A 17.5%-efficient dark grey solar tile

• U.K. company Roof covering Tiles Technology Ltd has created a solar tile with a claimed effectiveness of 17.5% and power outcome of 175 W per square meter. The company's owner, Antonio Lanzoni, claimed a PV system including the item would certainly cost 25-30% greater than a typical solar rooftop.

U.K.-based Roof Covering Tiles Technology Ltd has established a solar ceramic tile including monocrystalline Perc solar cells which it states appears like a conventional concrete roof covering tile and also is suitable for new and renovated roofs.

The level, dark grey, BiSolar ceramic tile has a power result of 18 W and also effectiveness of 17.5%, according to the producer. "For each and every square meter, 9.7 tiles are needed, with total output getting to 175 W," company creator and also co-director Antonio Lanzoni told pv publication. "The services we generated are copyrighted as well as offer solid security for the product."

The tool is made from a PV-etched glass panel affixed to a concrete roof covering floor tile as well as features 22%- efficient solar cells from a Chinese manufacturer which is "well established in Europe," stated Lanzoni. Each floor tile consists of a lots 139 by 52.92 mm cells.

The item carries a 25-year performance guarantee, procedures 445 x 330mm as well as weighs 6kg, with the PV tool contributing 1.2 kg and including 3mm of satin toughened up glass.

Cost

According to Lanzoni, a BiSolar tile installment is 25-30% much more costly than a conventional roof PV selection. "But it looks a lot much better," said the firm creator, who added, setup costs for BiSolar are less expensive than for roof panels. "The BiSolar floor tile can be set up by a standard roof covering installer like a regular roof covering tile, as they can be quickly connected through basic MC4 connectors located under the photovoltaic panel," claimed Lanzoni.

The firm started marketing the item late in 2015 yet the Covid-19 dilemma slowed operations in recent months. "However, we are now providing to a chosen number of potential companions the first pilot roofs in a couple of nations," claimed Lanzoni.

Roof covering Tiles Technology wants to go into brand-new markets and is claimed to be in talks with building and also roof sector services concerning establishing manufacturing facilities outside the U.K. "Potential companions will certainly benefit [from] the prerogative to utilize our license, an established supply chain and also technological aid, from the assembly process to roof covering setup," Lanzoni added.

The creator of business claimed BiSolar setups exceed roofs fitted with standard floor tiles in the Wind Driven Rainfall examination-- which evaluates the influence of rains on devices-- as well as he said the item can in future come to be less expensive and also provide much better efficiency.

Manufacturing

Lanzoni said the item patent procedure was started a year ago and initially evaluation of the BiSolar ceramic tile has happened. The license calls for the combination of PV with a concrete roof covering tile which does not modify the latter structure or allow water penetration. The product has to additionally be a specified colour recognized for varnish, powder coating and also plastics, without any blueing effect.

" PV panels are automatically glued to the roof floor tile surface in an extremely precise position defined by a robot line," stated Lanzoni of the production procedure. "Seals are chosen 3 sides of the PV panels."

Roof covering Tiles Technology designed an assembly line with an annual capability of 18 MW and Lanzoni stated the construction tools would become part of the bundle provided to partners who want to make BiSolar tiles.