar energy is a renewable source of power that is harnessed from the sun's rays. Through the use of photovoltaic cells, commonly known as solar panels, sunlight is converted into usable electricity. This clean and sustainable energy source offers numerous benefits to both individuals and the environment.

The Basics of Solar Energy

At its core, solar energy relies on the photovoltaic effect, which allows sunlight to be converted into electricity. The process starts when the sun's rays hit the solar panels, which are made up of multiple interconnected solar cells. These solar cells contain semiconductor materials, such as silicon, that absorb the sunlight and release electrons. By creating an electric current, the solar panels generate direct current (DC) electricity.

To make use of this electricity, an inverter is used to convert DC electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is the type of electricity used in our homes and businesses. This AC electricity can then be used to power appliances, lights, and other electrical devices, reducing your reliance on the traditional power grid.

But how exactly do solar panels convert sunlight into usable electricity? The answer lies in the structure of the solar cells. Each solar cell consists of two layers of silicon, one with a positive charge and the other with a negative charge. When sunlight hits the solar cell, it excites the electrons in the silicon atoms, causing them to break free from their atoms and create an electric current. This flow of electrons is then captured and directed through the wiring of the solar panel, creating a usable source of electricity.

It's worth noting that the efficiency of solar panels can vary depending on factors such as the angle and orientation of the panels, the amount of sunlight received, and the quality of the solar cells. Advances in solar technology have led to the development of more efficient solar panels, allowing for greater electricity generation even in low-light conditions.

Benefits of Solar Energy

There are several benefits to harnessing solar energy for your power needs. First and foremost, solar energy is a clean and renewable resource, meaning it doesn't produce harmful emissions or contribute to climate change. By utilizing solar energy, you can reduce your carbon footprint and make a positive impact on the environment.

Additionally, solar energy can significantly reduce your energy costs. Once your solar panel system is installed, you will be able to generate your own electricity for free, thereby decreasing your reliance on the traditional power grid. Over time, this can lead to substantial savings on your monthly energy bills.

Furthermore, solar energy systems require minimal maintenance and have a long lifespan. With proper care and occasional cleaning, your solar panels can last for several decades, providing you with clean energy and financial savings for years to come.

Moreover, solar energy can provide energy independence. By generating your own electricity, you are not at the mercy of fluctuating energy prices or power outages. This can be particularly beneficial in remote areas or during natural disasters when the traditional power grid may be unreliable.

Another advantage of solar energy is its versatility. Solar panels can be installed on various surfaces, including rooftops, open fields, and even water bodies. This flexibility allows for the utilization of underutilized spaces and opens up possibilities for large-scale solar energy projects.

Furthermore, the installation of solar panels can increase the value of your property. Studies have shown that homes equipped with solar panels tend to sell at a higher price compared to similar homes without solar installations. This can be an attractive feature for potential buyers who are looking for energy-efficient and sustainable homes.

In conclusion, solar energy is a powerful and sustainable source of electricity that offers numerous benefits. From reducing carbon emissions and energy costs to providing energy independence and increasing property value, solar energy is a smart choice for individuals and the environment alike.

Types of Solar Panels

Now that you have a better understanding of solar energy, let's explore the different types of solar panels available on the market.

Solar panels are an essential component of any solar energy system. They are responsible for converting sunlight into usable electricity through the photovoltaic effect. There are several types of solar panels, each with its own unique characteristics and advantages.

Monocrystalline Solar Panels

Monocrystalline solar panels are made from a single crystal structure, giving them a sleek and uniform appearance. The manufacturing process involves slicing a cylindrical silicon ingot into thin wafers, which are then used to create individual solar cells. The uniformity of the crystal structure allows for efficient electron movement, resulting in high conversion efficiency.

These panels are known for their high efficiency levels and perform well even in low-light conditions. The uniform appearance of monocrystalline panels makes them visually appealing, making them a popular choice for residential installations. Additionally, their durability and longevity make them a reliable option for long-term energy production.

Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Polycrystalline solar panels are made from multiple silicon crystals, resulting in a textured blue appearance. The manufacturing process involves melting raw silicon and then pouring it into square-shaped molds. Once cooled, the silicon is cut into wafers, which are used to create solar cells.

While they may have a slightly lower efficiency compared to monocrystalline panels, polycrystalline panels offer a more affordable option without compromising overall performance. The textured appearance of these panels can add a unique aesthetic to your solar installation. They are an excellent choice for individuals looking for a cost-effective solar solution.

Thin-Film Solar Panels

Thin-film solar panels are made by depositing thin layers of semiconductor material onto a substrate. The manufacturing process involves applying a thin film of amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, or copper indium gallium selenide onto a glass, metal, or plastic surface. This thin-film layer absorbs sunlight and converts it into electricity.

Thin-film solar panels are lightweight and flexible, making them suitable for unconventional installation areas and applications. They can be integrated into building materials, such as roofing shingles or windows, allowing for seamless integration into the overall design. While they have lower efficiency levels compared to crystalline panels, thin-film panels can be a viable option in certain situations, such as when space is limited or aesthetics are a priority.

It's important to note that the choice of solar panel type depends on various factors, including budget, available space, and energy requirements. Consulting with a solar professional can help you determine the best type of solar panel for your specific needs.

Pre-Installation Considerations

Before moving forward with solar panel installation, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind.

Evaluating Your Energy Needs

Understanding your energy needs is crucial when determining the size and capacity of your solar panel system. Consider your average monthly energy consumption, as well as any future changes in energy usage. By accurately assessing your energy needs, you can ensure the solar panel system you choose is capable of meeting your requirements.

Assessing Your Property's Solar Potential

Assessing your property's solar potential is another essential step in the pre-installation process. Evaluate your roof's orientation, angle, and available space to determine if it receives adequate sunlight throughout the day. Shaded areas or obstructions, such as trees or nearby buildings, can significantly affect the efficiency and performance of your solar panels.

Understanding Local Regulations and Incentives

Before installing solar panels, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with local regulations, permits, and incentives. Some municipalities may have specific rules and guidelines regarding solar panel installation. Additionally, research potential financial incentives, such as tax credits or rebates, that can help offset the initial installation costs.

The Solar Panel Installation Process

Now that you have completed the necessary pre-installation considerations, it's time to dive into the solar panel installation process.

Choosing the Right Solar Panel Provider

Selecting a reputable and experienced solar panel provider is vital to ensure a successful installation. Research different companies, read customer reviews, and compare quotes to find the best fit for your needs. Look for certifications and credentials, as well as warranties and guarantees offered by the provider.

Planning and Designing Your Solar System

Once you have chosen a solar panel provider, they will work closely with you to plan and design the optimal solar system for your property. This includes determining the number of solar panels needed, the ideal panel placement, and any additional equipment, such as inverters and batteries, required for an efficient and reliable solar setup.

The Installation Process Explained

During the installation process, the solar panels will be mounted securely onto your roof or any other suitable location. The provider's installation team will handle all electrical connections, ensuring the solar panels are properly connected to your home's electrical system. Once the installation is complete, the provider will perform necessary tests and inspections to ensure the system is functioning correctly.

In conclusion, solar panel installation is an excellent investment that allows you to harness the power of the sun and reduce your environmental impact. By understanding solar energy, exploring the different types of solar panels, and considering pre-installation factors, you can make informed decisions throughout the installation process. With the right solar panel provider and careful planning, you can enjoy the numerous benefits of solar energy for many years to come.

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