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Integrating monocrystalline solar cells with metal standing seam roof panels, Roofit Solar sees opportunity in retrofit and new-build properties. pv magazine catches up with chief growth officer Greg Grace to discuss switching to TOPcon, adding color, energy security, and pitching rooftop solar to the Prince of Wales. Estonian manufacturer Roofit.Solar has made the switch to TOPcon and unveiled plans to add a new range of colored metal roof panels with integrated monocrystalline solar cells. Chief growth officer (CGO) Greg Grace told pv magazine the expanded range brings more power and aesthetic options to the building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) segment. Making the shift from passivated emitted rear contact (PERC) BIPV panels to TOPcon has added 30 W per square meter to Roofit.Solar’s range in power rating terms, Grace said, while the launch of colored panels is “big news” for a business with a focus on aesthetics. Roofit.Solar’s new core range of black BIPV solar roof panels has a comparable output to a typical TOPcon panel, Grace said, with a power rating of 190 W/m². The new color variants will have slightly less output depending on the color selected, he added, but more aesthetic options should expand the range of buildings where installation would be possible. The colored range includes Terracotta Red, Copper Green and Slate Grey variants with power ratings of 136.2 W/m², 151.4 W/m² and 174.1 W/m² respectively. Roofit.Solar confirmed the ratings are preliminary, but expected to be confirmed during certification. Roofit.Solar has already deployed the PERC variant of its BIPV solution on heritage properties in compliance with listed building regulations, such as an 80 kW installation at Estonia’s national library and a 45 kW rooftop for the University of Tartu. Grace sees even more opportunity in the retrofit market in the years ahead, particularly as new building regulations in the European Union and other markets come into force – setting new standards for energy efficiency. “If we look at the UK, roughly 40% of homes were built before World War 2, so you have quite a big building stock that’s older. One in five homes in the UK, probably in Germany as well, are heritage or protected sites and you can’t easily put solar on your roof. Homeowners are looking for a solution,” Grace said. For commercial and industrial properties, weight can be a key consideration and particularly when retrofitting. Grace claimed Roofit.Solar’s panels can offer 30% weight reduction when compared to installing a new roof with mounted modules. The company’s black double-seam Velario Slim solar roof panels and black click-seam NuClick 2.0 panels weigh 11.3 kg in the 471 mm x 1402 mm variant and 16.5 kg for the 471 x 2044 mm panel. The smaller panels have a rated power of 120 W and the larger 180 W. Beyond building regulations, energy security concerns could also drive demand for BIPV solutions according to Grace, who said Roofit.Solar has carried out three installations in Ukraine to date, with more in the pipeline. The PV integrated roofs were installed on family-style homes in Ukraine which will house foster families caring for children orphaned in the war. “That’s something important when you’re looking at solar, to have energy security and energy independence,” he said. |
