South facing installs the UKs Largest Solar PV Roof Top System
600kWp - Commercial Solar PV Roof, Home Counties
Complete and commissioned – March 2011
South Facing have completed and commissioned a 600kWp Solar PV installation on the roof of a data centre in the home counties.
Consisting of 2,610 x 230Watt modules and 6 x 100kWp inverters, this is the largest on-roof Solar PV system in the UK.
Increasingly supply chains are under scrutiny. Tenders and client relationships can be won and lost over environmental credentials. Businesses recognise the sensitivity of its market to issues of corporate responsibility, specifically environmental and sustainability policies.
Major users of electricity are keen to ‘green’ their supply chain and reduce reliance on the national grid for the delivery of power. 11% of all conventionally generated electricity is lost during it’s transmission to the point of use. Because PV technology generates electricity at the point of use there are no transmission losses which reduces emissions within the grid.
South Facing were selected as the installation contractor because of our experience of large PV systems and our design, engineering and installation expertise. One of the most important tasks was for us to establish the building’s load capacity and to identify a mechanical frame and fixing method that would satisfy the structural engineer and without invalidating the existing roof warranty. Specialised aluminium mounting frames were selected to meet the specific structural and wind loading conditions.
The installation comprises 2,610 modules laid on the east and west facing pitches of the 6 roof bays. 238 tons of CO2 emissions per year and importantly all the electricity generated (420,000kWh per year) will be used on site contributing significant reductions in electricity costs.
South Facing can also offer property or land owners an attractive rental to install PV systems of 40-50kWp . (Roof sites from 280m2. We also offer SME’s finance for their own PV systems. This allows businesses to reduce their electricity costs for the long term with attractive terms.
The steel profile roof requires specialist fixings to ensure weather tight and secure anchor points. REDtip fixings were selected because they are designed in the UK specially for UK roofs. Many European fixings are designed for European roofs and methods and may require adaptation of roofing materials to make a satisfactory weather tight fit. REDtip roof hooks and fixings fit all types of roofs with out the fuss of alterations.
