Solarcentury will launch universal PV roof slate at ecobuild

[Aurora]

Solar Power Portal - 28/02/11



Solarcentury has developed a universal solar electric slate which is designed to enable UK slate roof homeowners to go solar. The company’s C21e slate, being launched to the public at ecobuild, which is held from March 1-3rd, has been 18 months in development.

Building upon the success of Solarcentury’s existing, C21e Tile system, the new universal C21e solar electric slate widens the opportunity for homes to go solar, simplifies specification for both retrofit and new build installations and speeds up the installation time. The simplicity of C21e has attracted major house builders across the UK, where it is accepted as a mainstream construction product.

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[adam2]

Sounds a useful product where a traditional appearance is desired.
Will probably be more expensive than large conventional modules.
As well as large grid tied installations, these could be useful for the doomer who wants a stealth battery charging installation.

[Greedave]

I think this could be a good idea and I know of a few other similar concepts but does anyone know what the payback, limiations etc. is on them? Obviously it is unlikely that you want to cover your entire roof with them as there will be an optimum position to use. Again I would expect them to be more expensive than traditional tiles but at the same time as long as they can pay for themeselves people will buy them.

[RenewableCandy]

Newly-retired people are the richest age-band in the UK and often (choose to) live in pretty places with Conservation, listed, etc, status. They also happen to have been young (and possibly hip) in the 1960s, so by doing something to help the environment they're kind-of going back to their youth.

These tiles are ideal for them.

[JohnB]

Newly-retired people are the richest age-band in the UK

They were certainly one of the main customers for solar thermal when I was in the industry.