Solar Panels Roof

Advantages of solar panels

Save money with solar panels! When energy prices are high, you can save a lot of money by generating your own electricity. An added benefit is that the payback period is short when energy prices are higher. Solar panels can be installed on flat roofs, pitched roofs and even on façades. In all three cases, sandwich panels can be used as carriers.

One advantage of installing solar panels on pitched roofs is that the panels do not have to be installed at an angle because the roof surface is already sloping. In the Netherlands, there are about 900 square kilometres of roofs suitable for installing solar panels. If solar panels were installed on 40% of these roofs, enough energy could be generated to supply the whole of the Netherlands with electricity.

Subsidies

Besides the fact that solar panels contribute to substantial savings in energy costs, there are also a great many subsidies that make them an attractive option. These are available for both private construction projects and larger projects, for example in the agricultural or utilities sector. Ask our sales team about the possibilities.

There are several types of solar panels on the market, the most common being monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film solar panels. So, what are the differences?

• Monocrystalline panels are the oldest type of panel available. They contain around 40 monocrystalline solar cells and are black in colour. The cells are square shaped, and there is a small opening in the corners of the cells.
• Polycrystalline solar panels are slightly newer and more efficient. They are blue in colour and have no openings between the corners of the cells.
• Thin-film panels are a new development in the world of solar panels. They are extra thin and can be black or blue in colour.

Always seek advice from an accredited solar panel supplier. Solar panels should also be installed by an authorised company.

Solar panels are suitable for both new-build and renovation projects. These days, when a roof is being renovated, a combination of sandwich panels with solar panels mounted on them is increasingly becoming the preferred choice.

The ideal scenario would be for solar panels to be integrated into insulated roof panels so that everything could be installed in one go, but this is unfortunately not possible at the moment due to the different life cycles of the products. However, FALK is currently working on an innovation project to develop a practical solution.

Advantages of sandwich panels

Sandwich roof panels with HPS200 Ultra® coating come with a coating guarantee of up to 40 years, also when used in combination with solar panels. With quality like that, FALK integrated solar roof systems have many advantages!

• High insulation values
• Large span
• Long life cycle
• Available in lengths of up to 25 linear metres
• Excellent strength
• Excellent airtightness

The insulation value of the insulated roof panel is determined by its core thickness; the maximum RC value of a roofing panel is 7.07 m2K/W according to the NTA 8800.

Sustainability

By installing a solar panel on a sandwich panel, you are effectively investing in two sustainable systems; good insulation thanks to the sandwich panels, and cheaper renewable energy through the solar panels. Plus, FALK roof panels have high-quality characteristics that make them last for years, and they also come with a 10-year warranty. The warranty on the HPS200 Ultra® coating can even be as much as 40 years.

To really get the most out of a solar panel, we recommend that you clean it regularly. After all, dirty solar panels capture less sunlight. Leaves, bird droppings and dust are common causes of dirty panels. Cleaning the panels will allow them to capture more sunlight – and generate more energy!

Optimal solar panel fixation on FALK sandwich panels

There are several ways to mount a solar panel on a sandwich panel roof. Here, FALK works closely with both Van der Valk Solar Systems and Allimex Green Power. Both companies have developed unique mounting systems for mounting on sandwich panels. What makes these mounting systems special is that they are certified for use on sandwich panels with a 0.50 mm thick outer sheet. The tests were carried out on our FALK 1100 TR3+ roof panel, which ensures reliable and safe installation of solar panels on sandwich panels.

The benefits of an integrated solar roof system, in a nutshell:

• Up to 40 years’ guarantee with the HPS200 Ultra® coating
• No expiring warranty! The warranty provides 100% cover for the agreed period.
• The Confidex warranty is offered directly to the customer by steel supplier TATA Steel.
• The HPS Scintilla® motif is only 50 microns deep. Coatings with a leather motif, on the other hand, are as much as 100 microns deep. HPS is therefore self-cleaning, unlike many other coatings.
• Very high corrosion resistance: RC5 due to the use of Galvalloy®.